Designing, Teaching in and Evaluating Innovative Learning Spaces

Dr Marian Mahat is an Associate Professor in Learning Environments at the University of Melbourne. Marian leads a sustained and impactful learning environment research which mobilises partnerships with government agencies, education departments, schools and industry organisations. Her mission is to convene interdisciplinary, translational learning environments research that is taken up by education systems and schools and has long-term impacts on students' learning and outcomes.

Marian's research focuses on pressing issues relating to the connections and alignment of the physical and pedagogical learning environments, with an emphasis on spatial literacy and competency, evidence-based teacher-led inquiry, and professional learning and development of teachers across different educational and learning environment contexts. Working across multiple fields of inquiry, utilising innovative quantitative and qualitative methodologies and interdisciplinary collaboration with other universities, industry and schools, she has co-authored over 70 peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters and reports, and recipient or co-recipient of over AUD$2.6M in internal and external research funding. Her core research program is recognised nationally and internationally, and acknowledged by various awards, including the Faculty of Education's Research Excellence Awards (2019 and 2024) and Research Partnership Excellence Award (2018).

She is the lead Chief Investigator of the Sophia Program, which provides an integrated spatially-focused professional learning and action research program for Sydney Catholic Schools (2022- present) and the Furniture for Engagement project, a collaboration of policy, school and industry partners investigating furniture types and configurations in flexible learning environments. In 2022, she was awarded a Fellowship to work with the National Institute of Education in Singapore to develop a professional learning program on teachers’ spatial competency. Marian leads a series of micro-credentials on Leading Change in Learning Environments at the University of Melbourne, is series editor of Linking Theory and Practice in Learning Environments published by Emerald and Associate Editor of the Learning Environments Research Journal.

She is highly passionate about building capacity and capability of academic staff at universities. In addition to her research leadership on learning environments, she is series editor of the Surviving and Thriving in Academia and book editor of Achieving Academic Promotion, Women Thriving in Academia and Academic Resilience also published by Emerald.