Dr Deborah Devis

Research Fellow
Debbie.Devis@unisa.edu.au

Debbie is a research fellow at Education Futures whose work focuses on understanding complexity and designing for complex futures. Her interests are systems thinking, how science and sustainability are taught in schools, and games for developing critical thinking.

Debbie believes good research should be accessible, so she translates complex information into practical and actionable outputs, and co-creating new knowledge in partnership. Currently, Debbie leads the educational design team as part of the Education Futures Academy, focusing on effective research translation that considers context and flexibility.

Debbie has a PhD in Molecular Genetics and extensive experience as a science communicator.

Open Access Research Outputs:

Smith, L, MacGillivray, M, Leaver, M, Devis, D & Leonard, S 2025, The multi-level impacts of university student facilitated programs for widening participation in higher education, University of South Australia, Australia.

Brass, T, Kennedy, J, Devis, D & Leonard, S 2024, Launching community space innovation from regional South Australia: a report on teacher self-efficacy, University of South Australia and Andy Thomas Space Foundation, Australia.

Johnson, L, Devis, D, Bacholer, C & Leonard, SN 2024, ‘Closing the loop by expanding the scope: using learning analytics within a pragmatic adaptive engagement with complex learning environments’, Frontiers in Education, vol. 9, article no. 1379520, pp. 1-14.

Leonard, SN, Devis, D, MacGill, B, Unsworth, P, Colton, J & Fowler, S 2024, ‘Enhancing empathy for justice: a methodology for expansive teacher professional development through creative body-based learning’, Sustainability, vol. 16, no. 95, pp. 1-16.

Vieira, M, Devis, D, Le Cerf, T, Fowler, S, Kennedy, J & Leonard, S 2024, Design thinking for creative confidence, University of South Australia, Australia.

Vieira, M, Shepley, D, Devis, D & Leonard, S 2024, Creative Challenge Retrospective 2024: A Case Study on Building Creative Confidence in STEM UniSA Catalyst Reports, C3L – Centre for Change and Complexity in Learning, Australia.

Brass, T, Kennedy, JP, Gabriel, F, Neill, B, Devis, D & Leonard, S 2023, ‘Learning analytics for lifelong career development: a framework to support sustainable formative assessment and self-reflection in programs developing career self-efficacy’, Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence, vol. 6, article no. 1173099, pp. 1-10.

Devis, D, Fowler, S, Vieira, M, Giannoni, K, Gabriel, F, Kennedy, J & Leonard, S 2023, From insight to action: strategies for cultivating equity and empowering women in industry, University of South Australia, Australia.

Inwood, K, Fowler, S, Devis, D & Leonard, S 2023, Improving music teacher self-efficacy (Catalyst Report #13), University of South Australia, Australia.

Kennedy, J, Devis, D, Giannoni, K, Reuther, C, Roach-Attard, T & Leonard, SN 2023, ‘Using chatbots as a learning partner to promote student self-awareness and autonomy in an aspirational careers program.’, 13th International Conference on Learning Analytics & Knowledge (LAK23), Society for Learning Analytics Research, pp. 61-64.