DrMichalis Hadjikakou

I am a passionate and engaging lecturer and I have a strong drive to support students to form a science-based understanding of the impacts of humanity on the environment, and put them in a position to critically evaluate possible levers of action to ensure sustainable futures.

Units chaired at Deakin:

• I chaired (i.e. coordinated and taught) two core units in the Bachelor of Environmental Science between 2020 and 2022, Environmental Sustainability and Hydrology and Water Resources Management. I redeveloped both subjects, with an emphasis on topical high-quality learning resources (using a blended learning approach), challenging and thought-provoking assessment tasks, regular feedback, activities to promote self-learning, and cultivating positive thinking around sometimes overwhelming sustainability issues such as climate change and biodiversity loss. My subject chair and teaching evaluation scores for both units were consistently well above School and Faculty average. Students praised the high quality of teaching materials and online teaching resources, and my passionate and approachable teaching style.
• In late 2022 I conceptualised and developed two new core subjects, Environmental Science and Global Change (earth system science) and Sustainability in the Anthropocene (sustainability policy), for the revised Master of Sustainability. I developed two sets of completely new teaching material and assessment tasks, drawing strongly on my research interests in the food system, global change, planetary boundaries and the Sustainable Development Goals. The two new subjects have performed exceptionally well in student evaluations. Students have expressed enthusiasm for the high quality and topical nature of my teaching material, my excellent knowledge of the topic and my passion in delivering interesting lectures and innovative seminars. As a result, in 2023 I was awarded the Excellence in Teaching Award for designing and implementing a new teaching activity by the School of Life and Environmental Sciences. In 2024 I was awarded the Teaching Excellence Award by the Faculty of Science, Engineering, and Built Environment for Teaching Excellence Award for 2024 for outstanding contributions to teaching and learning, including inspiring student engagement, innovative curriculum design, impactful assessment practices, and activities that enhance education.