Retired as: Professor (H), & Dean, Faculty of Science Education
Ph.D. Thesis: Extended Energy Loss Fine Structure Investigations
Research interests:
Research in issues related to science education and science, technology and society (STS) at school and post-school levels.
Research on issues in technology education at school level
Using posters to elicit students’ ideas about science and technology
Surveys of urban and rural middle school students’ (Std. VI and VIII) ideas and teachers’ ideas of science and technology
Development of appropriate middle school design and technology education modules for multicultural settings
Preliminary trials of the module among urban and rural school students
Issues of legitimising multiple modes of expression in the classroom
Developmental projects:
An exhibition on Science, Technology and Society for Sustainable Living, 12 themes on 12 panels
Activity based foundation curriculum on STS: a series of 8 books
Posters (8 posters): Water: A precious Resource
Co-ordinator, HBCSE – AEES collaborative project on Middle School Science Education Improvement Programme:d evelopment of tests and examinations, and question bank
Orientation of teachers in activity-based teaching of S&T in Std. VI, and
Development of activity books to support the Std. VI S&T textbook of NCERT
Area of Interest: Curricular issues, science education, design and technology education, health and environment education, science technology and society studies, socio-cultural and gender studies.
Publications
Book Chapters
Chunawala, S., & Natarajan, C. (2017). An inclusive science and technology education curriculum at school level. In G. Chadha and S.Krishna (Eds.), Feminists and science: Critiques and changing perspectives in India. (Vol. 2, pp. 299-323). India: Sage- Stree Publishers.
Natarajan C., & Chunawala S. (2009). Technology and vocational education in India. In A. Jones and M. de Vries (Eds.), International handbook of research and development in technology education (pp. 105-116). The Netherlands: Sense Publishers.
Natarajan, C. (2007). Culture and technology education. In M. de Vries (Ed.), Analyzing best practices in technology education (pp. 153-167). The Netherlands: Sense publishers.
Natarajan, C. (2004). Designing and teaching appropriate technological productions with their multi-expressive and multi-purpose possibilities. In P. Dias (Ed.), Multiple languages, literacies and technologies (pp. 130-161). New Delhi: Multilingualism, Frankfurt and Books for Change.
In Journals
Ara, F., Chunawala, S., & Natarajan, C. (2013). Investigating Indian elementary and middle school student’s images of designers. Design and Technology Education: An International Journal, 18(2), 50-65.
Shome, S., & Natarajan, C. (2013). Ideas and attitudes towards projects and changing practices: Voices of four teachers. Australian Journal of Teaching Education, 38(10), 64-81.
Shome, S., & Natarajan, C. (2012). Middle school students’ ideas about energy and its flow through organisms. Journal of Indian Education, 38(2), 121-127.
Ara, F., Chunawala, S., & Natarajan, C. (2011). A study investigating indian middle school students ideas of design and designers. Design and Technology Education: An International Journal, 16(3), 62-73.
Ara, F., Natarajan, C., & Chunawala, S. (2009). A study exploring the strategies utilised by indian middle-school students in identifying unfamiliar artefacts. Design and Technology Education: An International Journal, 14(3), 47-57.
Mehrotra, S., Khunyakari, R., Natarajan, C., & Chunawala, S. (2009). Collaborative learning in technology education: D&T unit on puppetry in different Indian socio-cultural contexts International Journal of Design and Technology Education, DOI 10.1007/s10798-007-9037-1.
Khunyakari, R., Mehrotra, S., Chunawala, S., & Natarajan, C. (2007). Design and technology productions among middle school students: An Indian experience. International Journal of Technology and Design Education, 17, 5-22.
Edited Books and Volumes
Chunawala, S., Mahajan, B., Mahurkar, S., Natarajan, C., Ramadas, J., & Subramaniam, K. (2002). The roots of reason: Science and technology in the ancient world (Editors: Arvind Kumar and Sangeeta Mahurkar). Mumbai: Quest Publications.
In Conference Proceedings
Birwatkar, P., & Natarajan, C. (2014). Using design and technology task to foster learning through the ‘Joy of making’ among student of class VII. In S. Nath (Ed.), Proceedings of the ICSSR sponsored Two Day National Seminar on Innovations in 21st Century Education (pp. 121-133). Mumbai: K. J. Somaiya Comprehensive College of Education, Training and Research, Vidyavihar.
Chunawala, S., Birwatkar, P., Muralidhar, A. & Natarajan, C. (2013). Looking at science through the lens of diversity: View of Indian students and teachers. In G. Nagarjuna, A. Jamakhandi and E. Sam (Eds.), Proceedings epiSTEME 5: International Conference to Review Research on Science, Technology and Mathematics Education (pp. 185-191). India: Cinnamonteal.
Shome, S., & Natarajan C. (2013). Project in school learning: Teacher experiences. In Nagarjuna G., Jamakhadi, A. and Sam, E. (Eds.), Proceedings epiSTEME 5: International Conference to Review Research on Science, Technology and Mathematics Education (pp. 321-327). India: Cinnamonteal.
Chunawala, S., & Natarajan C. (2012). A study of policies related to science education for diversity in India. In Towards Effective Teaching and Meaningful Learning in Mathematics, Science and Technology: Proceedings of ISTE: International Conference on Mathematics, Science and Technology Education (pp. 130-141). South Africa, October, 2011: ISTE.
Ara, F., Natarajan, C., & Chunawala, S. (2011). Students as users and designers: Product evaluation and redesign by Indian middle school students. In S. Chunawala & M. Kharatmal (Eds.), Proceedings of epiSTEME 4 – International Conference to Review Research on Science, Technology and Mathematics Education (pp. 95-100). India: Macmillan.
Shome, S., Shastri, V., Kunyakari, R., & Natarajan, C. (2011). What do students learn from designing and making a playground model?. Proceedings of PATT 25 & CRIPT 8: Perspective on learning in design and technology education (pp. 357 – 366). London: Goldsmiths, University of London.
Shastri, V., Khunyakari, R., Chunwala, S., & Natarajan, C. (2011). Thinking through design: Teachers explore a design and make task. In S. Chunawala and M. Kharatmal (Eds.), Proceedings of epiSTEME 4 – International Conference to Review Research on Science, Technology and Mathematics Education (pp. 302-308). India: Macmillan.
Ara, F., Natarajan, C., & Chunawala, S. (2010). Naïve designers: A study describing Indian middle school students’ creative design solutions to a real world problem. International Conference on ”Designing for children’- with focus on ‘play’ and ‘learn’, Industrial Design Centre, IIT, Mumbai, February 2-6, 2010.
Natarajan, C. (2010). Design and technology: An emergent school subject. In K. Subramaniam (Ed.), The epiSTEME3 Reviews: An International Conference to Review Research in Science, Technology and Mathematics Education (pp. 209-244). Mumbai: Macmillan Publishers India Ltd.
Khunyakari, R., Mehrotra, S, Chunawala, S., & Natarajan, C. (2010) Implementing D&T education in Indian middle schools: Lessons from trials International Conference on ”Designing for children’- with focus on ‘play’ and ‘learn”, Industrial Design Centre, IIT, Mumbai, February 2-6, 2010.
Khunyakari, R., Mehrotra, S., Chunawala, S., & Natarajan, C. (2009). Studying Indian middle school students’ attitudes towards technology. In K. Subramaniam and A. Mazumdar (Eds.), Proceedings epiSTEME-3: An International Conference to Review Research in Science, Technology and Mathematics Education (pp. 81-87). Mumbai: Macmillan Publishers India Ltd.
Mehrotra, S., Khunyakari, R., Chunawala, S., & Natarajan, C. (2009). Evidences of learning through collaboration in design and technology tasks in Indian classrooms. In K. Subramaniam and A. Mazumdar (Eds.), Proceedings epiSTEME-3: An International Conference to Review Research in Science, Technology and Mathematics Education (pp. 88-93). Mumbai: Macmillan Publishers India Ltd.
Ara, F., Chunawala, S. & Natarajan, C. (2009). Moving from analysing to designing artefacts: studying middle school students’ ideas about design and designers. In K.Subramaniam and A. Mazumdar (Eds.), Proceedings epiSTEME-3: An International Conference to Review Research in Science, Technology and Mathematics Education (pp. 94-100). Mumbai: Macmillan Publishers India Ltd.
Shome, S., Patel, A., & Natarajan, C. (2009). A study of middle school students’ ideas about photosynthesis through multiple interaction mode. In Proceedings and papers of Panel on Ecological and Environmental Science Education in India of II People’s education congress (pp. 55-70), HBCSE, Mumbai, 5-9 October 2009. Allahabad: Peoples Council of Education.
Ara, F., Kunyakari, R., & Natarajan, C. (2007). A study of middle school students’ depictions of routes based on verbal description and cues. In C. Natarajan and B. Choski (Eds.), Proceedings of epiSTEME2: International conference to review research on Science, Technology and Mathematics Education (pp. 141-145). India: Macmillan Publishers India Ltd.
Khunyakari, R, Mehrotra, S., Natarajan, C., & Chunawala, S.(2007). Cognition in action in design and technology units among middle school students. In C. Natarajan and B. Choski (Eds.), Proceedings of epiSTEME2: International conference to review research on Science, Technology and Mathematics Education (pp. 126-131). India: Macmillan Publishers India Ltd.
Khunyakari, R., Chunawala, S. & Natarajan, C. (2007). Comparison of depictions by middle school students elicited in different contexts. In PATT 18- Proceedings of the Pupils’ Attitudes Towards Technology (pp. 210-217). Glasgow, UK.
Mehrotra, S., Khunyakari, R., Natarajan, C. & Chunawala, S. (2007). Dialogues in formal communication: A study of students’ talk in a D&T unit in India. In C. Natarajan and B. Choski (Eds.), Proceedings of epiSTEME2: International conference to review research on Science, Technology and Mathematics Education (pp. 73-78). Mumbai, India: Macmillan Publishers India Ltd.
Mehrotra, S., Khunyakari, R., Chunawala, S., & Natarajan, C. (2007). Using pictures and interviews to elicit Indian students’ understanding of technology. PATT 18: Proceedings of the Pupils’ Attitudes Towards Technology (pp. 152-161). Glasgow, UK, July 2007.
Khunyakari, R., Mehrotra, S., Natarajan, C., & Chunawala, S. (2006). Designing design tasks for Indian classrooms. In M. de Vries and I. Mottier (Eds.), PATT 16 Proceedings: Research for standards-based technology education (pp. 20-34). Baltimore, March 2006.
Khunyakari, R., Mehrotra, S., Chunawala, S., & Natarajan, C. (2006) Design and technology productions among middle school students: An Indian experience. In K. Volk (Ed.), Articulating technology education in a global community: Proceedings of the International Conference on Technology Education in the Asia Pacific Region (pp. 63-73). The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, January 5-7, 2006.
Choksi, B., Chunawala, S., & Natarajan, C., (2006). Technology as a school subject in the Indian context. In K. Volk (Ed.), In K. Volk (Ed.), Articulating technology education in a global community: Proceedings of the International Conference on Technology Education in the Asia Pacific Region (pp. 374-384). The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, January 5-7, 2006.
Mehrotra, S., Khunyakari, R., Natarajan, C., & Chunawala, S. (2006). Learning technology through collaboration: D&T unit for boys and girls in different Indian socio-cultural contexts. In K. Volk (Ed.), Articulating technology education in a global community: Proceedings of the International Conference on Technology Education in the Asia Pacific Region (pp. 280-290). The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, January 5-7, 2006.
Chunawala, S., & Natarajan, C. (2004). Placing technology education within the gender perspectives. In epiSTEME1 an international conference to review research on science education, Abstracts of presentations (pp. 58-59). India: HBCSE.
Natarajan, C., & Chunawala, S. (2004). Introducing design and technology in school education: legitimising multiple expressions in classrooms. In epiSTEME1 an international conference to review research on science education, Abstracts of presentations (pp. 68-69). India: HBCSE.
Mehrotra, S., Khunyakari, R., Natarajan, C., & Chunawala, S. (2004). Gendered communication in technology tasks: glimpses of group interactions. In epiSTEME1 an international conference to review research on science education, Abstracts of Presentations (pp. 120-121). India: HBCSE.
Khunyakari, R., Mehrotra, S., Natarajan, C., & Chunawala, S. (2004). Design as drawings analyzing drawings of middle school students in technology education tasks. In epiSTEME1 an international conference to review research on science education, Abstracts of presentations (pp. 62-63). India: HBCSE.
Natarajan, C., & Chunawala, S. (2003). Designing and teaching appropriate technological productions with their multi-expressive and multipurpose possibilities. Background papers to the International Symposium on social production of knowledge through diversity of expressive modes, multiple literacies and bi (multi) lingual relationships (pp. 1-16), Pune, March 5-7, 2003.
Khunyakari, R., Mehrotra, S., Natarajan, C., & Chunawala, S. (2003). Ideas about technology among middle school students in Mumbai: A preliminary analysis of a survey. Background papers to the International Symposium on social production of knowledge through diversity of expressive modes, multiple literacies and bi (multi) lingual relationships (pp. 1-21), Pune, March 5-7, 2003.
Mehrotra, S., Khunyakari, R., Chunawala, S., & Natarajan, C. (2003). Using posters to understand upper primary and secondary school students’ ideas about science and technology. Background papers to the International Symposium on social production of knowledge through diversity of expressive modes, multiple literacies and bi (multi) lingual relationships (pp. 1-19), Pune, March 5-7, 2003.
Chunawala, S., & Natarajan, C. (2003). Technology, education and issues of gender. Background papers to the International Symposium on social production of knowledge through diversity of expressive modes, multiple literacies and bi (multi) lingual relationships (1-12), Pune, March 5-7, 2003.
Natarajan, C., Chunawala, S., Apte, S., & Ramadas, J. (2002). Lessons for teaching botany: What middle school students know about plants. In Rethinking science and technology education to meet the demands of future generations in a changing world: Proceedings of the International Organization for Science and Technology Education (IOSTE) Symposium Volumes I -II (pp. 3-13). Brazil, July 28-August 2, 2002.
Chunawala, S., Natarajan, C., & Ramadas, J. (1999). Indian students’ ideas about living and non-living: A cross cultural study. IOSTE- 9, Symposium of the International Organisation of Science and Technology Education, Durban, South Africa (pp. 96-104). South Africa, June 24 to July 2, 1999.
Technical Reports
Chunawala, S., Natarajan, C., Birwatkar, P., Muralidhar, A., & Thakur, B., Battin, G., & Karade, D. (2013). Science Education for Diversity WP5 India Report. Mumbai: HBCSE, TIFR.
Koul, R., Dawson,V., Chunawala, S. and Natarajan, C. (2012). A collaborative approach to developing science teaching methods suitable for addressing diversity in classrooms. Perth, WA: Science and matheamtics Education Centre, Curtin University.
Chunawala, S., Natarajan, C., Birwatkar, P., Muralidhar, A., & Thakur, B. (2012). Case study of School 1. Mumbai: HBCSE, TIFR.
Chunawala, S., Natarajan, C., Birwatkar, P., Muralidhar, A., & Thakur, B. (2012). Case study of School 2. Mumbai: HBCSE, TIFR.
Chunawala, S., Natarajan, C., Birwatkar, P., Muralidhar, A., & Thakur, B. (2012). Case study of School 3. Mumbai: HBCSE, TIFR.
Chunawala, S., Natarajan, C., Birwatkar, P., Muralidhar, A., & Thakur, B. (2012). Case study of school 4. Mumbai: HBCSE, TIFR.
Chunawala S., Muralidhar A., Birwatkar, P. and Natarajan, C. (2012). Towards science education for diversity: A teacher researcher collaborative workshop, HBCSE, Mumbai, December 2011.
Choksi, B., Chunawala, S., Natarajan, C., with SED partners. (April, 2011). Science Education for Diversity WP2 Synthesis Report. Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education, TIFR, Mumbai, India.
Choksi, B., Chunawala, S., Natarajan, C., with SED partners. (June, 2011). Science Education for Diversity WP3 Synthesis Report. Eindhoven University of Technology. The Netherlands.
Shome, S. and Natarajan, C. (2010). HBCSE Guidebook on project based learning. Technical Report. Mumbai: Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education.
Choksi, B., Chunawala, S., & Natarajan, C. (2010). Science Education for Diversity- India Country Report. Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education, Mumbai, India (October 2010).
Shome, S., & Natarajan, C. (2009). A short course on Energy and Environment for middle school students and a study of students’ ideas on the topic. Technical Report. Mumbai: Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education.
Mehrotra, S., Khunyakari, R., Chunawala, S., & Natarajan, C (2003). Using posters to understand students’ ideas about science and technology, Technical Report No. I (02-03), HBCSE, 2003.
Ramadas, J., Chunawala, S., Natarajan, C., & Apte, S. (1996a). Role of experiments in school science, diagnosing learning in primary science (DLIPS) Part-3, Technical Report No. 31. Mumbai: Homi Bhabha Centre For Science Education.
Natarajan, C., Chunawala, S., Apte, S., & Ramadas, J. (1996). Students’ ideas about plants, diagnosing learning in primary science (DLIPS) Part-2, Technical Report No. 30. Mumbai: Homi Bhabha Centre For Science Education.
Chunawala, S., Natarajan, C., Apte, S., & Ramadas, J. (1996). Students’ ideas about living and non-living, diagnosing learning in primary science (DLIPS) Part-1, Technical Report No. 29. Mumbai: Homi Bhabha Centre For Science Education.
Ramadas, J., Chunawala, S., Natarajan, C. and Apte, S. (1996). [In Marathi], Vidyarthyanchya vignyanvishayyi utsurft kalpana; Ek sanshodhan ahwal, students spontaneous ideas in science; A research report, (DLIPS). Mumbai: Homi Bhabha Centre For Science Education, TIFR.
Other documentation
Dutta, S., & Natarajan, C. (2014). Report on ‘fun with boxes’ workshop. Mumbai: HBCSE.
Chunawala, S., Muralidhar, A., Birwatkar, P. and Natarajan, C. (2012). Towards Science Education for Diversity: A teacher Researcher Collaborative Workshop, HBCSE, Mumbai, December 2011.
Natarajan, C., Chunawala, S., & Khunyakari, R. (2004). Vidnyan Ashram, its work and HBCSE, Comments in Dr. Shreenath Kalbag Memorial Seminar Report Smritisathi, Chronicle of Discussion.