Science Kitchen Team
The Science Kitchen is led by a core team of three Home Economics lecturers from Tallinn University. Drawing on their advanced expertise in Educational Sciences, they specialize in designing and managing pedagogical processes tailored to the diverse needs of learners.
Jaana Taar (Head of Science Kitchen), PhD. Associate professor of Home Economics
Jaana brings over two decades of pedagogical expertise to the team, complemented by extensive recent experience in project management. She earned her PhD in Educational Sciences from the University of Helsinki, where her doctoral research focused on the dynamics of student interthinking within Home Economics collaborative activities. Throughout her career, Jaana has been instrumental in professional development for subject teachers and has designed and supervised a wide range of specialized thematic workshops.
Kristi Paas, PhD. Lecturer of Home Economics theory and didactics
Kristi’s pedagogical expertise is multifaceted, encompassing consumer education alongside emerging trends in food and nutrition. Her primary research focus lies in Home Economics didactics; in her doctoral dissertation, she examined Home Economics teacher education and the professional identity development of pre-service teachers. For over two decades, she has balanced academic instruction with the facilitation of advanced professional development courses and specialized practical workshops for subject teachers.
Tiina Vänt, MA. Teacher of Food Technology
Tiina holds a Master’s degree in Educational Sciences from the University of Helsinki, alongside professional qualification as a Home Economics teacher. Her extensive career spans 20 years in adult education, complemented by a decade of practical experience as a basic school educator. Furthermore, she contributes her expertise to professional development programs by supervising specialized food technology workshops.
In addition to the core team, we work closely with other lecturers and researchers of the School of Natural Sciences and Health (physicists, chemists, microbiologists, geologists, etc.). The Science Kitchen team cooperates with two cooperation clusters in Tallinn University - the KEKO cluster for adapting to environmental changes and mitigating their effects, and the STEAM4EDU cooperation cluster for interdisciplinary educational innovation.
We are grateful to companies that consider the mission of Science Kitchen important and have decided to support us through cooperation. We would like to thank E-Lux Kodutehnika OÜ, Meira Eesti OÜ, Segafredo and Tootjavastutusorganisatsioon OÜ.
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