Women of Central Queensland University Rockhampton have been invited to lunch with visiting Professor Janice Koch in the Capricornia Lounge next week.

Prof Koch is holding the luncheon to discuss findings from her extensive research of girls, women and education, particularly relating to science education and professions.

She is currently a lecturer with the Faculty of Education and Creative Arts, visiting from the United States where she is a professor of science education and gender studies at Hofstra University in Long Island, New York.

She has written several books tackling gender issues in the classroom as well as Science Stories: A Science Methods Book for Elementary School Teachers.

Prof Koch has travelled throughout the US to address issues relating to women and science.

She has expressed ideas that the lack of women in science related professions is the result of gender discrimination in the pre-university classroom.

“It is apparent that students sitting in the same classroom with the same curriculum of study and the same teacher receive different treatment based on gender,” Professor Koch said.

“Teachers often have different expectations of girls and boys based on cultural context and societal norms.

Prof Koch said she saw the luncheon as an opportunity to share her research with other women before leaving the university at the end of May.

The lunch, beginning at noon, will be held by the CQU Women in Research division and is open to all interested women.