I have been involved in outdoor education for nearly 30 years. During this time I have worked for Outward Bound (UK and NZ), The Ocean Youth Club (UK) and several years of freelance instructing while I was completing my PhD in Queensland, Australia. I have held academic appointments at Monash University, The University of Waikato, and Auckland University of Technology. I also held an Erasmus Mundus visiting scholar position at the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences. I have co-authored two books: A Pedagogy of Place and Adventurous Learning and edited three further books; Seascapes; Shaped by the sea, Living with the sea and The ocean, blue space and outdoor learning. I am interested in place-responsive pedagogy and more recently learning in and through marine environments.
Blue space publications
Books
Brown, M. (Ed.) (2024) The ocean, blue space and outdoor learning. London: Routledge
Brown, M. & Peters, K. (Eds.) (2019) Living with the sea: Knowledge, awareness and action. London: Routledge.
Brown, M. & Humberstone, B. (Eds.) (2015) Seascapes: Shaped by the sea. Embodied narratives and fluid geographies. Farnham, UK & Burlington, VT: Ashgate.
Journal articles
Brown, M. (2022). Motivations and challenges for sail training personnel: it’s not entirely about the boat! Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning. Doi:10.1080/14729679.2022.2160991
Orams, M. & Brown, M. (2020) The dream and the reality of blue spaces: The search for freedom in offshore sailing. Journal of Sport and Social Issues. doi/10.1177/019372352098599
Peters, K. & Brown, M. (2017). Writing with the sea: Reflections on in/experienced encounters with ocean space. Cultural Geographies. doi: 10.1177/1474474017702510
Brown, M. (2016). The offshore sailor: Enskilment and identity. Leisure Studies. doi: 10.1080/02614367.2016.1252787
Brown, M. & Penney, D. (2014). Solo sailing: An “ordinary girl”, voluntary risk-taking and (ir)responsibility. Sociology of Sport Journal, 31(3), 267-286. doi: 10.1123/ssj.2013-0121
Book chapters
Brown, M. (2025). Offshore sailing: Oceans to shorelines. In F. Picken & E. Waterton (Eds.). Oceans, seas and shorelines in leisure, tourism and sport. New York: Routledge.
Brown, M. (2024). Introduction. In M. Brown (Ed). The ocean, blue spaces and outdoor learning. London: Routledge.
Jones, M., Jelleyman, C. & Brown, M. (2024). Students of the sea: Tauira o te moana. In M. Brown (Ed). The ocean, blue spaces and outdoor learning. London: Routledge.
Morgan, A. & Brown, M. (2024). Setting sail to response–ability: Sail training through and for the sea. In M. Brown (Ed). The ocean, blue spaces and outdoor learning. London: Routledge.
Brown, M. (2023). Sailing: The ocean around and within us. In K. Peters, J. Anderson, A. Davies, & P. Steinberg (Eds.) The Routledge handbook of ocean space. (pp. 232-243). London: Routledge.
Brown, M., & Peters, K. (2019) Introduction. In M. Brown & K. Peters (Eds.) Living with the sea: knowledge, awareness and action (pp. 1-11). London: Routledge.
Peters, K., Moore, A., & Brown, M. (2019). Conclusions: Learning to live with the sea together: opening dialogue, creating conversations. In M. Brown & K. Peters (Eds.) Living with the sea: knowledge, awareness and action (pp. 227-239) London: Routledge.
Brown, M. (2019) Sailing, health and wellbeing: A thalassographic perspective. In R. Foley, R. Kearns, T. Kistemann & B, Wheeler (Eds.). Blue space, health and wellbeing: Hydrophilia unbounded (pp.52-64). London: Routledge.
Brown, M. (2017) Risky/Risking bodies. In M. Silk, D. Andrews & H. Thorpe (Eds.). Routledge handbook of physical cultural studies (pp. 277-285). Abingdon, UK: Routledge.
Humberstone, B., Brown, M. & Fox, K. (2017). Sensing our way through ocean sailing, windsurfing and kayaking: Tales of emplaced sensual kinaesthesia. In A Sparkes (Ed.). Seeking the senses in physical cultures: Sensual scholarship in action (pp.82-100). Routledge: London.
Brown, M. (2015). Seascapes. In M. Brown & B. Humberstone (Eds.), Seascapes: Shaped by the sea (pp. 13-26). Farnham, UK and Burlington VT: Ashgate.
Brown, M., & Humberstone, B. (2015). Introduction. In M. Brown & B. Humberstone (Eds.), Seascapes: Shaped by the sea (pp. 1-11). Farnham, UK and Burlington, VT: Ashgate.
Humberstone, B., & Brown, M. (2015). Embodied narratives and fluid geographies. In M. Brown & B. Humberstone (Eds.), Seascapes: Shaped by the sea (pp. 187-189). Farnham, UK and Burlington, VT: Ashgate.
Outdoor learning publications
Books
Beames, S. & Brown, M. (2016). Adventurous learning: A pedagogy for a changing world. New York: Routledge.
Wattchow, B. & Brown, M. (2011) Pedagogy of place: Outdoor education for a changing world. Melbourne, Australia: Monash University Publishing.
Journal articles
Brown, M. (2025). The benefits of mundane tasks. Te Whakatika. 44, 15-18
Brown, M. (2024). Developing a fatality prevention mindset. Te Whakatika. 42(24), 36-39
Townsend, J. & Brown, M. (2023). Teacher perspectives of a place-responsive curriculum initiative: A case study. Set 3, 37-43
Townsend, J. & Brown, M. (2023). Student leader perspectives of a place-responsive initiative. Set 3, 44-49
Seaman, J., Brown, M. & Quay, J. (2017). The evolution of experiential learning theory: Tracing lines of research in the JEE. Journal of Experiential Education. doi: 10.1177/1053825916689268
Brown, M. & Beames, S. (2016). Adventure education: Redux. Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning. doi: 10.1080/14729679.2016.1246257
Beames, S. & Brown, M. (2014) Enough of Ronald and Mickey: Focusing on learning in outdoor education. Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning, 14(2), 118-131
Hill, A. & Brown, M. (2014). Intersections between place, sustainability and transformative outdoor experiences. Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning, 14(3), 217-232.
Brown, M. (2013) Teachers’ perspectives on place-responsive outdoor education. Set, 2, 3-10
Brown, M. (2012). Student perspectives of a place-responsive outdoor education programme. New Zealand Journal of Outdoor Education, 3(1), 64-88.
Cosgriff, M; Legge, M; Brown*, M; Boyes, M; Zink, R; & Irwin, D. (2012). Outdoor learning in Aotearoa New Zealand: Voices past, present and future. Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning, 12(3), 221-235. (*Corresponding author)
Brown, M. (2010). Transfer: Outdoor adventure education’s Achilles heel? Changing participation as a viable option. Australian Journal of Outdoor Education, 14(1), 13-22
Brown, M. (2009). Reconceptualising outdoor adventure education: Activity in search of an appropriate theory. Australian Journal of Outdoor Education, 13(2), 3-13
Brown, M. & Fraser, D. (2009). Re-evaluating risk and exploring educational alternatives. Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning. 9(1), 61-77.
Brown, M. (2008). Comfort zone: Model or metaphor? Australian Journal of Outdoor Education, 12(1), 3-12
Brown, M. (2008). Outdoor education: Opportunities provided by a place based approach. New Zealand Journal of Outdoor Education 2(3), 7-25
Brown, M. (2004) An examination of social interaction in adventure education facilitation sessions. (SEER 2003 Abstract) Journal of Experiential Education 26(3), 208-209
Brown, M. (2004) Doing adventure the ‘right’ way. New Zealand Journal of Outdoor Education 1(3), 33-46
Brown, M. (2004) “Let’s go round the circle” How verbal facilitation can function as a means of direct instruction. Journal of Experiential Education. 27(2), 161-175
Brown, M. (2003) Paraphrases and summaries: A means of clarification or a vehicle for articulating a preferred version of student accounts? Australian Journal of Outdoor Education. 7(2), 25-33
Brown, M. (2002). The facilitator as gatekeeper: A critical analysis of social order in facilitation sessions. Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning. 2(2), 101-112
Book chapters
Asfeldt, M., Henderson, B., Brown, M. & Munge, B. (2024). Technology creep: Cautionary tales for outdoor educators. In S. Beames & P. Maher (Eds.). Routledge handbook of mobile technology, social media and the outdoors. London: Routledge.
Brown, M. & Jones, M. (2021). Adventure and risk in outdoor environmental education. In G. Thomas, J. Dyment, & H. Prince (Eds.) Outdoor environmental education in higher education: International perspectives (pp. 89-99) London: Springer.
Beames, S. & Brown, M. (2017) Disneyization and the provision of leisure experiences. In K. Spracklen, B. Lashua, E. Sharpe, & S. Spencer (Eds.). The Palgrave handbook of leisure theory (pp.855-871). London: Palgrave-McMillan.
Brown, M. (2017) Risky/Risking bodies. In M. Silk, D. Andrews & H. Thorpe (Eds.). Routledge handbook of physical cultural studies (pp. 277-285). Abingdon, UK: Routledge.
Brown, M. & Wattchow, B. (2016) Enskilment and place-responsiveness in outdoor studies. In B. Humberstone, H. Prince & K. Henderson (Eds.), Routledge international handbook of outdoor studies (pp. 435-443). Abingdon, UK: Routledge.
Brown, M. & Heaton, S. (2015) Ko ahau te awa ko te awa ahu: I am the river, and the river is me. In M. Robertson, R. Lawrence & G. Heath (Eds.), Experiencing the outdoors: Enhancing strategies for wellbeing (pp. 49-60). Rotterdam: Sense.
Wattchow, B., & Brown, M. (2015) Programming for place-responsiveness: Enhancing adventure learning and outdoor travel. In R. Black & K. Bricker (Eds.), Adventure programming and travel in the 21st century (pp. 35-47). State College, PA: Venture.
Brown, M. (2013) Durkheim: Structural functionalism, adventure and social order. In E. Pike & S. Beames (Eds.), Outdoor adventure and social theory (pp. 23-33). London, Routledge.
Brown, M. (2012). A changing landscape: Place responsive pedagogy. In D. Irwin, J. Straker & A. Hill (Eds.), Outdoor education in Aotearoa New Zealand: A new vision for the twenty first century (pp. 104-124). Christchurch: CPIT.
Brown, M. (2012). Freeing ourselves from narrow thinking about risk in adventure programming. In B. Martin & M. Wagstaff (Eds.), Controversial issues in adventure programming (pp. 10-15). Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics
Cosgriff, M. & Brown, M. (2011). (Re)reading the map: Thinking critically about pedagogy in outdoor education. In S. Brown (Ed.) Issues and controversies in physical education (pp. 183-192). Auckland, NZ: Pearson.
Dyson, B. & Brown, M. (2010). Adventure education in your physical education program. In J. Lund & D. Tannehill (Eds.), Standards-based physical education curriculum development (2nd ed) (pp. 219-245). Boston, MA: Jones and Bartlett
Brown, M. (2008). “Let’s go round the circle:” How verbal facilitation can function as a means of direct instruction. In K. Warren, D. Mitten & T. Loeffler (Eds.), Theory and practice of experiential education (4th ed.) (pp. 380-392). Boulder, CO: Association for Experiential Education.
Brown, M. (2006) Adventure education and physical education: In D. Kirk, D. Macdonald & M. O’Sullivan (Eds.), Handbook of physical education. London, Sage.
Brown, M. and Dyson, B. (2006). Pursuing HPE outcomes through outdoor education. In R. Tinning, L. McCuaig and L. Hunter (Eds), Teaching health and physical education in Australian schools. (pp. 180-191). Frenchs Forest, NSW: Pearson Education.
Dyson, B. and Brown, M. (2006). Adventure education in your physical education program. In J. Lund and D. Tannehill (Eds.), Standards-based physical education curriculum development. (pp. 154-175). Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett
Brown, M. (2005). Rethinking the role of the facilitator: What a close examination of talk reveals. In T. Dickson, T. Gray & B. Hayllar (Eds.), Outdoor and experiential learning: Views from the top (pp. 240-249). Dunedin, NZ: Otago University Print.
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