Registration is now open for the 5th Natural Sciences Student conference.
This is a great chance to meet other interdisciplinary scientists and share your views and ideas. There is always a good representation from Universities across the UK, with some excellent keynote speakers organised.
Please click here for more info.
The Natural Sciences programme at UCL is currently advertising a new post of Lecturer in Science and Society. We would be very grateful if you could advertise this opportunity within your networks. More info on the job description and application portal can be found here.
The role will be partly shaped by the appointee’s background and expertise, but will involve working on our science and society strand of interdisciplinary core modules, helping students develop professional and communication skills to complement their science subject knowledge. Our core modules currently focus on developing skills in computing and communication as well as research ethics and other questions relating to science and society.
Applicants from a wide variety of backgrounds are encouraged to apply, the programme team believes strongly in equality, diversity and inclusion for both staff and students and is happy to receive applications from candidates with a strong academic science background as well as those with other relevant professional experiences.
The deadline is November 15th, with applicants being informed shortly afterwards for interview on November 25th.
We’re delighted to announce our first international Natural Sciences Learning and Teaching e-Seminar this month, which will be will be delivered by Sarah Symons from the Integrated Science Programme at McMaster University, Canada.
Her seminar “Innovating, Integrating, and Influencing: a science program for the 21st century” will take place on Thursday 25th November 2021 from 13.00-14.00. Please register via this event link to receive joining details of the event.
The Society for Natural Sciences Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Group host a series of monthly lunchtime online seminars to support dissemination and discussion of best practice in an interdisciplinary science education. These informal webinars take place online from 13.00-13.50 on the final Thursday of each month and start with an introductory presentation from a member of the network followed by question and answers/discussion. They are open and free to attend (for both members of the Society and non-members)-so do feel free to extend the invitation to colleagues!
SNS PedR/SoTL group (pedr@socnatsci.org)
The Society are looking to employ a part-time secretary to assist with committee work. The role involves creating doodle polls for committee meetings, writing agendas, keeping minutes and action logs of online meetings (either by attendance online or from recordings), distributing marketing materials and other administrative tasks by mutual agreement. The position is a zero-hours contract, working from home. The hours, which will be irregular (depending on when committees are meeting), will on average amount to about 2 hours per week.
Relevant experience is essential.
For further information, to discuss the role or to apply email ceo@socnatsci.com
Closing date 28 Oct 2021
Derek Raine
CEO, Society for Natural Sciences
Reg Charity 1181964
The Society for Natural Sciences Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Group host a series of monthly lunchtime online seminars to support dissemination and discussion of best practice in an interdisciplinary science education. These informal webinars take place online from 13.00-13.50 on the final Thursday of each month and start with an introductory presentation from a member of the network followed by question and answers/discussion. They are open and free to attend (for both members of the Society and non-members)-so do feel free to extend the invitation to colleagues!
Our next seminar, Natural Sciences Learning and Teaching October e-Seminar: “Reflections on building an National Teaching Fellowship case” will be delivered by Jane White from the University of Bath and will take on Thursday 28th October 2021 from 13.00-14.00. Please register via this event to receive joining details on the morning of the event.
SNS PedR/SoTL group (pedr@socnatsci.org)
In June Chair Nicky King met with the new President of the Science Council Professor Carole Mundell alongside the leaders of four other bodies to discuss the issues facing professional bodies and priorities for the coming years. The conversation particularly focussed how we can increase the public understanding of the work of scientists, the professionalism of scientists and increase trust in science.
“The pandemic has shone a light upon the nature scientific debate and the importance of interdisciplinary approaches to the challenges facing the globe. We talked about the role of the Science Council and PRSBs in raising the profile of professionalism in science and trust in our members. We also talked about how scientists from diverse disciplines need to learn to trust and understand each other in order to work together and communicate effectively with the public, the work of you as interdisciplinary scientists and the work of the Society is so important in this regard.” Nicky King
These conversations continued in July at the Science Council AGM and we were invited to feed into the development of the Science Council strategy for 2025. The Science Council wants to harness the expertise of our members and therefore membership of the Science Council gives Society for Natural Sciences members a voice around the table in these discussions and raises the profile of interdisciplinary science and your work.
The Society for Natural Sciences (supported by Advance HE) will be hosting two online workshops to support academics entitled “Getting into Pedagogic Research” this July.
Documenting interventions in education and their consequences has always been of value, but especially so in times of rapid adaptation such as have been brought about by the global pandemic. So, if you are involved in changing the way you teach it is useful to approach this as a research project, documenting what you did and why and evaluating the outcomes against your initial aims. These two on-line seminars are designed as a guide for teaching staff in STEM in HE who may not have much, if any, experience of educational research.
6 July 2.00-3.30pm The first seminar will focus on formulating a viable research question including some of the ethical issues involved
8 July 2.00-3.30 pm The second seminar will involve evaluating the research and writing it up for publication.
Presenters: Professor Derek Raine & Dr Sarah Gretton (University of Leicester)
The seminars are free to Members of the Society for Natural Sciences, but you will need to register (Advance HE Connect | Events (advance-he.ac.uk). Recordings will also be available to members.
The Society for Natural Sciences Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Group will be hosting monthly lunchtime online seminars throughout 2021 to support dissemination and discussion of best practice in an interdisciplinary science education. These informal webinars have an introductory presentation from a member of the network followed by question and answers/discussion. Subjects scheduled so far include: assessments, interdisciplinary project work and evaluation of student skills. The seminars take place online 13.00-14.00 on the final Thursday of each month, and are open and free to attend (for both members of the Society and non-members).
Our next seminar, Natural Sciences Learning and Teaching April e-Seminar: “Blended Gold Standard PBL- Issues and Achievements” will be delivered by Corrina Cory from the University of Exeter will take on Thursday 24th June 2021 from 13.00-14.00. Please register via this event to receive joining details for the event.
SNS PedR/SoTL group (pedr@socnatsci.org)
The Society for Natural Sciences is delighted to launch their accreditation scheme for UK-based Natural Sciences degree programmes. Full details of how the scheme will work are outlined in the accreditation handbook and associated application form. which can be found here.
Using Interdisciplinary Science To Investigate The Long-Range Transport & Fate Of Polluting Chemicals In The Arctic
June 14 @ 13:30 – 14:30
Professor Cris Halsall, Society For Natural Sciences
There are an array of chemicals (certain pesticides, industrial chemicals etc) that are very persistent in the environment and pose a health risk to humans and wildlife.
Some of these chemicals can undergo long range environmental transport and end up in very remote regions like the Arctic.
With a focus on organofluorine ‘forever’ chemicals Professor Cris Halsall (Director of Natural Sciences at Lancaster University) will explore the interdisciplinary science used to understand this issue as well as improve global chemical-use policy.
In this event, Cris is representing the Society for Natural Sciences, a national learned society that promotes interdisciplinary science education and research.