The Society for Natural Sciences Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Group host monthly lunchtime online seminars to support dissemination and discussion of best practice of interdisciplinary science education. These informal webinars are hosted via Advance HE, having an open presentation followed by lively discussion and Q&A.
Some of the previous sessions have covered topics such as “A Synoptic Approach to Learning,” “Pedagogical Games in Higher Education Mathematics,” and “Getting into Pedagogic Research.” We are open to suggestions for future talks and welcome interest to support our developing community. Currently scheduled event listing can be found here.
Recordings of the online seminars can be viewed here (available to members only; please consider becoming a member).
For more info, to suggest topics or put yourself forward to present, please contact our SNS PedR/SoTL group (pedr@socnatsci.org).
Chanel Talent Seminars
The Society for Natural Sciences also hosts online seminars targetted to audiences with a general interest in cutting edge research – these are pitched to those with a lay background of knowledge, or with high school-level understanding, so are broadly accessible for wide engagement.
Topics are wide ranging, and we encourage your comments, feedback and also your feed in for any topics that you would like to see in the future. Please contact us here.
Replacing Animal Research is a UK-based charity dedicated to replacing the use of animals in medical research. Formerly known as the Fund for the Replacement of Animals in Medical Experiments (FRAME), the organisation has been active for over 50 years. It champions the development and use of human-relevant, non-animal research methods to advance scientific knowledge and improve human health.
Support for Researchers
Replacing Animal Research supports the scientific community by:
Funding Innovative Research: They provide grants for projects that develop and validate non-animal methodologies, such as organ-on-chip technologies and human tissue or computer-based models.
Scientific Journal: In partnership with Sage the charity publishes ATLA (Alternatives to Laboratory Animals), a peer-reviewed journal that publishes research on alternative methodologies and 3Rs developments.
Education and Training: They offer training and resources to help researchers and students learn about how to search for and adopt non-animal methods.
Support the implementation of replacement to help meet the requirements of current animal research legislation, such as the Replacement Checklist for researchers and research reviewers.
Are you a Peer reviewer? The charity run free webinars for grant reviewers on using the Replacement Checklist to support the assessment of grant applications where animal use is proposed.
You can also sign up to receive regular updates on their work.
Loughborough University Researchers at the Heart of New UK Flagship Centre for Neuromorphic Computing.
Loughborough University is set to play a major role in the newly established UK Multidisciplinary Centre for Neuromorphic Computing, a national flagship initiative that will pioneer brain-inspired, energy-efficient computing technologies for the future. Funded with £5.6 million from UKRI’s Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), the centre brings together world-leading expertise from across the physical, biological and computational sciences.
The centre will act as a national hub for collaboration and innovation in neuromorphic computing — a rapidly growing field that takes inspiration from the structure and function of the human brain to develop sustainable, high-performance computing systems. Addressing one of the grand challenges of our time, the initiative will tackle the escalating global energy demands of artificial intelligence and digital infrastructures.
Led by Aston University, the centre draws together researchers from Loughborough, Oxford, Cambridge, Southampton, Strathclyde, Queen Mary University of London, and a wide network of industrial and policy partners. At its core lies an ambitious, interdisciplinary research vision that uniquely integrates human stem-cell-derived neuronal models, advanced computational paradigms, low-power AI algorithms, photonic hardware, and materials chemistry.
Loughborough University’s contribution is central to this multidisciplinary collaboration. Building on its longstanding strengths in neuro-engineering, biomaterials, microfabrication, and stem cell technologies, the university will lead key aspects of the research programme, developing next-generation neuromorphic systems inspired by human biology. This includes the use of cutting-edge induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) technologies to create human neurons, enabling unprecedented insights into brain-like computation and facilitating the co-design of novel computing architectures.
Dr Eric Hill, Programme Director for Natural Sciences at Loughborough, “Our work with human stem cell-derived neurons is central to this project’s multidisciplinary approach. By integrating biological, physical, and computational sciences, we’re helping to develop brain-inspired systems that will deliver energy-efficient, scalable solutions for complex data processing.”
The centre’s wider ambition is to create a sustainable UK research ecosystem, combining fundamental science with translational impact. Alongside its academic collaborators, Loughborough will work closely with a broad network of industry partners — including Microsoft Research, Thales, BT, QinetiQ, Nokia Bell Labs, Hewlett Packard Labs, Leonardo, and Northrop Grumman — ensuring that scientific advances translate into real-world societal and industrial benefits.
The Centre’s dedicated website is here – save this on your home screen as you’ll see lots of updates.
Beyond its immediate technological goals, the centre aims to cultivate a long-term interdisciplinary research community, positioning the UK at the global forefront of neuromorphic computing research.
Professor Paul Roach, Professor of Biomaterials and Interface Science at Loughborough, said: “Loughborough is extremely well-placed to drive interdisciplinary research in neuro-engineering. This centre builds on our expertise spanning stem cell technologies, materials chemistry, and microfabrication. Our ambition is to help position the UK as a world leader in neuromorphic computing.”
The March Society for Natural Sciences Learning and Teaching webinar “Closing the Awarding Gap – Listening to our Black Science Students” will be delivered by Louise MacBrayne and Jennie Bellamy from the Open University and will take place on Thursday 27th March 2025 from 12.00-12.50. Please register via this event link to receive joining details prior to 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 12.00-12.50 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 this invitation to colleagues!
The January Society for Natural Sciences Learning and Teaching webinar “Can austerity drive innovation in HE?” will be delivered by Professor Derek RaineEmeritus Professor at the University of Leicester and the London Interdisciplinary School and will take place on Thursday 30th January 2025 from 12.00-12.50. Please register via this event link to receive joining details prior to 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 12.00-12.50 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 this invitation to colleagues!
How to get started / support available for Evaluation and pedagogic research in STEM
Enablers and barriers to doing pedagogic research
Maximising reach and impact – publishing options?
Followed by breakout sessions to discuss personal experiences of enablers and barriers, and examples of pedagogic research projects
What is the Horizons in STEM HE Network?
The network has been established to bring together STEM Higher Education enthusiasts and practitioners with a vision of developing a STEM Higher Education experience that is informed and improved by the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning
We aim to achieve this vision by promoting innovation, dissemination, and collaboration in STEM pedagogy within a diverse and inclusive community of STEM educators.
The network is co-ordinated by a national committee that is focused on delivering the aims of the network.
The September Society for Natural Sciences Learning and Teaching webinar: ” Use of structured workbooks to support group interdisciplinary learning” will be delivered by Abigail Bellamy-Carter from the University of Birmingham and will take place on Thursday 26th September 2024 from 12.00-12.50. Please register via this event link to receive joining details prior to 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 12.00-12.50 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 this invitation to colleagues!
The May Society for Natural Sciences Learning and Teaching webinar: “Science Enterprise” will be delivered by James Blowey and Jen Topping from Durham University and will take place on Thursday 30th May 2024 from 12.00-12.50. Please register via this event link to receive joining details prior to 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 12.00-12.50 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 this invitation to colleagues!
The April Society for Natural Sciences Learning and Teaching webinar: “Keele Global Challenge Pathways – embedding an institution-wide interdisciplinary elective pathways programme” will be delivered by Katie Szkornik (Keele University) and will take place on Thursday 25th April 2024 from 12.00-12.50. Please register via this event link to receive joining details prior to 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 12.00-12.50 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 this invitation to colleagues!
The 7th Annual Society for Natural Sciences Student National Conference is just over a month away! The conference will take place in the beautiful city of Norwich, on Thursday 4th and Friday 5th April. This is an opportunity to meet with Natural Sciences students from across the country, and get some real-life experience in presenting your results – both poster and oral presentation opportunities will be available. We encourage finalists to present their final year research project, but students in any year can attend and present.
Our March Society for Natural Sciences Learning and Teaching webinar: “Insights into the Society for Natural Sciences undergraduate student journal” will be delivered by will be delivered by (Stephen Ashworth from the University of East Anglia) and will take place on Thursday 21st March 2024 from 12.00-12.50. Please register via this event link to receive joining details prior to 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 12.00-12.50 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 this invitation to colleagues!
