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Research Seminars

Pedagogic Research Seminars

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.

Our seminar gallery can be found here.

Horizons in STEM Higher Education Network Launch Event

Held on 17 October 2024 at 13:00–14:30 (GMT)

Supporting personal development of teaching-focused academics: Evaluation and pedagogic research in STEM

Dr Jane Pritchard NTF, Head of Educational Development, University of Oxford

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.
Horizons in STEM HE Network website, 2024 (https://ukstemnetwork.wordpress.com/)

To find out more, please visit the Horizons in STEM HE Network website: https://ukstemnetwork.wordpress.com/.

E-seminar – Use of structured workbooks to support group interdisciplinary learning

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 26^th 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!

SNS PedR/SoTL group (pedr@socnatsci.org)

E-Seminar – Science Enterprise

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 30^th May 2024 from 12.00-12.50. Please register via this event link to receive joining details prior to the event.

SNS PedR/SoTL group (pedr@socnatsci.org)

E-Seminar – Keele Global Challenge Pathways – embedding an institution-wide interdisciplinary elective pathways programme

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 25^th April 2024 from 12.00-12.50. Please register via this event link to receive joining details prior to the event.

SNS PedR/SoTL group (pedr@socnatsci.org)

Final Reminder to Register for Student Conference 2024

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.

Details for the conference can be found on the conference webpage here: https://www.socnatsci.org/student-conference-2024/.

Registration Deadlines: 15th March, 5pm.

To register for the conference please follow the link below. You must be a member of the Society for Natural Sciences to attend.

Register for 7th Annual Student National Conference

Registration costs £75 and does not cover accommodation.

E-seminar – Insights into the Society for Natural Sciences undergraduate student journal

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 21^st March 2024 from 12.00-12.50. Please register via this event link to receive joining details prior to the event.

SNS PedR/SoTL group (pedr@socnatsci.org)

Reminder to Register for Student Conference 2024

Details for the conference can be found on the conference webpage here: https://www.socnatsci.org/student-conference-2024/.

Registration Deadlines

Oral Presentations (5th March); All other attendees (15th March).

To register for the conference please follow the link below. You must be a member of the Society for Natural Sciences to attend.

Register for 7th Annual Student National Conference

Registration costs £75 and does not cover accommodation.

Upcoming Society for Natural Sciences SoTL project networking meeting

When: Tuesday 16th April, 2024

Where: University of Birmingham

One of the aims of the Society for Natural Sciences is to support developments in STEM teaching and learning through applied research. As practitioners we have direct access to the classroom and hence the opportunities to implement and evaluate theoretical ideas in practice. Through this event we aim to establish a collaborative approach to applied research in teaching and learning that will allow us to research teaching developments (for example AI in teaching, group work, teaching coding to scientists) across different contexts and with larger cohorts, and ultimately to provide increased evidence and impact than that in a single institution. To initiate such collaborations, we would like to bring interested parties together in a face-to-face meeting in order to stimulate parallel discussions on topics for joint development.

This event is open to all STEM educators who are members of the Society for Natural Sciences. (We are happy to support projects that fall outside the curriculum of a Natural Sciences degree programme but have relevance to STEM HE education).

Note: there may support for travel from the Society. If this is a barrier to attending, please email pedr@socnatsci.org for more information.

E-seminar – Alternatives to written assessments for assessing student skills and knowledge: vivas and OSPEs in the Biological Sciences

Our February Society for Natural Sciences Learning and Teaching webinar: “Alternatives to written assessments for assessing student skills and knowledge: vivas and OSPEs in the Biological Sciences” will be delivered by will be delivered by Kelly Edmunds and Helen Leggett (University of East Anglia) and will take place on Thursday 29th February 2024 from 12.00-12.50. Please register via this event link to receive joining details prior to the event.

SNS PedR/SoTL group (pedr@socnatsci.org)

E-seminar – New Directions in the Teaching of Natural Sciences- an Editor’s perspective

Our January Society for Natural Sciences Learning and Teaching webinar: “New Directions in the Teaching of Natural Sciences- an Editor’s perspective” will be delivered by Sweta Ladwa from University of Greenwich and will take place on Thursday 25^th January 2024 from 12.00-12.50. Please register via this event link to receive joining details prior to the event.

SNS PedR/SoTL group (pedr@socnatsci.org)