Former Director of Teaching wins RSC prize Congratulations to Professor Michael Seery, former Director of Teaching at the School of Chemistry on winning a RSC 2021 Education Prize. Michael won the Royal Society of Chemistry 2021 Nyholm Prize for sustained and substantial scholarship in approaches to teaching and learning chemistry, and for providing leadership and support to others carrying out chemistry education research. The Nyholm Prize recognises sustained and substantial scholarship in approaches to teaching and learning chemistry, and for providing leadership and support to others carrying out chemistry education research. Giving students some freedom and independence to bring their ideas and insights is always rewarding; I am continually amazed by their talent! Professor Michael Seery CChem FRSC Laboratory work is an integral part of chemistry. There is a lot of evidence that suggests that many approaches in laboratory teaching do not make for meaningful learning. Professor Seery's work has explored how to design laboratory activities that fit into an overall approach, undertaken by students throughout their studies, which progressively develops students’ technical capabilities, ability to design experiments, and develop scientific thinking skills. Michael Seery is Professor of Chemistry Education, and until recently he was at the University of Edinburgh, where he was Director of Teaching in the School of Chemistry. He has since joined the Open University. His research interests focus on learning in the laboratory, with a particular focus on laboratory curriculum design. This work has resulted in significant outputs in teaching and assessment of laboratory skills, teaching of experimental design, and approaches for supporting cognitive engagement in laboratory settings. In addition, he is an advocate of practitioner-focussed education research. Michael has maintained significant engagement with the RSC in various guises. He is former Editor in Chief of the RSC journal Chemistry Education Research and Practice, as well as former Chair of the Editorial Board of Education in Chemistry. He is a Fellow of the RSC and was until recently an elected member of the RSC Education Division Council. He has been heavily involved in RSC local sections and interest groups over his career. Michael has a BA (Natural Sciences) and a PhD from Trinity College Dublin. His education work has been recognised by numerous awards, and he is a National Teaching Fellow. He is Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect of the forthcoming Gordon Research Conferences on Chemistry Education Research and Practice. Outside of chemistry, Michael is a keen historian, researching social history in the long eighteenth century. With his partner, Matthew, he enjoys outdoors, gardening, and badminton. More Information See all the winners Professor Michael Seery winner page Video of all the winners This article was published on 2024-03-13
