https://doi.org/10.36866/pn.133.44

In November last year, we held our first ever “Physiology Week”, between 20 and 24 November. This global celebration of physiology saw hundreds of physiologists come together to organise 70 events worldwide and demonstrate the importance of physiology. From public lectures to coffee mornings, school visits to lab tours, our members opened their doors to the wider community and showcased why physiology matters.

Physiology Health Checks

“At The University of East London, myself and other colleagues in the School of Health, Sport and Bioscience set up a ‘Physiology Health Checks’ stand in one of the central foyers of the university. We had a range of physiological tests including pulse oximetry, grip strength and peak flow. Over the course of the morning, we had over 200 students stop by at the stand and complete our various tests. It was fantastic to see so many people interested in their own physiology and wanting to understand more about how to keep healthy.”

Charlotte Thornton White, Sports Science & Physiology Supervisor, Department of Applied Sport & Exercise Sciences, School of Health Sport & Bioscience, University of East London

Knit a Neurone

“As part of Physiology Week, we ran an activity called ‘Knit a Neurone’, where students at the University of Bristol could come along and knit, crochet or make a pom pom neurone. It was a great opportunity to come together with colleagues in the School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience to talk to students about the importance of physiology and get them enthused about neuroscience.”

Dr Dawn Davies, Associate Professor in Biomedical Education, University of Bristol

Night at the Vet College

“To coincide with Physiology Week, in November we held ‘Night at the Vet College’ our annual public engagement event where we open our doors to the public to showcase our innovative research, which aims to improve the treatment, understanding and welfare of animals. This year’s event saw our biggest turnout with over 570 visitors enjoying the activities. These included practical activities in our labs, interactive stands, mini lectures, visits to our anatomy museum (which is not usually open to the public), and tours of the campus. As well as being a great opportunity to learn more about the Royal Veterinary College, it also gave our students and researchers the opportunity to talk about what they are learning on their degrees and to discuss their research.”

Dr Grace MacKintosh Sim, Outreach Development Manager, & Caroline Pellet-Many, Lecturer in Biomedical Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, University of London

During Physiology Week, we also ran a social media campaign called #FacesofPhysiology, asking our global community of physiologists to take part by sending us their picture and posting about their work. Through this campaign we celebrated the incredible breadth and depth of physiology and physiologists – from classrooms to clinics and from labs to lifeboats. This resulted in 229 submissions from physiologists all over the world. The showcase was unveiled at the Member Forum in December at The Royal Society in London. You can see a snapshot of the showcase on the back page of the pdf and print issue.

Save the date! Physiology Week 2024 will be held from 18 to 22 November 2024.