Judy Harris
University of Bristol, UK

https://doi.org/10.36866/pn.92.14

The ET Theme is one of the seven ‘themes’ that all Physiological Society Members can join. It evolved from the Teaching Special Interest Group (SIG) for which I took on the role of co-convenor, along with Richard Helyer, in 2007. At that time we were keen for the Teaching SIG to contribute to raising the profile of education within The Society and we also wanted to extend the SIG’s remit and membership. Since virtually all physiology academics teach in some shape or form we felt that it should have something to offer a wide range of Members. Interestingly, in other societies such as the APS, FEPS and IUPS, education tends to have a much higher profile than was the case for PhySoc in 2007.

So, has the profile of education within The Society increased in the last six years, and has the ET Theme played a part in this? I hope and believe that both are true!

ET Theme membership has grown from just over 100 in 2007 to nearly 550, but we remain keen to recruit Members, especially those on traditional ‘three-legged’ (research, teaching and administration) contracts. All Theme Members receive a regular online newsletter outlining on-going developments, upcoming events and funding opportunities. The budget that we receive from the Education and Outreach Committee is used in a variety of ways to benefit Members.

Since 2007 we have supported five regional teaching workshops in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol and Belfast, with another planned for Dundee in 2014. Funding is used to provide travel grants for participants and speakers as well as contributing to room hire and refreshments. In addition to providing opportunities to share good teaching practice, these events facilitate the creation of regional physiology teaching networks, which can be especially helpful for Members who are not part of a strong physiology teaching community within their own university – a situation that is becoming more common.

Recently the Theme supported the IUPS Teaching Workshop in Bristol by providing poster prizes, as well as travel grants for several overseas delegates. The latter made it possible for physiologists from developing countries to attend an international teaching event which not only promoted mutually beneficial exchanges about teaching in different countries but also helped to create and foster links across a global physiology teaching community.

The ET Theme also hosts an Education Symposium at every Physiological Society Main Meeting. Before 2008, these were scheduled immediately before the Main Meeting but attendance tended to be poor. They now run in parallel with the research symposia and attendance has increased significantly. Topics have included practical physiology teaching, final year research projects, sustainability of physiology teaching and methods for setting the pass mark in examinations – a General Medical Council requirement for all medical assessments, now being adopted by several other degree programmes. Some Education Symposia have included the Otto Hutter Physiology Teaching Prize Annual Lecture, another recent initiative within The Society that has raised the profile of education.

An informal lunchtime teaching discussion has also become a regular feature of each Main Meeting. These focus on topical issues such as development of The Society’s core physiology curriculum for medical training and the valuation/status of teaching in career progression.
The latter is an issue close to my heart and the ET Theme has been able to make a significant contribution to national debate in this area through collecting data via membership surveys on reward and recognition for teaching in higher education. We are now working closely with the Academy of Medical Sciences, the Society of Biology and the Higher Education Academy to promote an integrated approach across the higher education sector in raising the profile of, and recognition for, teaching activities in career progression for all academics, not only teaching specialists.

After six rewarding years as co-convenor, since 2010 with Dave Lewis, it’s time for me to hang up my ET Theme convenor boots. In some ways I’m reluctant to do this because it’s an exciting time for education within The Society but fresh blood is always welcome. There will be an online election for my successor. More information will be circulated soon but if you’re interested in putting your name forward, please let Dave Lewis, Chrissy Stokes or myself know. Also, feel free to contact any of us if you would like more information about the role, or contact Chrissy if you would like to join the ET Theme.

Finally, I would like to thank Rich and Dave for their input as successive co-convenors, the Education and Outreach Committee for provision of the ET Theme budget and Chrissy for her invaluable support within the Theme over the last six years.