The Royal Society of Biology (RSB) has set up a new teacher coordinator network in Scotland which is kindly supported by SSERC. RSB acknowledges the role that SSERC plays in managing the Synapse virtual network in Scotland as part of its contribution to biology education in Scotland.

Four coordinators have been appointed and they will support the management and further development of the SYNAPSE mailing list which currently has more than 2200 members, and provides an effective means of linking biology teachers across Scotland as well as a useful site for sharing resources.

The key role of the four coordinators is to help the Society sustain the network and ensure that it is responsive to the needs of teachers. Each coordinator is also taking on responsibility, with the assistance of the Society, for organising one regional event/meeting per term, covering an aspect of current interest to the membership in their region.

Coordinators

Andrew Johnston
Marjorie Smith
Claire McCartney
Gillian Davis

Mission

The aim of the teacher network in Scotland is to support the professional development of the biology teaching community, to provide more opportunities for links and experiences with Higher Education and life sciences research, and to act as a voice for the biology teaching community in Scotland.

Local Management team

The network coordinators will have access to a local management team including:
Dr Liz Lakin - University of Dundee, Chair of the Royal Society of Biology branch in Scotland
Professor Kevin O'Dell - University of Glasgow
Professor Jack Jackson - University of Strathclyde and formerly with HM Schools Inspectorate in Scotland
Dr Susie Burr - Science education consultant and formally secondary science teacher and teacher educator at both the University of Strathclyde and West of Scotland

Contact

For general enquiries about the network please contact the SSERC Education Manager for Biology, Annie McRobbie.   

For general enquiries about RSB please contact Education Policy Officer, Shabana Brightley.