STEM teaching and research

Advice for academics and lecturers working in the fields of science, technology, engineering and maths to help advance STEM research and teaching. These resources cover issues such as how to widen participation and get more women into STEM fields, preparing students for STEM careers, managing the impact of AI on STEM learning, building industry collaborations and communicating STEM research for greater impact.

Statue of Plato in front of Academy of Athens in Athens, Greece

I blame Plato: how ancient thinking still might shape belonging in STEM

The history of mathematics tells a rich story of collective labour, curiosity, dialogue, adventurousness and responsiveness to human questions. Educators have responsibility to tap into this for current and future students, writes Clemency Montelle

Clemency Montelle

University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha

Raffaella Ocone is a professor of chemical engineering at Heriot-Watt University

Campus Talks: The career story of Raffaella Ocone, the first female professor of chemical engineering in Scotland

We hear how a woman from rural southern Italy became the first female professor of chemical engineering in Scotland – and what she’s working on now

Raffaella Ocone, Miranda Prynne

Heriot-Watt University

A male and female engineer in safety gear pointing at project

How to lead industry-focused research without losing academic rigour

Working with industry can increase research impact, but many academics worry about protecting quality and rigour. Here, Firdous Nazir shares practical lessons on how to collaborate effectively on applied research without compromising academic standards

Firdous Ul Nazir

Glasgow Caledonian University

Older engineer working with an engineering apprentice

How to run effective industry-enriched project-based learning in STEM

The foundation of widening participation lies in a curriculum that is flexible enough to accommodate increasing student diversity while aligning with industry needs, writes James Williams

James Williams

University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha

Opening doors to greater diversity in STEM

Find out how to remove barriers to study and research in science, technology, engineering and maths in order to attract and retain a wider diversity of talented students and academics in STEM fields

Campus contributors, Laura Duckett

Campus

Young male and female high school students in a chemistry lab

Why investment earlier in the pipeline would strengthen diversity in STEM

Persistent inequities in uptake of science, engineering, technology and mathematics begin before college. Drawing on evidence from K-12 talent development programmes, Keisha Simmons offers practical guidance to strengthen the STEM pipeline

Keisha Simmons

Georgia Tech’s Center for 21st Century Universities

Boosting gender diversity in male-dominated STEM disciplines

How to address gender disparity in STEM, when so many disciplines are overwhelmingly male-dominated? Here’s how to work towards equality

Rick Cooper

Birkbeck, University of London

How to help women thrive in STEM study and beyond

Women must be supported at both the student and staff levels to pursue rewarding careers in STEM, during their degrees as well as in the workforce

Natalie K. D. Seedan

The University of the West Indies

A woman in a lab coat testing samples in a lab

Inspire the next generation of bioengineering lab technicians

STEM outreach workshops can encourage school students to pursue careers as laboratory research scientists. Nana Asante Asamoah-Danso offers advice on creating memorable and engaging experiences

Nana Asante Asamoah-Danso

Imperial College London

A young woman smiling to camera ourside wearing a t-shirt with a rainbow on it

Practical LGBTQ+ allyship within STEMM

Allyship in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine requires more than symbolic gestures. From inclusive language to visible signals of support, practical action can help create safer, more equitable workplaces for LGBTQ+ colleagues and students

Claire L. Davies, Eleanor M. Townsend, Andrew M. Griffiths

The University of Exeter

How to embed STEM across all disciplines? Start small

Build the STEM skills students will need for the future into your existing courses – with a little-and-often approach. Here’s how

Kenneth Wai-Ting Leung

Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

Young Asian man recording observations in nature

‘The process of writing forces the writer to be present’

Writing is hard and uncomfortable, but the craft of turning thoughts into words should not be lost to the frictionless ease of generative AI, write Jackie Webb and Christina Birnbaum

Jackie Webb, Christina Birnbaum

The University of Southern Queensland

A robot uses a microscope in a laboratory

Balance human intuition with machine efficiency in scientific research

AI can automate scientific experiments quickly, efficiently and accurately – but what are we losing in the process? Here’s how to strike a balance

Mohamed Hussein

Dubai Medical University

Campus Talks: ‘Use your brain!’ And other pointers from a seasoned computer scientist on using AI in research

Hear a leading researcher in artificial intelligence discuss the potential of these digital tools for advancing knowledge and what effective and ethical AI use looks like

Karin Verspoor, Miranda Prynne

RMIT University, Campus

Beyond Alan Turing: bringing LGBTQ+ role models into STEM

LGBTQ+ identities remain largely invisible in STEM. Shining a light on them in everyday teaching can strengthen belonging and representation

Eleanor M. Townsend, Claire L. Davies, Andrew M. Griffiths

The University of Exeter

A researcher reading a pile of books next to a robot with a trolley of more books

GenAI as a research assistant

GenAI is reshaping research, from accelerating discovery to easing administrative burdens. Discover practical guidance on how researchers can use these tech tools effectively and ethically

Campus contributors, Laura Duckett

Campus

AI and human collaboration concept illustration

Harnessing AI to expand scientific discovery

From drug design to climate modelling, artificial intelligence can process data at scales far beyond human capacity. Hongliang Xin argues that the future of research lies in harnessing agentic AI through human-guided discovery

Hongliang Xin

Virginia Tech

A group of university students working together at a table

Make team-based learning work for neurodivergent students

Students with autism, ADHD and dyslexia often struggle in team-based learning contexts. Read advice for tailoring this activity to specific learning needs and reducing overstimulation

Multiple authors

University of Bath, University of Bradford

How technicians can achieve professional registration

Technical professionals are essential to the success of universities and research institutes. Nana Asante Asamoah-Danso offers guidance on achieving formal recognition

Nana Asante Asamoah-Danso

Imperial College London

Storytelling in STEM: connecting concepts, confidence and identity

Designing STEM classrooms that encourage students to reflect on their progress and share their stories takes intention, but the pay-off is enormous: more engaged, capable and confident learners

Karen Ho, Douglas B. Clark

Mount Royal University, University of Calgary

Close up of a camera as it films an instructor explaining a medical concept

Use scripted conversations to fill knowledge gaps

How a conversational video that recreates instructor–student dialogues is boosting test scores, confidence and deeper comprehension across engineering cohorts

María Villarreal, Jobish Vallikavungal, Ana Sarmiento, Jonathan Montalvo

Tecnológico de Monterrey

Magnifying glass looking at a brain, illustration

Putting arts and humanities at the heart of research

Disciplines too often are siloed, but today’s most pressing challenges rarely fit neatly into a single field. How do we encourage science and technology fields to work with arts and humanities?

Lisa McNair, Thomas L. Martin

Virginia Tech

An interdisciplinary team discussing a project

STEAM-based education is the way forward

How to integrate science, technology, engineering, arts, humanities and mathematics to create interdisciplinary programmes that build skills and address real-world problems

Hanifa Shah

Birmingham City University

Group of four smiling college students walking

A warm welcome is a strategic imperative for higher education

If we want incoming students to flourish, we must stop treating belonging as a bonus and start seeing it as an essential condition for learning. Scott Dunning offers strategies on welcoming students to succeed

Scott Dunning

Virginia Tech

Embracing co-creation through experiential learning

Co-creation cultivates skills and mindsets that traditional classrooms may not be able to provide. For instructors, sharing control with students can result in a richer, more dynamic educational experience for all, writes Ed Berger

Ed Berger

Virginia Tech

Prevent overstimulation and support autistic students in the laboratory

Laboratory sessions can prompt overstimulation in autistic students. Here, one student outlines the challenges they’ve faced and what support has helped

Matthew Jones, Beth Crofts

University of Salford

Subtle steps that protect your authorship

Many early career researchers working with code, data and analysis assume goodwill is enough to secure authorship – it isn’t. Here’s how to protect your contributions and build fair, transparent collaborations

Hari Ram C. R. Nair

Chalmers University of Technology

Three ways to motivate engineering students

Motivating engineering students when information overload threatens to sap their attention requires real-world industrial collaborations, a customised learning experience and a focus on impact

Julien Le Duigou

Université de Technologie de Compiègne

‘Support is not remedial. It is pedagogy’

STEM foundation years are key to widening participation. Find out how to make them supportive and structured, with well-being at the centre

Darryl Morgan, Hannah Seale

University of South Wales

The Portfolio Club: an extracurricular activity to support students’ employability

Strengthen the work readiness of your biomedical science students by supporting them to begin work on their training portfolios early. Here’s how

Tahmina Hussain

University of Salford

A woman wearing a cape with a light saber in hand, ready for battle

How to train PhD Jedi

Training PhD students is less about supervision and more about empowerment. By fostering independence, creativity and diversity, supervisors can nurture the next generation of scientific leaders

Lars Chittka

Queen Mary University of London

Mind the gap: how an industry-university partnership brought theory into practice

Regular communication, flexibility in timelines, a willingness to look beyond academic disciplines and a shared commitment to the bigger picture kept this university-industry research collaboration on track

Xiaojun Zhai, Michael Hayes

University of Essex, Railscape

Liquid with dollar sign dropping into test tube, research funding

Who cares about this problem as much as you do?

Securing funding requires researchers to think like strategists, storytellers and coalition-builders. Nicole Akers offers advice for navigating the demanding process to win grants and turn ideas into impact

Nicole Akers

Virginia Tech

A white-coated figure handles test tubes

Four ways to shape the future of analytical labs now

Academic labs are key to research and innovation – but they need to keep evolving. Here’s how to make a lab smarter, greener and leaner

Imtias Amir Bahauddin

Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP)

Students working on a film treatment with a camera in hand

How an AI video competition can enhance student engagement

A competition tasking first-years with making explainer videos is boosting engagement, deepening understanding and giving students valuable hands-on AI experience. See how

Xi Chen

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

Group of Asian students looking at computer

Laying foundations: how to keep first-year students invested in their learning

The challenge for higher education foundation courses is to prepare students for university learning and build their confidence without overwhelming them with information. This guide explains how

Yeow Leong Lee

Singapore Management University

Equipping university graduates to think beyond the classroom

Too many students – and some educators – misunderstand what critical thinking entails. Here, Marie Paretti explains why engineering students in particular struggle with open-ended problems, and how educators can design experiences that help them learn to think in context

Marie Paretti

Virginia Tech

Four ways to boost diversity in environmental science

The barriers to STEM subjects start long before students apply. From rigid entry requirements to a lack of representation, here are four, with practical ways to build a more inclusive environmental science pipeline

Abby Onencan

The University of East Anglia

‘Design is what industry demands of our engineering graduates’

By shifting focus from analysis to design, educators not only better align electronics engineering education with industry needs but also ignite students’ creativity and problem-solving capabilities, writes Ji-Jon Sit

Ji-Jon Sit

Nanyang Technological University

How to bring university science into primary schools

Engaging primary-school-age children with STEM will help them to think critically and develop informed opinions for the rest of their lives. Here’s how to do it

Farah Jaber-Hijazi

University of the West of Scotland

Collaboration is a quiet evolution for bold impact

How can universities drive global progress through creative collaboration with private sector partners? Brandy Salmon shares lessons for university leaders

Brandy Salmon

Virginia Tech

What does the UK’s spin-out ecosystem need to thrive nationwide?

Despite their abundance of research and expertise, UK academic institutions lack mechanisms to encourage and incentivise movement between academia and industry, particularly within the spin-out community, writes Richard Hague

Richard Hague

University of Nottingham

The alchemy of promoting partnerships between higher education and industry

With the promise of technological innovation and demand for talent, universities and industry have much to gain by working together. Brandy Salmon shares advice for developing sustainable, impactful industry collaboration

Brandy Salmon

Virginia Tech

Campus talks: actions that make a real difference in the fight against climate change

From global finance to the laboratory, hear about two very different ways by which universities can reduce their carbon emissions

Ellen Quigley, Jenna Lowe

University of Cambridge, University of Liverpool

How partnerships with business are evolving to support student employability

‘Intrapreneurship’, interdisciplinary degree pathways, student-led projects and early engagement are all ways universities can move industry collaboration from partnership to co-building

Saurabh Sinha

University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha

Airport arrival sign with welcome in English, French and Italian

How to strengthen onboarding and integration for international scientific talent

Welcoming faculty from another country requires more than adding visa information to the domestic induction process. Joanna Daaboul shares how her institution helps international researchers settle into life in France

Joanna Daaboul

Université de Technologie de Compiègne

What I needed as a Black woman in STEM

Factors that influence the success of Black women in STEM, including community building, EDI responsibilities and invisible labour – and how to provide support

Carlotta A. Berry

Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

Young female Asian university student in white coat

Using design-thinking to train the next generation of engineers

A ‘triple helix’ teaching approach shows how engineering educators can combine theoretical rigour with practical problem-solving to prepare students to innovate in the real world. Here, Chen Xiaodong explains how it evolved

Chen Xiaodong

Nanyang Technological University

Three people looking at a page in a meeting

‘Explain your research as if you were speaking to a smart teenager’

For researchers to give their work a chance to have real-world impact, they need skills and tools to communicate effectively with politicians. Here, Kylie Ahern offers ways to make every engagement count

Kylie Ahern

STEM Matters

Guard rails to mitigate ethical concerns for AI use

Artificial intelligence can vastly improve productivity and advance innovation, but integrating AI into academia brings significant ethical implications. These policies and procedures could help mitigate these concerns

Qin Zhu

Virginia Tech

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