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.

By Eliza.Compton , 7 November, 2025

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

Reading time

4minutes

By kiera.obrien , 3 November, 2025

‘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

Reading time

4minutes

By kiera.obrien , 23 October, 2025

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

Reading time

4minutes

By Laura.Duckett , 8 October, 2025

How to train PhD Jedi

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

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

Reading time

4minutes

By Eliza.Compton , 8 October, 2025

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

Reading time

4minutes

By Eliza.Compton , 7 October, 2025

Who cares about this problem as much as you do?

Liquid with dollar sign dropping into test tube, research funding

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

Reading time

4minutes

By kiera.obrien , 10 September, 2025

Four ways to shape the future of analytical labs now

A white-coated figure handles test tubes

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

Reading time

4minutes

By Laura.Duckett , 9 September, 2025

How an AI video competition can enhance student engagement

Students working on a film treatment with a camera in hand

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

Reading time

5minutes

By Eliza.Compton , 20 August, 2025

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

Group of Asian students looking at computer

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

Reading time

4minutes

By Eliza.Compton , 6 August, 2025

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

Reading time

4minutes

STEM teaching and research