Accessibility statement

Studying with us

UYSEG members deliver a wide range of teaching and supervision within the Department, University and nationally, and hold or have held various teaching leadership roles.  Our contributions span science education, environmental education and sustainability, biological psychology, and fundamental educational concepts such as curriculum, learning and assessment.  We also supervise dissertation research at UG, MA and PhD level, and contribute to initial teacher training. Finally, we are involved in delivering CPD for teachers and academics.

We are proud that the contributions of members of UYSEG have been recognised through teaching awards and nominations:

Science education

UYSEG has three approved specialist science education modules for final-year undergraduate and taught masters students:

Environmental education and sustainability

Biological psychology

Fundamental educational concepts

  • Members of UYSEG teach on the BA Education, delivering and leading modules on learning, curriculum, assessment, educational meanings and contexts, and research methods
  • UYSEG teaches theories of learning and development for the MA Education

PhD supervision and training

Please see the PhD projects in progress that members of UYSEG are currently supervising. Areas in which UYSEG staff would be happy to supervise PhD research projects are listed below. Please also see some overviews of potential research projects to give an idea of potential projects currently available.  Information about how to apply can be found on the Department’s dedicated webpage.

Dr Jeremy Airey

  • Genomics education in schools
  • Learners’ conceptual development, particularly in 11-18 biology
  • Attitudes to science teachers’ subject knowledge, particularly in relation to emerging science

Dr Lynda Dunlop

  • Climate change and environmental education and communication
  • Teaching and learning about socio-scientific issues
  • Young people’s participation in environmental decision making

Dr Naomi Holmes

  • Accessibility of environmental science and geography (including citizen-science, EDI)
  • Outdoor and experiential learning (for environmental sustainability education)
  • Teaching, learning and assessment in higher education (environmental science and geography)

Dr Kerry Knox

  • Doctoral training in the sciences and engineering disciplines
  • Teaching and learning of science at the undergraduate level
  • Development of experimental expertise in science

PhD students working on environmental education are welcome to join EDGE, a group for early career researchers from across the UK and beyond to share and discuss research. The group meets online on the first Monday of each month, from 12-1pm. Contact lynda.dunlop@york.ac.uk for more information.

UYSEG works with the Royal Geographical Society to deliver ‘New to Teaching’ sessions for postgraduate researchers.  It also delivers training for postgraduate researchers in science and engineering disciplines from seven UK universities on topics such as:

  • Effective teamwork;
  • Team-Based Learning;
  • Preparing for placements; and
  • Professional learning.

UG and Masters supervision

Several members of UYSEG supervise final-year (UG3) dissertation research projects as part of the BA Education, and masters projects as part of the MA Education.

Initial teacher training

We have close links with the Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) programme in Secondary Science at York, and with its partnering schools and teachers.  Several members of UYSEG teach on the programme, while Dr. Leanne Mason, one of the Curriculum Area Leaders for Secondary Science alongside Simon Quinnell, is involved in several UYSEG research projects.

CPD for teachers

UYSEG co-delivers CPD sessions on 'Building accessibility and inclusivity into fieldwork' for GCSE geography teachers on behalf of WJEC (Wales’ largest awarding body).

CPD for academics

Teaching leadership roles

Examples of leadership roles held by members of UYSEG include:

  • Chief Examiner (GCSE Biology, UK)
  • Director of Education for Environmental Sustainability at York (ESAY)
  • Science Education Specialist, EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Aerosol Science
  • Governor of a local secondary school
  • Deputy Head of Department, Department of Education
  • Chair of the Board of Studies, Department of Education
  • Deputy Chair of the Board of Studies, Department of Education
  • Director of Undergraduate Studies, Department of Education
  • Deputy Director of Undergraduate Studies, Department of Education
  • Chair of the Board of Examiners, Department of Education
  • Chair of the Exceptional Circumstances Committee, Department of Education
  • Programme Leader, BA Education, Department of Education
  • Teaching and Learning Development Coordinator, Department of Education