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Contents Help us improve diversity and inclusivity by updating your details on the member portal today! Welcome to the Summer 2020 edition of Physiology News Introduction Features 5 Editorial 22 Online tools for teaching: From inclusive learning to “the way” to teach and assess during the COVID-19 pandemic 6 President’s View: Lessons for The Society from COVID-19 25 A case study of ADInstruments’ online learning platform Lt: 7 Letters to the Editor New virtual adventure in physiology practicals 28 Recognition for education and teachers in universities: Has anything changed in the last 6 years? News and Views 32 Homeostatic teaching: Unmasking the beauty of physiology 36 Batman to brain and back again: Using superheroes to 10 Final year or honours research projects: Time for a total communicate science re-think? 12 Physiology education manuscripts in demand: Top accessed articles in Advances in Physiology Education Log into the portal to update your details now: 13 Delivering a high-quality practical education remotely Membership physoc.org/details 14 Mapping the landscape for physiology students and graduates 40 Teaching physiology in lockdown: A steep learning curve 15 Reports of The Society’s recent committee meetings 42 The new normal for physiology education: Four research papers 16 Online Learning versus classroom learning: Questioning who for moving teaching online TPS12405 - Diversity and inclusivity advert - text update V2REPRO.indd 1 13/08/2019 11:48:49 learns what 44 Three education research studies to inform teaching during Physiology News Scientific Editor COVID-19: Reflections from our 2018 Otto Hutter Physiology Teaching Prize winner Keith Siew University College London We welcome feedback on our membership magazine, or letters and suggestions for articles for publication, including book reviews, from our Members. Managing Editor Events 46 Defining virtual, augmented and mixed reality in physiology education Please email Julia Turan at magazine@physoc.org. Julia Turan 18 Future Physiology 2020: Our first virtual conference 48 Making the most of online learning in lockdown: A student Editorial Board Physiology News is one of the benefits of membership, along with reduced registration rates perspective for our high-profile events, free online access to our leading journals, The Journal of Physiology, Ronan Berg University Hospital Rigshospitalet Angus Brown University of Nottingham 49 Obituary: John Bligh Experimental Physiology and Physiological Reports, and travel grants to attend scientific meetings. Membership offers you access to the largest network of physiologists in Europe. Havovi Chichger Anglia Ruskin University 50 Obituary: Nicholas Beresford Standen Karen Doyle NUI Galway Join now to support your career in physiology: 51 Obituary: Gerhard Giebisch Lalarukh Haris Shaikh Palantir Technologies Visit www.physoc.org/membership or call 0207 269 5721. Richard Hulse Nottingham Trent University Philip Lewis University Hospital of Cologne Dervla O’Malley University College Cork Membership Fees for 2020 FEES Michael Preedy Queen Mary University of London Fellow £120 Christopher Torrens R oyal College of Surgeons Member £90 in Ireland YOUTUBE LOGO SPECS Retired Member – PRINT magazine@physoc.org on light backgrounds on dark backgrounds Affiliate £40 main red gradient bottom www.physoc.org standard standard PMS 1795C PMS 1815C Associate £30 C0 M96 Y90 K2 C13 M96 Y81 K54 Undergraduate – white WHITE C0 M0 Y0 K0 black BLACK C100 M100 Y100 K100 no gradients @ThePhySoc no gradients Opinions expressed in articles and letters submitted by, or commissioned from, Members or outside bodies are not /physoc watermark watermark necessarily those of The Physiological Society. Physiology News is a member magazine and therefore is not subject to peer review and authors are advised to not include unpublished hard scientific data. Except where otherwise noted, content is /company/The-Physiological-Society licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0) licence (creativecommons. stacked logo (for sharing only) stacked logo (for sharing only) org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/), which permits reuse, redistribution and reproduction, as well as remixing, transformation, and building upon the material for any purpose, in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. /physoctv © 2020 The Physiological Society ISSN 1476-7996 (Print) ISSN 2041-6512 (Online). The Physiological Society is registered in England as a company limited by guarantee: No. 323575. Registered office: Hodgkin Huxley House, 30 Farringdon Lane, @thephysoc London EC1R 3AW. Registered Charity: No. 211585. “The Physiological Society” and the Physiological Society logo are trademarks belonging to The Physiological Society and are registered in the UK and in the EU Community, respectively. Designed and printed in the UK by The Lavenham Press Ltd. Cover image: Cover design by Jamie Wignall. Twitter: @jamie_wignall, Website: jamiewignall.com 2 Physiology News / Summer 2020 / Issue 119 3
Editorial HEAR THE LATEST RA N SPORT T RESEARCH ONLINE: MBRANE Lessons for The Society from COVID-19 ME OUR UPCOMING Nicholas Freestone fulfilling she found that transition. Her Such educational research clearly underpins & EPITHELI A experiences will strike a chord with many successful teaching and learning activities. Kingston University, London, UK readers (p. 44). You might be surprised to learn that7 of the NG HI 10 most accessed articles across the entire EVENTS Underpinning the ongoing efforts to adapt suite of APS titles last year were pedagogical C Sarah K Hall TION & TEA to the online context, while maintaining the studies published in Advances in Physiology student experience and managing academic Education (Barbara Goodman, p. 12). For Cardiff University and Chair of workload, Maria Toledo-Rodriguez and Alison instance, Khalil and Elkhider’s 2016 paper Education, Public Engagement Mostyn provide us with a valuable overview on learning theories and instructional design OCRINOL (p. 22) of available online technologies models was downloaded 81,467 times by CA D O and Policy Committee of The U EN to support teaching and learning. All June 2020! This is the kind of exposure that ED Physiological Society GY aspects are covered here, from teaching to many of us can only dream of and shows YSIOLOGY assessment, OSCEs (objective structured the appetite for research that underpins PH clinical examinations) and interactive best practice in our teaching and provision AR (anonymous) in-lecture polling. Importantly, of learning. VASCUL The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the they also consider student wellbeing and HYSIOLO central role of education in society. Whether how to sustain a learning community in the Paradoxically, whilst pedagogical research CP G LI you are an academic, a teacher, a student or electronic realm. is highly valued by our colleagues, Judy Y & O a parent facing home-schooling, the abrupt Harris’ latest survey (p. 26) found that M ET A B AC switch from on-campus education to the Equally useful are two thoughtful promotion and progression for teaching- DI Y SIOLOGY NE U R O online realm has had a profound impact contributions from recipients of The focused staff is less apparent now than in PH CAR SC on our working and home lives. While the Society’s Otto Hutter Teaching Prize. James 2013, in comparison with research-focused ISE IEN crisis may have revealed vulnerabilities in Clark (p. 47) highlights four very recent colleagues. 60% of the respondents to Judy’s E X ER C an education system that is often under- research papers addressing alternative forms survey were unaware of any professorial C E resourced and under-appreciated, it has also of delivery and engagement, including use appointments on teaching pathways in their HU M underlined the imagination, resourcefulness, of flipped modules and musical jingles, that institutions within the last 3 years. Even with L& dynamism and perseverance of educators are relevant to successful online activities. the advent of the UK’s Teaching Excellence TA A N, N EN and students alike as we have successfully Julia Choate meanwhile (p. 48) takes a wider Framework, there is still work to be done VIRONME adapted to the new “normal.” look at the literature and highlights three in the sector to recognise consistent and pedagogical studies that continue to inspire achievable promotion criteria for teaching- Much of this issue of Physiology News her approach to teaching, as well as her focused staff and establish parity of esteem focuses on the theme of adaptation. In a ongoing research activities. Writing from the across academic career pathways. discipline that emphasises hands-on practical student perspective, Róisín Ní Dhonnabháin laboratory-based skills, Dave Lewis (p. (p. 46) reminds us, however, of differences in It is clear that this global pandemic has Physiology of Obesity: R Jean Banister Prize Lecture 2019 10) addresses the ways that physiology students’ technological literacy and how the highlighted the many roles of scientists in educators can provide relevant and authentic move online may have exacerbated existing tackling the virus, and communicating and From Mechanisms to Medicine Mind Affects Matter: Brainstem learning opportunities for their students inequalities. disseminating this knowledge effectively is Circuits Linking Stress, Physiology, within the current constraints of these more important now than ever. Commenting strange times. He has provided colleagues A study from The Physiological Society (p. on the wider public engagement aspects of Organised by Pete Aldiss, University of Edinburgh, UK and Behaviour with a suite of alternatives to traditional 14) reminds us of the necessity of providing our academic lives, Paul Zehr recounts (p. 40) and Jo Lewis, University of Cambridge, UK laboratory-based final-year research practical laboratory-based skills training for his use of the physiology of superheroes projects that are achievable and imaginative. our students. Although physiology graduates to explain our science to non-experts. He Marie Holt, Florida State University, USA He also makes suggestions for remote find employment across the wide spectrum concludes that if knowledge is power then Adipose Tissue in Metabolic Physiology Tuesday 17 November, 15:00 – 16:00 GMT alternatives to laboratory-based practicals of careers, the largest single occupation we, as physiologists, are superheroes! Now Tuesday 6 October, 14:00 – 15:00 BST (p. 13). Marc Demolder shares his view from is as biological scientists and biochemists. that’s a good point to whet your appetite on Belgium (p. 32), recounting how practicals It is incumbent upon us as educators to for this fascinating issue of Physiology News. were shifted online to such an extent that give our students the essential scientific Muscle Physiology in Obesity GL Brown Prize Lecture 2019-2020 his students did more “labs” this year than and transferable skills required for them Tuesday 13 October, 14:00 – 15:00 BST Healing Tiny Hearts Across Generations previously, although he cautions that the sudden shift to a different style of teaching to move into this world of work. How we facilitate this in the context of the pandemic We welcome your submissions and may have adversely affected the quality of understandably takes up a lot of this edition. suggestions for our upcoming Cardiometabolic Dysfunction in Obesity Dino A. Giussani, University of Cambridge, UK student work. Medical Technology Special Issue. Harry Witchel and colleagues (p. 16) consider We are in the process of Tuesday 20 October, 14:00 – 15:00 BST Thursday 3 December, 15:00 – 16:00 GMT In the UK, the transition to online learning the efficacy of online versus classroom determining the exact scope of this was achieved within 2 weeks of the learning. While there are arguments for and issue, but as usual we will generally imposition of Government lockdown, earlier against both, they issue a plea for more this year. Laura Ginesi’s diary of events considered research to clarify matters and look to cover the latest around lockdown (“Go home, stay there, to inform future practice. A good place for developments in physiology and put your teaching online from Monday” readers to start would be participating in research, policy and education of Register for free now and see the full was her management’s injunction) reveals how difficult, time-consuming but ultimately Harry’s education symposium at Physiology 2021 in Birmingham! physiology and its allied disciplines. programme www.physoc.org/events https://doi.org/10.36866/pn.119.5 5
President’s View Letters Lessons for The Society from COVID-19 Supporting clinicians on the front line to 650 people taking part from 33 countries – secure section of the site where Members a truly international endeavour! will be able to log in and will sit alongside save lives the Member Portal, which will still be used This has shown The Society has the ideas and for booking events and updating your Mike Tipton agility to respond quickly to changing events. membership. This new Member area will Editor-in-Chief of Experimental Physiology enable us to expand our array of Member- David Paterson At the time of writing, our first complete only materials such as webinars, practical President-Elect of The Physiological Society virtual early career conference Future guides and teaching resources. These will be Physiology 2020 has drawn to a close. It exclusively for our growing community of Andrew Mackenzie has been a fantastic week of keynote talks, Members. We are starting this work now and Head of Policy and Communications, oral communications, panel discussions and the new section will go live next year. The Physiological Society poster presentations – all conducted in a virtual environment. We have had people We also know that our Members want In the space of less than 6 months, the join us, both as presenters and attendees, more networking opportunities – 88% of COVID-19 pandemic has caused an from across the world. The feedback on the respondents to a Member survey we held in unprecedented global health and economic science has been overwhelmingly positive, as March told us this was a priority for them, crisis. At the time of writing (July 2020) there has the response to the technology we used with over half saying that networking with have been over 12 million cases worldwide to host the conference. People could attend Members is currently difficult. Our new and over half a million deaths. The Director- while sitting in their garden (even if the online Member area will seek to change that. General of the World Health Organization, weather has not always been sunny!). And by We are working on an online community for Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has said programming it over the course of a week we Members, which we hope will become the that “The worst is yet to come.” In this time of crisis it is more important than hours we aimed to have an evidence-based enabled people to attend while also keeping home of physiologists on the web. ever for the scientific community to come response prepared for online posting. This Bridget Lumb on top of their day jobs. Members will be able to discuss the latest It is clear that the only route out of this crisis is through scientific research. Whether together. helped improve the clinical understanding of the disease and inform best practice. The success of Future Physiology 2020 research, share teaching resources and finding better pharmacological treatments Back at the end of March we began President, The Physiological Society showed that online provision can increase the engage with Society Representatives. Each or pursuing a race for a vaccine, the eyes discussing how academic physiologists like The question areas covered the whole number and diversity of people that engage Theme will be represented too, enabling our of the world are on researchers to provide us could best help clinicians on the front line. array of physiological systems, including with and contribute to The Society. This can cross-cutting communities to thrive. answers. Clinicians were working tirelessly night and queries on abnormal coagulation, renal only be a good thing. Even when “normality” day to keep people alive and simply did not failure, hypertension, cardiac troponins and Membership is at the heart of The Society. resumes, The Society cannot go back to This has been a challenging few months Physiology has been at the forefront of have the time to analyse the mountains of PPE. https://www.physoc.org/covid19/ Through publications and scientific offering solely face-to-face events. for us all and I know that many of us have this search for answers. When COVID-19 data coming through from patients. questions/ conferences, we offer access to the latest concerns about research and teaching patients started appearing in emergency science, and through workshops and grants As we plan for the future, we must be able moving forward. The uncertainty is likely departments, they didn’t respond to standard Following discussions with our friend and While in recent years the discipline of we offer professional development to to evolve and adapt to the needs of our to be with us for some time yet – and treatment regimes. Medicine had to go back colleague Professor Hugh Montgomery, physiology has suffered from something of support your career. Members to ensure that we remain relevant, The Society will continue to support our to first principles and understand systems Consultant Physician, The Physiological a crisis of identity, when confronted with including the development of new products community through this. physiology at work. Society partnered with the Intensive Care an unknown, new disease, the value of Although in-person conferences and events and services that meet our Members’ Society to establish a COVID-19 Advisory physiological research is clear. The expert will always be a key part of what we offer, changing needs. This will include access to The lockdown has also forced us to innovate The result of greater physiological insight has Panel. The driving force for this initiative insight physiologists rapidly provided in this the current pandemic has demonstrated that Member-only resources, such as professional and respond rapidly to new situations. As changed how COVID-19 patients are treated. was to enable researchers to provide the crisis saved lives. The Society can support many more people development opportunities, and Member- we move forward, The Society will take the From how ventilators are deployed through “operational support” to the medics dealing by increasing online provision. only discussion groups. positive lessons from this so that we become to what medications are used, improved with patients, and to ensure they benefited The Physiological Society, and all of us in the a more responsive, online Society catering physiological knowledge is saving lives. from the latest thinking and analysis. Within physiology community, first and foremost We moved very quickly following lockdown In response to these changing times, Trustees for the needs of our Members. hours the staff of The Physiological Society must now act to ensure the physiological to establish a series of online resources in our took the decision at our June Council While initially COVID-19 was viewed as had got things up and running and within 48 lessons from this disease are learned so we COVID-19 Hub. This included a programme meeting to invest in developing a new online All the best wishes for the future. primarily a respiratory illness, we now know hours, 26 expert physiologists from around are more prepared for the next challenge. of professional development webinars for our Member area of our website. This will be a that this is only one facet of the disease, the world had answered our call. There is still much we don’t know. Members, focused on the topics you told us in addition to thrombosis and the cytokine were important - such as dealing with mental storm. The aim of this group was to support frontline We must also learn the broader structural health issues during this difficult time. Over clinicians in the fight against COVID-19 lessons about the deep, inextricable the course of 10 weeks hundreds of Members “Although in-person conferences and events Our improved understanding of the impact by providing insight into the fast-evolving connection between physiology and took part on topics such as publishing for of COVID-19 on our bodies has enabled understanding of the physiological and medicine, and the importance of a rapid beginners and online networking. will always be a key part of what we offer, clinicians to change their approach to pathophysiological processes underpinning response in a dynamically evolving crisis. treatment, such as no longer rushing to put the disease. Our physiology colleagues were Physiology gives clinicians the toolkit to We also took advantage of the flexibility the current pandemic has demonstrated that patients on ventilators and instead placing determined to help, and we would like to deal with the unknown. By working with software like Zoom offers to respond quickly patients in the prone position to improve gas thank them for their time and support during clinical partners we should cement the closer to changing events. For example, we worked The Society can support many more people by exchange. Greater insight into the immune what was a difficult and uncertain period. links between our communities we have with Mike Tipton (University of Portsmouth, UK) to arrange a webinar on guidance to increasing online provision” response helps explain why dexamethasone has been hailed as a “ground-breaking By establishing a “question and answer” established during last few months so we are collaborating and ready to respond, because returning to the lab, setting it up within days treatment” for hospital patients seriously ill system on The Physiological Society website, in this new normal of uncertainty, one truth is of the government guidance being issued. with COVID-19. we enabled clinicians to send questions certain: this will not be the last pandemic. This was tremendously successful, with over into the group for consideration. Within 24 6 Physiology News / Summer 2020 / Issue 119 https://doi.org/10.36866/pn.119.6 https://doi.org/10.36866/pn.119.7 7
Letters The Journal of Physiology’s FREE WEB Virtual Journal Club IN The joy of sex SERI AR I attended a webinar recently by The Society that featured research talks from male early 2. We should develop a traffic light system on every communication and publication ES! career researchers. I was surprised that to illustrate whether data bias has been Vivien Rolfe they had exclusively conducted research on considered – maybe red for white male Discuss the latest Head of Herbal Research, Pukka Herbs Ltd. male subjects (for what was not specifically only, amber for both sexes or ethnic . a male health issue). All of the work they diversity, and green for full diversity cited involved only male participants. When being researched and considered? I enjoyed the “Sex in Studies” article in questioned, one of the speakers suggested the Spring 2020 Physiology News written by Natasha Karp and her colleagues at AstraZeneca. The article discussed sex bias that they wished to “exclude the effect of menstrual cycles” from their results. 3. Educators should consider where bias permeates into their textbooks and lecture notes – do we still persist in research and learn what makes a in human research, and that despite an NIH This last part shocked me the most. It using the “normal adult male” to teach Revitalization Act of 1993 mandating the was exactly what I recall being told in my physiology? inclusion of women and ethnic groups in physiology degree a number of years ago. I clinical studies, both are still woefully under- then carried this misconception with me into By not considering data biases within publishable paper represented – and rarely included at all – in my early career. This experience has made our science, we are not appreciating the all phases of clinical development. Natasha me reflect that we are all strongly influenced intricacies of physiology, which I suspect is cited the work of Beery & Zucker, 2011 who by our education and laboratory cultures. what fascinated us about the subject in the looked at the distribution of participants by Perhaps the webinar was a one-off, but it first place. We need to reach out to students sex across a number of academic subjects, makes me suspect that we aren’t getting our and early career researchers now, otherwise and physiology as a discipline was poor at physiology education right. we’ll not see change for another generation. representing female subjects in research – in We will all be perpetuating the myth that Meet with your physiology community on the first fact, no female participants were found at Here are some ideas: we need to exclude the menstrual cycle and all in their analysis of human studies. Others diversity more widely from our science, and and third Wednesday of each month to explore papers acknowledge that studying both sexes is 1. Those leading physiology courses, as Caroline Criado-Perez suggests “women essential for the future of science, and we departments and laboratories need are dying, and the medical world is complicit. recently published in The Journal of Physiology. In need to begin in our education systems to to map where sex and ethnicity bias It needs to wake up”. start to redress the data gap when it comes in science is taught as part of their our free webinars, the host and expert panellists will to the female body, as explained in the much acclaimed books by Caroline Criado-Perez programmes or professional training as a starting point. introduce the paper before audience members have (Invisible Women, Do It Like A Woman). the opportunity to discuss and ask questions. Explore alternative career paths on our website! The discipline of physiology is broad and 21 OCTOBER 2020, 15:00 - 16:00 BST 4 NOVEMBER 2020, 17:00 -18:00 GMT complex, which is reflected in the wide range of exciting careers in the field. You will find Tetraspanin‐7 regulation of L‐type Distinct features of calcium handling physiologists working in roles in hospitals, universities, space agencies, sporting arenas, voltage‐dependent calcium channels and β‐adrenergic sensitivity in heart mountain tops – you name it! controls pancreatic β‐cell insulin failure with preserved versus reduced Our careers pages host a variety of content secretion ejection fraction highlighting the breadth of careers relating to physiology. Watch case study videos from Host: Nordine Helassa, University of Liverpool, UK Host: Fabien Brette, INSERM, France researchers working in a range of areas, from conservation to space physiology. But there is more to physiology than research alone - we also have inspiring videos from those working in teaching, industry, healthcare and Want to host a meeting of The Journal of Physiology’s Virtual Journal Club? science communication. Email events@physoc.org to express your interest. If you are still in the early stages of your career, our “Supporting your next career move” pages could help. These contain tailored information for 16-19 year olds, undergraduates and postgraduates on how Read more here: https://www.physoc.org/careers/ The Physiological Society can support you in taking the next steps in your career. REGISTER FOR FREE HERE physoc.org/jpjournalclub 8 Physiology News / Summer 2020 / Issue 119 https://doi.org/10.36866/pn.119.8
News and Views Physiology Feed researchers (e.g. The Reproducibility “Our business-minded approach to meeting Crisis https://www.youtube.com/ the objectives gave me the opportunity watch?v=OwmDzLfg9es; vodcasts to utilise my problem solving and Read the latest press releases from Final year or honours research projects: on good practice in specific research methodologies/tools); communication skills on a daily basis. Our use of social media allowed us to present the our journals at physoc.org/news Time for a total re-think? • Educational development: Creation findings and communicate with specialists displaying interest in our research. It’s an First telomere-to-telomere and evaluation of resources for use in excellent opportunity to demonstrate your complete sequencing of a whole Dave Lewis still be closed at the start of the upcoming academic year or, if open, with substantial organs or tissues (e.g. intact animals, heart, neurones). This could include the undergraduate education (e.g. practicals, problem solving exercises). An ideal aptitude in a scientific, non-laboratory working environment.” (BSc Medical human chromosome University of Leeds, UK social distancing requirements in place, many evaluation of the scientific accuracy opportunity for students to repurpose Sciences) https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-020- colleagues are looking for alternatives to and educational benefits of simulations existing face 2 face practicals into online 2547-7 traditional laboratory or fieldwork projects. currently used in education, e.g. https:// versions or create online problem solving Non-traditional capstones are not without Less than ten percent of bioscience The QAA Biosciences Benchmark Statement bit.ly/e-BioPracticals or accuracy of exercises; their challenges, for both students and graduates go on to careers in scientific requires students to undertake a research automated data tracking/scoring systems staff. However, with appropriate scaffolding Scientist Calculates The Maximum research, and the overwhelming majority project. En masse replacement with critical (e.g. OptiMouse); • Science in schools/Public and support, these can be overcome. By Amount of Hot Dogs a Human Can leave science altogether1. Traditional literature reviews is not acceptable; less engagement: Create an interactive broadening the portfolio of capstones Eat in 10 Minutes laboratory-based, fieldwork or literature than 10% of students would select this • Grant proposal: Rather than grant science workshop for use in schools or available to students whilst also retaining https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2020.0096 review projects do not provide the requisite option given the choice1,2. Non-traditional proposal as extension exercise, it becomes as a public engagement activity (for the more traditional formats, it enables students work experience or skills development for capstones, all of which are deliverable solely the principal output. Sections within it Faculty, Charity or other educational to decide exactly what they want to get out the diverse range of career paths followed or predominantly remotely, are thus an ideal are those in real grant applications to organisation). Delivered virtually, or if of their capstone and choose accordingly. For The First Time, Human Cartilage by the majority of our graduates. There solution. These include: funding bodies, e.g. BBSRC or MRC. “Pilot” social distancing conditions are relaxed Has Been Engineered in Space is, therefore, an urgent need to broaden data comes from previous studies in the later in the year, face 2 face. Capstones are a high impact educational https://doi.org/110.1126/sciadv. the expectations that both students and • Virtual laboratory: Currently critical supervisor’s lab; practice. They can be both transformational educators have for final year or honours review project students at Leeds write a For more details on any of the above and and translational (prepare students for the aba4174 projects, to move beyond seeing them grant proposal as an extension exercise • Systematic reviews with or without additional opportunities, see: https:// world of work). An opportunity for students merely as opportunities for students to gain to their scientific paper. Why not flip the meta-analysis: A defined, systematic mymedia.leeds.ac.uk/Mediasite/Play/a3a to showcase their knowledge, understanding Study of Over 1 Million People research experience or an understanding concept? Students formulate a research way of undertaking a comprehensive dd1c5d3b34120ae9899c30bb67b6b1d and skills, including 4th Industrial Revolution Finds Intriguing Link Between Iron of the research process, to a broader US- question, design a study, test their review of the literature, used a lot or contact me (d.i.lewis@leeds.ac.uk). skills, to us and potential employers. We style Capstone (or culminating) Experience. hypothesis using simulations or re-analysis in clinical trials/health science but should not see online or non-traditional Levels And Lifespan Students apply the knowledge and skills of existing data, and when laboratories increasingly in animal experiments The critical question is what do students capstones as a short-term fix in response https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020- gained in earlier years to an enquiry-based re-open, undertake a short proof of and education. Previous reviews think about these alternative capstones? to the current COVID-19 situation. Rather, 17312-3 problem, which may or may not be research, concept/pilot study; undertaken by Leeds students include: In short, they love them. Given the chance, an opportunity to develop and enhance our and creating an output as a solution to this Pharmacotherapies for gestational one in three students would opt for a non- programmes, to better meet the aspirations problem. In doing so, students showcase • Virtual fieldwork: Use publicly available diabetes; Animal welfare factors traditional capstone [Lewis DI, 2020]. and needs of students, and to better prepare Mind-Boggling New Study Shows their knowledge, skills and understanding to webcams or video recordings of humans, influencing reproducibility and reliability them for the 21st Century workplace. Dogs Can Use Earth’s Magnetic us and future employers. animals or the environment to explore of studies involving lab animals; E-learning “So rewarding, the highlight of my Field to Navigate discipline-relevant research questions, e.g. and other resources as replacements for whole education. I gained so much from https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.55080 Recognising the above, many Bioscience nesting behaviour of birds; face 2 face undergraduate practicals in it personally and professionally” (BSc Dave Lewis is Senior Lecturer in Departments or Faculties have started the Biosciences; Neuroscience in relation to Medicine) Pharmacology & Scientific Ethics at the to broaden their portfolio of final year or • Bioinformatics/Big data: Using University of Leeds. His interests include A Mutated Neanderthal Gene capstone projects. The Royal Society of bioinformatics tools to interrogate • Surveys/Focus Groups: Any topic It enables them to try out different career developing and evaluating non-traditional Could Make Some People More Biology has made substantial changes to (e.g. genomic) datasets or analysis and or area, and of students, staff or the options in a safe space, and opens their eyes formats for undergraduate final year Sensitive to Pain its capstone accreditation criteria for BSc interpretation of the many publically public e.g public attitudes/knowledge of to new career opportunities: Capstone projects, and the development and degrees. Now any format of capstone, available (e.g. health, environment) or antimicrobial resistance; attitudes to the delivery of professional education in research https://doi.org/10.1016/j. including those that are team-based, School/Faculty research (e.g. neuronal use of animals in education; interaction “Always loved working with children, but animal sciences in the Emerging World. cub.2020.06.045 is acceptable provided they include recordings) datasets, e.g. https://bit.ly/ between developers, clinicians and interestingly this project has allowed me to Dave has previously been awarded The opportunities for analysis, synthesis and OADataRep; patients in the development of Digital realise it may perhaps be my “calling” (BSc Society’s Otto Hutter Teaching Prize and is an critical evaluation of information, and result Health Apps (the latter was innovative in Neuroscience in relation to Medicine) AdvanceHE National Teaching Fellow. Male Seahorse Pregnancy Has in a defined output. The COVID-19 pandemic • Computational modelling/ its use of Twitter to engage participants in Some Eerie Similarities to Human has accelerated this rate of adoption of Simulations: Investigate the physiological the first instance; And enhances their employability: Childbearing alternative capstones across the sector. or pharmacological modulation of existing https://doi.org/10.1007/s00360-020- With the expectation that laboratories may models or simulations of systems, • Scientific writing: Creation of web- “Main thing I’ve gained from the project is 01289-y content for Small to Medium Enterprises being able to look at complex situations from References (SMEs, e.g. scientific information on their other perspectives than a purely scientific 1. Lewis DI (2020). Final year undergraduate research products https://badrilla.com/project- one. For example, I’ve had to look at social project or a “Capstone Experience”? Time for a re- First Meta-Analysis Confirms “By broadening the portfolio of capstones available landing). The content behind each tab policy and the law in depth, and as a result think. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 86(6), 1227-1228. https://bpspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/ Link Between Lithium in Drinking was written by a team of students; appreciate how science helps to inform these Water And Suicide Rates to students whilst also retaining more traditional areas” (BSc Human Physiology) doi/abs/10.1111/bcp.14266 https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.2020.128 • Commercial/Technical reports: Using 2. Lewis DI et al. (2017). Final year undergraduate formats, it enables students to decide exactly publicly available information to write “Invaluable to me, in terms of enjoyment research projects in the Biosciences: Student and staff expectations, outcomes and impact on career technical or commercial reports (e.g. within my degree but also skills that I have what they want to get out of their Capstone and impact of legislation, analysis of markets been able to develop to help me with my choices and employability. Proceedings of the British Pharmacological Society, Pharmacology 2017, Anglerfish Physically Fuse to Their Mates, And We Finally Know choose accordingly” etc.) for SMEs or other clients; future endeavours. It’s challenged me personally to motivate myself, set realistic London. Available at: http://www.pA2online.org/ abstracts/Vol18Issue1abst135P.pdf How That’s Possible • Professional Education: Development goals, and be creative in my problem solving.” https://doi.org/10.1126/science. of education and training resources for (BSc Neuroscience) aaz9445 10 Physiology News / Summer 2020 / Issue 119 https://doi.org/10.36866/pn.119.10 https://doi.org/10.36866/pn.119.10 11
News and Views News and Views Physiology education manuscripts in demand: Delivering a high-quality practical education remotely Top accessed articles in Advances in Physiology Education Dave Lewis Modification of existing practicals so they can be undertaken in alternative environments except hands-on practical experience. They have much greater potential than just a Barbara E Goodman models are explained. The objective of the article is to present the science of learning variability in student attention arises from differences between teachers and not from University of Leeds, UK (e.g. human exercise physiology studies outside) would enable all of these learning short-term replacement. At Leeds, we are replacing our Level 4 and 5 (undergraduate Editor-in-Chief, Advances in and instruction as the theoretical evidence the teaching format itself. Thus, it is the job outcomes to be achieved. Use of publically year 1 and 2) recipe-driven practicals with Physiology Education for the design and delivery of instructional of the instructor to enhance their teaching Given the current COVID-19 situation, it is available webcams to address research semester-long team-based mini-projects materials in the classroom and laboratory. skills to provide not only rich content but highly likely that teaching laboratories will questions involving humans, animals using simulations (e.g. of neurones or isolated As of June 2020, this article has been also a satisfying lecture experience for the not be open at the start of the upcoming or the environment is another robust tissues), giving students experience of downloaded 81,467 times! students. As of June 2020, this article has academic year. When they do open, there will alternative. However, video demonstrations experimental design, hypothesis testing, been downloaded 39,910 times. be social distancing and health protection of practicals, virtual reality and 3rd Life are data collection, analysis and interpretation of measures in place which will limit both the unlikely to provide an engaging and high large datasets. Simulations enable students Number 2 Most Accessed 2019 The other four Advances articles in the numbers of students in the laboratory at any quality educational experience alone. They to address research questions that could not top 10 most accessed in 2019 included an one time (up to 75% reduction in capacity), could be used to reinforce knowledge and be addressed in real-life for legal, ethical or “Measuring osmosis and hemolysis of red APS Refresher Course Report on “Smooth and also the types of practical (e.g. human understanding gained from other educational health and safety grounds. Going forward blood cells” by Lauren K. Goodhead and muscle contraction and relaxation” by R. cardio-respiratory physiology studies) we activities, but to achieve the other learning post-COVID, we can use them as pre- Frances M. MacMillan from the School of Clinton Webb, a Best Practices series article can offer. We also need to cater for students outcomes, would have to be packaged with practical learning activities for students to Physiology, Pharmacology, and Neuroscience on “Learning theories 101: application to who can’t physically be present for health or other activities, for example the analysis and design studies and test hypotheses so that of the University of Bristol, Bristol, UK everyday teaching and scholarship” by Denise other reasons. interpretation of existing datasets (including when they go into the laboratories they are published on 19 May, 2017 (Advances in Kay and Jonathan Kibble, an editorial on those available at https://bit.ly/OADataRep). fully aware of experimental set-ups and Physiology Education 41, 298 – 305). This “The “African gene” theory: it is time to stop The QAA Biosciences Benchmark Statement article from the Sourcebook of Laboratory teaching and promoting slavery hypertension requires students “to undertake appropriate Activities in Physiology series, describes classroom laboratory experiments to help hypothesis” by Heidi L. Lujan and Stephen E. DiCarlo, and a Staying Current review on practical education throughout their course.” Similarly, the Royal Society of Biology Degree “Which, if any, of these is a valid alternative? students visualise and appreciate osmosis “Recent advances in thermoregulation” by Accreditation criteria for BSc programmes Do any provide a high quality, engaging (the movement of water and small molecules Etain A. Tansey and Christopher D. Johnson. requires “the acquisition of technical skills and across selectively permeable membranes These articles ranged from >20,000 to familiarity with the practical environment.” and enjoyable educational experience? of mammalian cells). Animal blood is bathed almost 30,000 downloads. We cannot opt out of providing practicals in solutions with differing osmolarities and just because of the COVID-19 pandemic To address that question, we first have to tonicities to explore the concept of water This short article shows the variety of and therefore what are the alternatives? movement by osmosis and the resultant offerings in Advances in Physiology Education Options include the replacement of consider why we provide practicals” Advances in Physiology Education is one haemolysis. As of June 2020, this article has and documents the global demand for these existing practicals with others that are of the family of journals published by the been downloaded 71,180 times. contributions to the literature. “do-able” in the current environment, video American Physiological Society (APS). demonstrations, virtual field trips, provision Submissions of manuscripts to Advances cost of data sets, simulations, virtual reality and nothing and accepted papers are available 2nd Life (virtual worlds). Which, if any, of This leaves simulations. Those currently protocols and know what they are looking with free access from their initial posting “Of all the APS family of journals, 7 out of the 10 these is a valid alternative? Do any provide available to educators range from the complex for, for example modification of ion channels online. Annually a printed copy of the journal a high quality, engaging and enjoyable (and costly) human patient simulators (used in simulations of single neurones followed by with all 4 issues is available to those who most accessed articles (full-text accesses) during educational experience? To address that extensively in medical and health sciences real-life electrophysiological recordings in request it. Publications in Advances are question, we first have to consider why we education) to computer or web-based snail brain or other invertebrate preparations. contributed from the global community of 2019 were published in Advances” provide practicals. Reasons could include: simulations of organs, tissues, cells or even physiology educators and carefully peer- biological processes. Long gone are the In short, it is time to ditch those dated, dusty reviewed by expert colleagues. Of all the • Giving students hands-on experience days of slow simulations of dubious validity. practicals, broaden our expectations and APS family of journals, 7 out of the 10 most of experimental techniques and the There are many high quality, scientifically learning outcomes, embrace technology and accessed articles (full-text accesses) during development of laboratory skills; robust simulations and models available, adopt a more blended approach to practical 2019 were published in Advances. The top increasingly being used both in research education. In so doing, better prepare three accessed Advances articles are briefly Number 3 Most Accessed 2019 Barbara E. Goodman, PhD., is Professor of • Reinforce knowledge and understanding and drug development. In a project part- our students for the remainder of their described below. Physiology at Sanford School of Medicine gained from other educational activities; funded by a British Pharmacological Society programmes and for their future careers, “Attention span during lectures: 8 seconds, of the University of South Dakota. As a Teaching Grant, I am collating simulations whatever these may be. 10 minutes, or more?” by Neil A. Bradbury of long-time member of the Editorial Board, • Education in, and experience of, from across the world that can be used in Number 1 Most Accessed 2019 the Department of Physiology and Biophysics Associate Editor, and now Editor-in-Chief experimental design; Bioscience education. This is a living list, of Chicago Medical School, Rosalind of Advances, she is also a past chair of the available at: https://bit.ly/e-BioPracticals Dave Lewis is Senior Lecturer in “Applying learning theories and instructional Franklin University of Medicine and Science, American Physiological Society’s Education • Education in, and experience of, data which will be updated regularly. If you know Pharmacology & Scientific Ethics at the design models for effective instruction” by North Chicago, Illinois, USA published on 8 and Communications Committees, and the analysis and interpretation; of any additional simulations, either free or University of Leeds. His interests include Mohammed K. Khalil and Ihsan A. Elkhider November, 2016 (Advances in Physiology Teaching Section and organiser of the APS commercially available, please send me details developing and evaluating non-traditional from the University of South Carolina School Education 40, 509 – 513). This article Institutes on Teaching and Learning and the • Development of critical thinking, (d.i.lewis@leeds.ac.uk) and I will add them. formats for undergraduate final year of Medicine in Greenville, South Carolina, presents a Personal View by reviewing the Physiology Educators Community Of Practice creativity, problem solving, Given our need for alternatives to practicals Capstone projects, and the development and USA published on 11 April, 2016 (Advances literature on the “common knowledge” and blog site. https://blog.lifescitrc.org/pecop/ communication and team working skills; is immediate, this list does not contain any delivery of professional education in research in Physiology Education 40, 147 – 156). In “consensus” that there is a decline in students’ evaluations. These will be added at a later date. animal sciences in the Emerging World. this article from the Best Practices series, attention 10 – 15 min into lectures. The author • Fostering the development of Dave has previously been awarded The the major learning theories are discussed and believes that the most consistent finding collaborative learning networks. Used appropriately, simulations can address Society’s Otto Hutter Teaching Prize and is an selected examples of instructional design from his literature review is that the greatest all the learning outcomes for practicals AdvanceHE National Teaching Fellow. 12 Physiology News / Summer 2020 / Issue 119 https://doi.org/10.36866/pn.119.12 https://doi.org/10.36866/pn.119.13 13
News and Views News and Views Mapping the landscape for physiology students and graduates Reports of The Society’s recent committee meetings Chrissy Stokes Peter Jones, King’s College London; Frankie 230 to 566 CAO points across SES and The purpose of these short updates is to summarised by the Director of Scientific Publications Committee MacMillan, University of Bristol; Jacqueline physiology/biomedical science courses (SES keep you informed about the work of our Programmes. It was agreed that once a Head of Professional Development Naylor, AstraZeneca; and Vicky Walker, courses tend to have lower requirements committees. The following summaries detail clearer route forward was agreed, a Task and April 2020 school teacher. The key aims of the project than for physiology/biomedical courses. the meetings of the past few months. Finish Group, led by External Trustee John The Publications Committee met virtually in and Engagement, The Physiological were to capture the entry requirements for Cripps, would be set up. The discussion had April 2020, chaired by Debbie Baines. The Society physiology and related courses, and to identify For the purposes of gaining focused, also considered current cost-saving options impact of COVID-19 was a recurring theme. the employment destinations of graduates meaningful information on graduate across existing activities. In light of potential difficulties in recruiting Sarah K Hall in physiology and related subjects. This information would then be made available destinations, the study was narrowed to five degree codes, and students graduating Finance Committee To note: The Coronavirus pandemic has new Editors-in-Chief mid-pandemic, the Committee agreed to extend the terms Chair of Education, Public to Members, as well as to undergraduates in 2009 and 2010. Reviewing data from February 2020 affected some of the activities The Society of Kim Barrett and Mike Tipton by one Engagement and Policy Committee, considering employment opportunities and CVs posted by almost 2,500 graduates in Jeremy Barker of Cazenove Capital had planned to deliver in 2020, for example year. There was also discussion on how the those promoting physiology as a study option this cohort revealed their job profile over Management attended the meeting and all face-to-face events have either been synergy between The Society’s journals and The Physiological Society at their institution. The intended impact the first decade of their careers. These data gave a presentation on the 2019 portfolio cancelled or postponed until 2021. The meetings could continue to be improved. would be to support undergraduate study of show that the largest single occupation for performance and 2020 outlook. The Society has responded by successfully Experimental Physiology’s call for papers physiology and highlight career pathways for all physiology graduates (including SES) is Committee received and discussed the Q419 moving Future Physiology to an online from the 2019 Extreme Environmental physiology graduates. as biological scientists and biochemists, Management Accounts narrative and figures. conference using new technology that Physiology meeting had proven a notable The Society has a key role to play in feeding confirming that graduates commonly remain It was confirmed the 2019 audit would be provides the necessary functionality as well success, and the Committee discussed ways the pipeline of career physiologists. This role In consultation with Society Representatives in physiology-related work. Non-research the last one done by haysmacintyre with as hosting a series of webinars for each to achieve similar success should upcoming has gained in significance as the number of from institutions across the UK and RoI, the career destinations include teaching, Buzzacott as The Society’s new audit partner Theme and webinars focused on professional meetings be cancelled or ”made virtual”. named physiology degrees and physiology TAFG identified 30 entry degree courses* management (sales, accounts and business) for 2020. The Committee received the risk development. However, the Trustees are While research submissions remained departments has waned. However, while that had at least one-third physiology and clinical/allied healthcare practice. register and a summary of key risks from the regularly reviewing the situation and working stable, the Committee were informed of the number of students enrolled in named content; these included Sport and Exercise Reviewing first, second and third career Senior Management Team. The CEO reported with the Senior Management Team to assess the likelihood of a decline at some point in physiology degrees may be declining, Science (SES) and Biology, as well as destinations of this cohort demonstrated on the one remaining key risk of reliance the impact of this ongoing crisis and will keep the future due to global laboratory closures undergraduate students do not display a lack Physiology and Neuroscience. Almost half of opportunities for movement between on a sole income stream and next steps members updated as decisions are made. caused by the pandemic. of interest in physiology content. In fact, the Society Reps reported that their degrees employment categories. on income diversification. The two largest as students develop an understanding and contained at least 50% physiology content; reductions in risk score were the successful The Editors-in-Chief of The Journal of appreciation of the subject, it appears they however, it was noted that the total amount The TAFG has now reported to the Education, implementation of a portfolio of updated and April 2020 Physiology, Experimental Physiology and are more likely to actively seek to continue of physiology in a degree often depends on Public Engagement and Policy Committee legally compliant HR policies and the launch The Conferences Committee met on 22 Physiological Reports presented their studying physiology. This is illustrated by the modules selected. 29% of Society Reps and more detailed outcomes from this study of new robust and compliant Articles of April using an online format for the first respective Editorial Reports. The Journal the popularity of intercalated degrees in also reported that their institution offers a will be made available online in 2020. We Association and Regulations. time. The agenda and discussions were of Physiology and Experimental Physiology physiology (reported by King’s College physiology-named course that students can also aim to build on this initial work, to dominated by the impact of COVID-19 on remain on a transformative pathway to London, KCL) and the high proportion of switch to mid-degree or as an exit degree. inform future development of the Society’s conferences and meetings. At the meeting, Open Access with Wiley. There was students choosing advanced physiology The timing and requirements for such a careers resources. some of the planned conferences for 2020 conversation on how these two journals modules following a common-core first year switch also vary widely between institutions, had already been postponed while Future conformed to the principles of the Open (reported by Cardiff University). with some restricting movement to the 1st Physiology 2020 was discussed since it had Science movement. The Committee year while others permit movement up until Chrissy Stokes is Head of Professional been pivoted from an in-person to a virtual approved the immediate introduction In line with the development of the new the end of the 3rd year. Development and Engagement at The Council conference. A new programme of webinars of Registered Reports for Experimental Society strategy, in 2019 we held a focus Physiological Society. and the future format of conferences were Physiology – an article type designed to group meeting with 16 – 21 year-old The information from Society Reps was used March 2020 also discussed. Since the committee met, minimise publication bias by implementing school pupils and undergraduate students to identify appropriate UCAS and CAO codes Sarah Hall is a Reader in Physiology at The President, Bridget Lumb, reported The Society took the decision to postpone peer review prior to data collection. From an to discuss how The Society might develop for further investigation across all institutions Cardiff University, with a focus on Teaching that following a successful presentation of the remaining in-person conferences and Open Science perspective, the introduction useful resources for this target audience. in the UK and RoI, respectively. Physiology and Scholarship. She is Deputy Director the outcomes of the Grants Review Task meetings in 2020. The Chair reported that of this article type complements The As well as highlighting the desire for more is also taught as part of a number of clinical of Undergraduate Education in the School and Finish Group, Prem Kumar had agreed the Theme Leads were keen to recruit an Society’s journals’ statistics, data sharing and specific information on routes into studying and healthcare degrees but these were not of Biosciences and Programme Leader to Chair the Grants Implementation Task Early Career Theme Lead for each Theme, preprint policies, and more innovations are physiology at university, these students included in the study. for the Physiology degree. At The Society, and Finish Group. The first meeting was and that this call would be open in August. planned going forwards. were keen to have more information about she is currently a Trustee and Chair of our scheduled for March 2020. It was noted Once they are in place, networking meetings employment opportunities after graduation The group then commissioned work from Education, Public Engagement and Policy that concerns had been raised by the Board would be arranged in the first instance online, with a physiology degree. the labour market analytics firm Emsi to committee. Affiliate Representative regarding the lack of and then in person at the earliest opportunity gain a deeper insight into UK and RoI routes opportunities for Early Career Physiologists in 2021. Advised by the then Education and Outreach in physiology: both entry requirements in the initial offering and the Board agreed Committee, a Task and Finish Group (TAFG) for degree programmes and employment that an Early Career Representative should was assembled in early 2019 to advise on destinations after graduation. There is be on this group. *Degree courses included undergraduate courses that the design and implementation of a project notable variation in entry requirements to map the current landscape into and out for physiology-related degrees across the lead to a postgraduate qualification as well as BSc courses e.g. a 4-year course resulting in an MSci. The outcomes of the income diversification Stay up-to-date with our upcoming online and of studying physiology at universities in UK, from 72 UCAS points or BC at A-level and strategic fund initiative workshop, the UK and the Republic of Ireland (RoI). for a Sports and Exercise Science degree held the day before Council, which had in-person events, grants, training and more by Members of the TAFG came from a range to 144 UCAS points or AAA at A-level for considered the current landscape for income subscribing to our newsletters: of backgrounds in education and industry, Neuroscience. The median entry tariff for diversification and the potential revenue with interests in supporting graduates: named Physiology degrees was 128 UCAS streams using a process of traffic lighting https://www.physoc.org/about-us/newsletters/ Sarah Hall, Cardiff University (Chair); points (ABB at A-level). In the RoI there is to narrow down suggestions to viable Richard Bowater, University of East Anglia; also a huge variation in requirements, from commercial initiatives for investment, were 14 Physiology News / Summer 2020 / Issue 119 https://doi.org/10.36866/pn.119.14 https://doi.org/10.36866/pn.119.15 15
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