Teaching Innovation Awards
Our community celebrates and shares outstanding teaching practices. The LearnSci Teaching Innovation Awards support innovation that positively impacts on teaching quality and enhances student learning.
How it works
Applicants are asked to demonstrate how they have led innovation in teaching and learning in their institution. Winners will be chosen by an expert scientific educational panel.
Possible ways you may have innovated teaching and learning:
- Solving a problem by improving tools and methods
- Improving teaching materials and practices
- Developing new digital learning resources
New for 2021
The Teaching Innovation Awards 2021 are open to university and senior-secondary science educators
We are looking for an emphasis in one or more of the following areas:
Wider innovation in science education
Open to non partners
Innovative use of digital tools to aid science teaching at university or post-16 level. Not including LearnSci resources.
Progress
Open to 2020 awards applicants
Impressive development of a Teaching Innovation Awards 2020 applicant project.
Creative innovation
Open to current partners
Creative innovation using LabSims and/or Smart Worksheets in teaching.
Evidence of impact
Open to current partners
High quality analysis of the impact of an implemented teaching and learning practice using LabSims and/or Smart Worksheets.
Department-wide impact
Open to current partners
Innovation in teaching and learning across a whole department, using LabSims and/or Smart Worksheets.
Student involvement
Open to current partners
Focusing on use of feedback within digital assessments and how we can make this more effective, for both students and academics.
Hear from our previous applicants
What are the benefits of applying? Find out from some of our previous winners and finalists
Why apply?
- Details of each innovation project made by applicants will be showcased on the LearnSci website to enable sharing of good practice within our community.
- Winners will receive a £200 cash prize to be used for an educational purpose of their choice.
- Winners also receive a hand-crafted trophy by the Bristol-based glass blowing experts, Bristol Blue Glass.
How to apply
Demonstrate how you have innovated teaching and learning in your institution in no more than 500 words via the online application form.
Applications for the Teaching Innovation Awards 2021 have now closed.
The judging panel

Prof. Nicola King
Associate Dean for Education in the College for Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences and Director of Studies for the Natural Sciences programme at the University of Exeter

Dr. Juliet Stoltenkamp
Director of the Centre For Innovative Education & Communication Technologies (CIECT), University of the Western Cape

Prof. Dudley Shallcross
Professor of Atmospheric Chemistry at the University of Bristol and President of the Education Division of the Royal Society of Chemistry

Dr. Dee Scadden
Director of Teaching and Digital Learning, Dept of Biochemistry, and Director of Technology-enabled Learning, School of Biological Sciences, University of Cambridge

Dr. Leanne Williams
Associate Professor at the University of Warwick School of Life Sciences

Dr. Andrew Allsebrook
Lead Demonstrator at the University of Queensland School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences
Frequently asked questions

Yes. The Teaching Innovation Awards are an Accredited Award Scheme and hold The Independent Awards Standards Council Trust Mark.

Early 2022

The applications will be judged by an expert panel of science educators (see the judging panel information). Entries will be judged against marking criteria and how best they demonstrate their innovation of teaching and learning. Entries will only be judged on the basis of the information provided to the judges on the application form.

No, however it is recommended that applications have emphasis in one or more of the award areas. Check the eligibility for each area in the terms and conditions.

Yes. Simply select this option within the application form. Where the application is a collaborative effort, all major contributors should be specified.

The maximum length of submission is 500 words. It is recommended you use the majority of this to effectively explain your innovative project.

No. We are looking for applications from both current partners and non-partners.

Entries are open November 15th 2021 and close January 4th 2022.