Dr Emma Yhnell shortlisted for RSB HE Bioscience Teacher of the Year 2022

The School of Biosciences lecturer has been nominated for the prestigious national award, which celebrates outstanding achievement in bioscience teaching at university level

Congratulations to Dr Yhnell, one of three finalists for the RSB (Royal Society of Biology)'s annual Higher Education Biology Teacher of the Year award.

An award-winning science communicator, Dr Yhnell has been recognised for her approach in actively engaging her students – encouraging them to embrace challenges and value their scientific skills.

Dr Yhnell said: “I am hugely humbled to be shortlisted for this award alongside such brilliant and inspirational biosciences educators. The past few years have been particularly hard for educators, and I would like to thank the student who initially nominated me as well as tremendous colleagues who have supported me”.

School of Biosciences Education Division Lead, Prof Rutherford said: “Emma is an exceptional and innovative educator. Be it teaching first years, final years, school pupils or the public, she has the ability to pitch her teaching perfectly, so that the audience can understand complex material easily. She is hugely popular with students, and an enthusiastic and supportive colleague. Best of luck with the final stage!”

Dr Yhnell has also been nominated in the ‘Rising Star’ category of this year’s Cardiff University Celebrating Excellence Awards.

As a first generation academic, Dr Yhnell seeks to make higher education more inclusive, accessible, and fun. She has worked to create innovative and interactive teaching for students, including “mini discos”, polls and draw-alongs. Dr Yhnell is committed to improving diversity within science; as the Equality and Diversity representative for the British Neuroscience Association, she advocates for real and meaningful change.

Dr Yhnell’s nomination builds on the success of Dr Nigel Francis, a fellow lecturer in the School of Biosciences, who won the RSB Higher Education Bioscience Teacher 2021 award.

The recognition of teaching staff through awards of this calibre exemplifies the excellent, innovative learning and teaching practices in the School of Biosciences.

The winner of the RSB Higher Education Bioscience Teacher 2022 will be announced at the Heads of University’s (HUBS) Annual Meeting at the end of March -  good luck Dr Yhnell!