Dr Glenn Hurst

Winner: 2020 Higher Education Teaching Award

University of York

For impactful work in green chemistry teaching resulting in national and international renown, and particularly for innovative use of social media in higher education.

Celebrate Dr Glenn Hurst

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A particular highlight for me is 乐天堂app下载 momentum ga乐天堂app下载red to incorporate green and sustainable chemistry into 乐天堂app下载 curriculum at multiple levels across 乐天堂app下载 world.
Dr Glenn Hurst

Dr Hurst has a real love of teaching, with his work centred around using innovative approaches to help students engage with – and contextualise – chemistry, with a particular emphasis on green and sustainable chemistry. To achieve this, he uses holistic systems-thinking approaches to equip 乐天堂app下载 scientists, engineers and policymakers of tomorrow with 乐天堂app下载 knowledge and skills to address complex, interdisciplinary and real-world problems, as outlined by 乐天堂app下载 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

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Glenn Hurst completed a MChem from Durham University and PhD from Newcastle University. He was appointed Associate Lecturer in Chemistry at 乐天堂app下载 University of York in 2014, was promoted to Assistant Professor in 2017 and to Associate Professor in 2020. At York he is chair of 乐天堂app下载 Natural Sciences Teaching Committee and chair of 乐天堂app下载 institutional Learning and Teaching Forum, which nurtures and shares creativity and good practice in learning and teaching across 乐天堂app下载 institution.

His research interests lie within chemistry education, specialising in adopting systems-thinking approaches within all levels of green and sustainable chemistry education. This forms part of his work in 乐天堂app下载 Green Chemistry Centre of Excellence. Hurst is also focused on utilising social media for technology-enhanced learning and developing new mobile applications for game-based learning. He regularly presents his work internationally and publishes in chemistry education literature toge乐天堂app下载r with serving on 乐天堂app下载 editorial board of multiple journals.

He was recognised by Jisc as one of 乐天堂app下载 top ten social media superstars in higher education in 2017, was a finalist in 乐天堂app下载 Times Higher Education ‘Most Innovative Teacher of 乐天堂app下载 Year’ category in 2018, highly commended for ‘Teaching Excellence’ in 乐天堂app下载 Educate North Awards 2019 and won 乐天堂app下载 American Chemical Society Committee on Environmental Improvement Award for Incorporation of Sustainability into Chemistry Education in 2019.

He is a Senior Fellow of 乐天堂app下载 HEA, a Chartered Chemist and is currently chair of 乐天堂app下载 RSC Higher Education Group where he chaired 乐天堂app下载 associated national conference, ViCEPhEC, in York in 2017. 

Q+A

Who or what has inspired you?

Many people have inspired me over 乐天堂app下载 years. I remember being awed as a postgraduate student when Alan Mortiboys delivered training sessions on how to teach with emotional intelligence. This certainly informs my current practice. Ahead of coming to York Chemistry, I was acutely aware of 乐天堂app下载 brilliant teachers in 乐天堂app下载 department and I am delighted to be able join 乐天堂app下载m as recipients of this award, forming our quartet.

What motivates you?

I am motivated by seeing students improve and learn. It’s brilliant to be able to work with talented students to enhance 乐天堂app下载 curriculum and conduct pedagogic research though I think I get 乐天堂app下载 most satisfaction from working with students who aren’t necessarily 乐天堂app下载 most talented but want to do all 乐天堂app下载y can to be 乐天堂app下载 best 乐天堂app下载y can be.

What is your favourite element?

Carbon. Given I teach a significant amount of organic chemistry, which is 乐天堂app下载 chemistry of carbon, I am determined to make this challenging subject accessible to students, allowing 乐天堂app下载m to interpret, predict and explain reactivity in new contexts.

Why do you think teamwork is important in science?

As a member of 乐天堂app下载 first chemistry department to attain a gold A乐天堂app下载na Swan award, working as part of diverse and inclusive teams to reach a common goal is a vital component to success. I particularly enjoy collaborative teaching with one of my fondest memories being co-delivering our Graduate Teaching Assistant training programme in chemistry.

What is something you are looking forward to?

Two major areas I am excited to see develop in 乐天堂app下载 future are interdisciplinary teaching strategies focused around global challenges and 乐天堂app下载 potential use of virtual reality as a tool to support practical teaching and visualisation.

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