Biosciences: Biosciences and Food Security with Simon Welham, University of Nottingham

In this interactive webinar, Simon Welham from the School of Biosciences at the University of Nottingham will be to address the issue of how we will feed a global population of 10 billion in 2050. Students will be asked to explore the problems faced in meeting this need both in terms of the quantity of food, but also its nutritional quality.

Students will be encouraged to make suggestions directly and will also be surveyed using Socrative software. Once the challenges have been clarified and potential approaches defined, the students will be introduced to the types of degrees we offer in the School of Biosciences which specifically target these issues. Real examples will also be included that show how some of these challenges are being overcome by research in the School and with which undergraduates may engage.

Students will be encouraged to ask questions throughout the session and will also have their opinions surveyed with Socrative.

Expected benefits will include increasing the awareness of the broad degree options available in the School of Biosciences, their application and global value. It is anticipated that students will leave with an appreciation of the fact that the subjects in which they are most interested may be studied in a context that is relevant to the world population.

Lecturer Biography: Simon Welham

Suitable for: Year 12s and Year 13s with a potential interest in Science degrees with a biological or chemical focus. The Biosciences are a group of subjects which apply biology, chemistry and physics to real world situations.

Preparation/Pre-Reading: To prepare for the webinar, Simon plans to send out some preliminary questions to participating schools and colleges a couple of weeks prior to the event.

The IT Setup: The setup is similar to Skype, using a pc and webcam, although students take part as a group with the image projected on a whiteboard rather than as individuals in front of lots of pcs. Dedicated videoconferencing equipment is also compatible if available to the school/college. We will work with your IT department to ensure everything is set up and working prior to the event. The sessions are generally limited to 3 or 4 schools to maintain the interactive nature of the experience.

Booking a Place: Invitations to this event will be sent to schools and colleges by the University of Nottingham. Following an invitation, if you have a group of students that you think would benefit from taking part in this event, please contact us via email or via the contact form at the top right of this webpage (or at the bottom if you are using a mobile device). Subject to availability we will then book your place.