Making science labs more inclusive with Dr Gina Washbourn

About this episode

Dr. Gina Washbourn discusses the challenges of making science labs more inclusive for students.

One of the most enjoyable parts of doing a science degree is getting stuck in doing practical work and seeing science in action in the lab. Yet these can also be the most stressful environments for learning and very challenging for many students. Today, I’m speaking with Gina Washbourn, a senior lecturer in Chemistry here at Liverpool, who is particularly interested in this issue and has done a lot of work on understanding what students find challenging in lab environments and how we can make these spaces more inclusive for all our students. So welcome, Gina, to our podcast. Guest Dr Gina Washbourn is a Senior Lecturer in Chemistry at the University of Liverpool. With a background in Medicinal Chemistry, her work now focuses on chemical education, particularly student skill development, assessment for learning, and the effective integration of digital tools to enhance learning. She has a strong interest in laboratory education, working to create inclusive and supportive lab environments that reduce student anxiety and build confidence in practical skills. Her teaching also incorporates principles of sustainability and responsible scientific practice within the chemistry lab…

People in this episode

Host: The Academy at the University of Liverpool

Guest: Dr Gina Washbourn

Topics covered

• inclusive education
• laboratory environments
• student anxiety
• chemical education
• practical skills
• sustainability

Keywords

• science labs
• inclusivity
• student support
• chemical education
• practical work
• student anxiety
• lab environments

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: University of Liverpool, The Academy

Books & works: Developing Practice Podcast

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