Chronicle Summer 2023

20 ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE

The St Edward’s Fellows The first St Edward’s Fellows: bringing inspiration from the University of Oxford to the classrooms of Teddies.

Our first cohort of St Edward’s Fellows joined the Teddies community this term: Jennifer Chennells (Biology), Samantha Hicks (History), and Becky Short (French). All are current graduate students at the University of Oxford, and bring their passion and enthusiasm for their subjects, and insights from their research, to inspire our pupils ‘beyond the classroom’ for several hours each week. Through tutorial groups and one-to one sessions, the St Edward’s Fellows are stretching pupils from Shells to the Sixth Form with extra learning opportunities. Their contributions to super-curricular Jennifer Chennells DPhil Environmental Research Doctoral Training Partnership REUBEN COLLEGE Since graduating from Newcastle University with a first-class degree in Biology, I have worked at the University of Oxford in the Wright Bee Lab studying honeybee nutrition. As a DPhil student now my research focuses on how the food that bees eat affects their susceptibility to parasites.

activities, such as societies and lectures, also foster curiosity more widely amongst those who wish to learn more. Looking ahead to the autumn, the Fellows will have a role in supporting Sixth Formers with university applications and interview preparations, particularly for Oxbridge and US colleges. Their roles and areas of activity will be open to development during their time in post. David Flower, Sub-Warden Academic, explains ‘The St Edward’s Fellows initiative is a fantastic opportunity for our pupils to benefit from the scholars and scholarship of the University of Oxford. It also gives

our Fellows experience of school-based teaching. Our Fellows are here to share their passion, and to provide inspiration and encouragement to those interested to learn more around their subjects, both during their time at Teddies and beyond as they consider university applications. What is so special about our Fellows is that our location allows them to be active researchers whilst working part time with us. Roles at other schools often require a full-time commitment, which removes the graduate from their field of study. At Teddies, we get the best of both worlds.’

No two weeks of my research look the same and I have the opportunity to learn something new every day. After long periods of data collection, it is really satisfying to see the data, draw new conclusions about how bees function and see how this might be applied to real world situations. I am really enjoying working with the staff and pupils at Teddies and seeing the students excited to challenge themselves and to learn more about the world around them and how it works. I am looking forward to sharing my experience as a researcher at Oxford University and I hope I can help the pupils to pursue their

interest in biology through super-curricular clubs and societies by sharing my own enthusiasm for biology and bees. During my time at Teddies, I would like to further develop my science communication skills so that I can continue to get involved with public outreach events and help to motivate people to learn more about the natural world. One of my favourite places in Oxford is the Museum of Natural History, with all of its fascinating exhibits. My college – Reuben College – is new, and as its buildings have not yet opened we have had our weekly formal dinners at the museum, also known as ‘Dining with Dinos’!