Staff and students in our School share their passion for biology through:
- their teaching
- University Open Days
- public lectures
- science fairs
- presentations at local cafes
- hands-on workshops and mentoring in local schools.
Our outreach activities
Practical lab sessions
We provide half or full day workshops showcasing polymerase chain reaction (PCR), enzyme assays, gel electrophoresis and some experimental techniques used in research laboratories.
Visit our facilities
The Cole Museum of Zoology houses around 3,500 specimens. We host field trips suitable for Key Stages 1 and 2. Please email colemuseum@reading.ac.uk for more information. Students can also tour the Harris Garden, our on-campus botanical garden.
Talks and interactive demos
We provide talks for primary and secondary school children on climate change, conservation biology, why plants matter, how brains work, biodiversity in plants, evolution, cancer evolution, how sexes differ, and how to survey wildlife.
We also provide career visits, discussing what it means to be a scientist, educator or conservation biologist and what you can do with a biology degree.
Online courses
Our online courses are free, flexible and open to everyone. They provide a great introduction to the world of biology, whether you're learning for fun, to develop a new skill, or to prepare for an undergraduate degree in our School.
Heart Health: A Beginner's Guide to Cardiovascular Disease
Do you want to know more about heart disease and how your heart works? This beginner's guide to cardiovascular disease (CVD) covers the causes, consequences and treatment of CVD and raises awareness of current research.
Small and Mighty: An Introduction to Microbiology
Microbes may be invisible without the use of a microscope, but they dominate every environment on Earth – including your body! Learn how microbes function, how they affect our health, food and environment, and how we can make use of microbes to benefit society.
Contact us
For more information on our outreach programmes and events within the community, please get in touch with our School's Director of Outreach, Dr Dyan Sellayah, or with the Curator of the Cole Museum, Professor Amanda Callaghan.
Research
We conduct high-impact research in areas of great relevance to the challenges faced by society and the planet as a whole.
Our wide-ranging research seeks to understand and combat human disease and uncover new ways to protect the natural world.
Meet the team
Our community of staff includes internationally renowned academics, recognised for the excellence of their teaching and research.
Facilities
Our labs, microscopy suite, cardiovascular imaging facility, Cole Museum of Zoology, Herbarium, and range of virtual reality and haptic interfaces, are all situated on our beautiful Whiteknights campus.
