MicrobiologyBytes

Related:

• LabWork: Bacterial growth
• Saturday Cinema: Logarithmic growth of bacteria

Places to study at the University of Leicester are filling up fast:

Student application figures at the University of Leicester – named University of the Year for 2008-9 by the Times Higher – have rocketed. While applications nationally increased by over 7% – at Leicester applications are 16% higher than last year. That means that almost 20,000 students will chase 2,500 places at the University. Leicester has seen one of the largest increases in applications in the UK. In fact, over the past three years (2006-9) our applications have increased 49% – the 3rd biggest amongst traditional pre-1992 universities. This success is attributable to the strong research and teaching record Leicester enjoys and our very high student satisfaction record. Applications from Home and EU students for undergraduate study are up by 14% and overseas by 48%. Post graduate taught applications are also strong with an increase of 14% from home / EU students and 77% from overseas, an increase of 69% overall. Applications for postgraduate research are 37% higher than at the same point last year. In total, over 20,000 students study at the University of Leicester.

The good news is that in response to this, from 2010, you have not one but TWO choices to study microbiology at Leicester:

• Microbiology or:
• Medical Microbiology

You may remember that the University of Leicester was named University of the Year 2008 in the Times Higher Education Awards, and that we’re all happy bunnies. The good news is that from 2010, you have not one but TWO choices to study microbiology at Leicester:

• Microbiology or:
• Medical Microbiology

Can you afford not to find out more?

Following on from the microscope basics video series, YouTube user lgines continues to produce the goods with a useful series of videos on aseptic technique:

Preparing a bacterial culture (broth to broth):

Preparing a bacterial culture (broth to plate):

Preparing a bacterial culture (slant to plate):

Preparing a smear from a broth culture:

Performing an isolation streak:

Gram staining:

Related:

• Microscope basics video series

YouTube is such a great teaching tool, and lgines has used it to share a very useful video series on how to use a microscope.

Part 1:

Part 2:

Part 3:

Recently I’ve been using YouTube to give class feedback on assignments as well as to post my thoughts about various areas of education and educational technology. How do you use YouTube in your teaching?

Related:

• YouTube Nature Channel
• YouTube BioMed Central Channel
• YouTube BMJ Channel

Vote here

When I’m not here blogging about the latest developments in microbiology, my day job involves teaching microbiology (and a few other things) at the University of Leicester. I blog about my education work over at Science of the Invisible, and I’m honoured that Science of the Invisible has been nominated in the Best Teacher Edublog category of the 2008 Edublog Awards. Voting closes on December 21st, and if you haven’t already done so and would like to vote for me (or even one of the other nominees ;-) this is the link.

While you’re there, why not vote in some of the other categories too.

The University of the Year scholarship package scheme – a series of Open Research Scholarships available to students from the EU and UK – will create a range of opportunities for funded PhD study. These scholarships are available across a full range of disciplines at the University of Leicester; science, arts, social sciences, law, medicine and the biological sciences. Those joining the scheme will benefit from a package worth over £17,000 each year including a stipend, fee waiver and research training support grant.

Find out more

Vote here

When I’m not here blogging about the latest developments in microbiology, my day job involves teaching microbiology (and a few other things) at the University of Leicester. I blog about my education work over at Science of the Invisible, and I’m honoured that Science of the Invisible has been nominated in the Best Teacher Edublog category of the 2008 Edublog Awards. Voting closes on December 21st, and if you’d like to vote for me (or even one of the other nominees ;-) this is the link.

While you’re there, why not vote in some of the other categories too.