About Me

Professor Michael Seery BA MA MSc PhD SFHEA NTF CChem FRSC

• Blog: Link to my blog “Is this going to be on the exam?“
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/mkseery/
• Google Scholar: Link to Google Scholar page
• Link to list of presentations and workshops
• Contact: Please see note regarding Requests for Activity if you want me to do something

I am Head of Digital Learning at Cardiff Metropolitan University with particular interest in the connections between curriculum design, digital learning, and student experience. I will be working with colleagues across the university looking at ways in which digital education can be integrated in meaningful and valuable ways for both students and staff.

I have worked previously at the University of Edinburgh, where I was Professor of Chemistry Education and Director of Teaching and Learning. At Edinburgh I was engaged in a number of large scale projects, including those relating to digital education (virtual learning environments and lecture capture), as well as leading an extensive 5-year curriculum transformation project in my School. I previously worked at the Open University, where I remain a Visiting Professor, and at TU Dublin, where I was lecturer in chemistry for 12 years. I am former Editor in Chief of the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) journal Chemistry Education Research and Practice (free to access), and am interested in supporting those new to publication of scholarship of teaching and learning activities.

My overarching interest in research and scholarship is in exploring the framing of practical learning environments and designing approaches that foster cognitive engagement in situ. In addition, I research means of exploring student engagement more generally, and especially whether and how engagement derives from digital education approaches, usually through the lens of self-efficacy. My research has always been influenced by my teaching context, leading to particular interests in how blended approaches can support learning in complex environments such as practical settings, lectures, and tutorials. In that regard, I am very proud to have won teaching awards for my professional practice, including most recently my professional body’s most prestigious award for education, the Nyholm Prize.

GRC Chemistry Education Research and Practice 2025

I am lucky enough to be the conference chair of the GRC CERP 2025! Details of GRC CERP conference are at this link.

Awards

• 2021 RSC Nyholm Prize
• 2020 Principal’s Medal for Exceptional Contribution to the University of Edinburgh
• 2020 National Teaching Fellow (Advance HE)
  2019 Royal Society of Chemistry Inspirational Member Award
• 2012 Royal Society of Chemistry Higher Education Teaching Award
• 2011 Jennifer Burke Award for Innovation in Learning and Teaching
• 2009 National Academy for Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning Teaching Excellence Award

Personal Interests

I also try to be a historian, and have written some books on the history of Enniskerry, as well as a study of early school houses in County Wicklow, Ireland, now available on Google books. I also maintain a blog on some aspects of the history of Dublin’s streets. When not working or doing history, I enjoy spending time in my garden and travelling with my partner, Matthew.