Dr Alethea Rea, Senior Lecturer in Statistics, Dr Benjamin Lobel, Lecturer in Chemistry and Dr Brendan Florio, Lecturer in Mathematics at the School of MSCP, Murdoch University.

This month, the College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) came together for its annual College-wide Learning and Teaching Award presentations, an event hosted by Pro-Vice Chancellor Professor Parisa A. Bahri. The gathering was a celebration of teaching innovation and excellence, drawing staff from across the College to recognise those who are shaping the future of STEM education.

This year’s award recipients—Dr Alethea Rea and Dr Brendan Florio —both hail from the School of Mathematics, Statistics, Chemistry and Physics (MSCP), making the occasion especially meaningful for the school community. Their achievements highlighted the School of MSCP’s commitment to creative and impactful teaching.

Dr Alethea Rea, captivated attendees with her story of reimagining first-year statistics through a flipped classroom model. Her four-year plan has already seen hundreds of students benefit from a blend of mini-lectures, workshops, labs, and tutorials, all designed to build practical skills and confidence.

“Receiving this award is a recognition of the collective effort to make statistics accessible and meaningful for every student. It’s a privilege to be part of a community that values innovation and student success.”, Alethea said reflecting on her award.

Dr Brendan Florio was honoured for his transformative approach to mathematics tutorials, where he has introduced collaborative vertical learning environments. By encouraging students to work in randomly assigned groups and solve problems together on whiteboards, Brendan has fostered a classroom culture of engagement, feedback, and mutual support. Students have responded enthusiastically, with one remarking, “I actually found this to be a really engaging and fun way to learn… I always came out of the tutorials a lot calmer about the content I was struggling with.”

Dr Alethea Rea, Senior Lecturer in Statistics and Dr Brendan Florio, Lecturer in Mathematics at the School of MSCP, Murdoch University

The event also featured a presentation by Dr Benjamin Lobel, who shared his experience in updating the fundamentals of the chemistry bridging unit, CHE140. While not an awardee himself, Ben's session provided valuable insights for staff, highlighting changes that the teaching team have made to improve student engagement and learning outcomes. The team's focus of practical lab skills and sequential learning interventions has helped students overcome chemistry anxiety and develop the skills needed for future study.

As the afternoon drew to a close, Professor Parisa A. Bahri, Pro-Vice Chancellor of the College of STEM and host of the event, reflected on the significance of the awards:

"These awards are more than just accolades — they are a testament to the passion and commitment of our educators. By recognising excellence in teaching, we inspire others to innovate and ensure our students receive the very best education possible."

The College-wide Learning and Teaching Award presentations are a powerful reminder of the impact that dedicated educators can have on their students and their disciplines.

Congratulations to Dr Brendan Florio and Dr Alethea Rea from the School of MSCP for their well-deserved recognition, and thank you to Dr Benjamin Lobel for sharing his experiences. The School of MSCP and the wider College of STEM look forwards to another year of inspiring learning and teaching.