Fostering Excellence in Education: Report on the "Pedagogical Innovations in Biosciences 2025" Event
The Pedagogical Innovations in Biosciences: Sharing Practices, Embracing Innovation event took place online on 24 October 2025, bringing together around 125 educators, researchers, and students to explore innovative approaches to teaching and learning. Organized by a consortium of Portuguese higher education institutions with the support of the Portuguese Society for Biochemistry (SPB) and FEBS, the event successfully consolidated its role as a reference forum for pedagogical exchange.
Participants met in a collaborative digital atmosphere for a programme that opened with a keynote lecture by Dr. Barry Ryan (Technological University Dublin) on the power of experimentation in teaching. This was followed by a dynamic "Share Your Practices" session, where Dr. Nuno Osório (University of Minho) received the “Most Inspiring Lecture Award” for his presentation on Generative AI and Active Learning. Attendees also engaged in interactive workshops ranging from gamification to curriculum design, concluding with a debate on the future of education led by Vítor Costa(SPB President) and Manuel João Costa (UMinho).
The smooth coordination of the event was ensured by a dedicated Organizing Committee representing the partner institutions: Rui Oliveira (UMinho), Margarida Fardilha (UA), Ana Gouveia and Mafalda Fonseca (UBI), Carolina Vila-Chã (IPCA), Susana Bernardino (IPLeiria), and Conceição Freitas (IPVC), with visual design by Renato M. Rodrigues (UA).
The initiative was supported by FEBS and SPB, whose collaboration provided essential organizational backing, digital tools for interactivity, and sponsorship for the event's awards. With 100% of respondents rating their experience as positive, the 2025 edition reaffirmed the collective commitment to inclusivity and evidence-based innovation in biosciences education.
I am a biochemistry (degree at University of Porto, Portugal) and I have a PhD in Biology and habilitation in Biomedicine. I work in human reproduction, in particular, on unraveling the molecular mechanisms that egulate sperm movement. Interest in the area determined my research in subsequent years focuing on the understanding of the molecular bases of sperm function and relation to male (in)fertility, as well as the characterization of molecular events related to prostate carcinogenesis, with potential diagnosis, prognosis and therapy of this type of cancer.
I love being a teacher and helping my students to learn and to succeed in thier lifes.
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