Reflections on the Teaching Symposium at the Microbiology Society Annual Conference 2023

The Microbiology Society Education and Outreach Network (EON) recently hosted the Teaching Symposium at the Microbiology Society Annual Conference, sponsored by Access Microbiology. The presence of the Symposium as an established parallel session within the wider Annual Conference reflects the importance of high-quality, contemporary microbiology education and outreach delivered in an enthusiastic and inclusive manner. At the 2023 Symposium, a variety of pedagogical research projects in higher education learning, teaching and assessment, as well as public engagement projects, were showcased through flash talks, offered talks, invited talks and posters. The event was attended by up to 70 delegates. Several themes were noted throughout the day: engaging with GenZ, active learning, art in science, and engaging with non-HE audiences. Inclusivity was a key driver in the organisation of the Symposium; the room was set up to encourage discussion and participants could ask questions using an online platform as well as speaking in the room. We now encourage all speakers to consider publishing their work as a peer-reviewed article for further dissemination and impact.