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A Professor from The University of Western Australia's School of Anatomy and Human Biology who revolutionised laboratory teaching has been awarded a highly competitive and prestigious Australian Learning and Teaching Council (ALTC) Teaching Fellowship.

Professor Geoff Meyer, recognised as a world leader in the innovative teaching of histology, has developed an exciting, innovative and popular approach to the study of body cells, tissues and organs.

Traditionally histology was taught in laboratories with prepared slides and microscopes.  However, with the increase in student numbers and the need for more equipment this method of teaching became impractical and costly.

In response, Professor Meyer developed a computer program called, ‘The Human Body - under the microscope', which is being sought after by universities worldwide.

The program allows students to interact with more than 6,000 images of body cells, tissues and organs, complete much of the laboratory requirement through a simulated microscope and test themselves after each session ultimately improving their final exam results.  They can access the program from anywhere, freeing up laboratory space, staff time and resources.

ALTC Teaching Fellows are prominent scholars and educators in their disciplinary fields, recognised by their home institutions for their capacity to make significant contributions to educational leadership in the future.  Teaching Fellows undertake a program of activities with the goal of enhancing disciplinary or inter-disciplinary teaching and learning within their institution and beyond.

Professor Meyer will collaborate with highly respected and multidisciplinary histology teachers at Australian and overseas universities to review histology teaching approaches as well as identify and add new resource content and associated learning activities.

The ALTC Fellow will also work with colleagues worldwide to extend the application of this learning tool to other image intensive disciplines such as histopathology and haematology.

UWA Vice-Chancellor Professor Alan Robson said the award was not only a significant recognition of Professor Meyer's teaching reputation, it also reflected highly on the University.

"It is particularly apt that Professor Meyer's ALTC Teaching Fellowship is announced during UWA's Teaching and Learning Month," Professor Robson said.

For more information about this month, visit https://www.catl.uwa.edu.au/current_initiatives/teaching_month

Media references

Professor Geoff Meyer (+61 8)  6488 3302
Janine MacDonald (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 5563  /  (+61 4) 32 637 716