The teaching-research link

The traditional system that has operated in university chemistry departments for many years is that academic appointments have been made on the basis of research expertise, which includes the number of publications and collaborations. This is in no way unique to chemistry as a subject, and is common to most academic disciplines.

However, in addition to pursuing their research, academic staff members give undergraduate and postgraduate lectures, run tutorials and supervise lab classes. While in the past this may have occasionally resulted in some indifferent lecture experiences for undergraduate students, this situation has now largely changed with the foundation of the Higher Education Academy and the introduction of courses on teaching and learning in higher education which are compulsory for new staff members.

Therefore, it remains the case that most undergraduate lectures are given by research-active academic staff members, and in this article I will try to defend the continuation of this system.