A University of Aberdeen academic has been awarded the UK's leading physiology teaching prize.
Professor Derek Scott, Chair of Physiology & Pharmacology Education and Education Lead for the Institute of Education for Healthcare & Medical Sciences at the University, has been named winner of the prestigious Otto Hutter Teaching Prize and Lecture by the Physiological Society.
The award, introduced in 2009 by the Physiological Society, recognises excellence and originality in physiology teaching at undergraduate level. It celebrates the groundbreaking innovations and initiatives that mark a step change in education.
The first ever recipient was Professor Mary Cotter from the University of Aberdeen in 2010. It was Professor Cotter’s influence which saw Derek pursue a career in teaching himself.
He started as Wellcome Teaching Fellow in Biomedical Sciences and became increasingly involved in educational innovation. Derek was the first person on the scholarship career track ever to be promoted to Chair level at Aberdeen and the only person to win the Principal’s Teaching Excellence Award more than once, having won it three times.
He has also previously served for the Physiological Society on various committees, as Education & Teaching Theme Lead and as a speaker at the Scottish Parliament, talking about how physiology in Scotland contributes to achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
Derek’s scholarship interests include use of infographics, case studies and simulation to teach physiology. His current research interests involve competency-based assessments in physiology, access to clinical physiology careers and how we teach the physiology of dying.
“This prize is the greatest accolade a physiology teacher can be awarded,” said Derek.
“It highlights the great work being done by the Physiology staff and students at Aberdeen and demonstrates that we are recognized for this nationally and internationally. Our commitment to innovation is one of the reasons Physiology is so popular at Aberdeen and why our degree programme is always so highly ranked.”
Professor Scott will deliver his lecture in April 2026 in Newcastle as part of the Physiological Society’s 150th anniversary celebrations.