Showcase 2026
Theme
Bridging the divide
The Enhancing Fieldwork Learning team coordinates an annual Showcase bringing together fieldwork educators from a range of disciplines to share innovations in field teaching and learning, with a particular focus on the use of technology.
The 16th Showcase will be held on 8–9 September 2026 at the University of Southampton and online. The theme, “Bridging the Divide” will explore digital and real-world learning, international field experiences, transitions from school to higher education and employment, and differences between staff and student expectations.
The event will include talks, hands-on workshops, field-based learning and discussion.
| Time | Description |
| 10:30 to 11:00 | Registration / tea and coffee |
| 11:00 to 11:10 | Welcome |
| 11:10 to 11:40 | Keynote 1 Nick Worsfold – Bridging AI and Real World Learning |
| 11:40 to 12:40 | Session 1 – Bridging digital divides (4 x 10 min talks then 20 min Q&A) Yinka Adeniji – Bridging AI and Real-World Field Learning Through Passive Acoustic Monitoring in Ecology Addy Pope and Kiaran Ratcliffe – GeoAI for the field ready students of today Phil Wheeler, Julia Cooke, Kadmiel Maseyk, Sarah Davies, Trevor Collins, Kate Bradshaw, Ben Hawkridge – ‘Equivalent’, not ‘Alternative’: bridging the divide between online and in-person student experience in fieldwork. Catherine Mottram and Trevor Collins – Bridging the Fieldwork Divide: Inclusive and hybrid approaches to geology fieldwork in the NW Highlands Questions & Discussion |
| 12:40 to 13:40 | LUNCH |
| 13:40 to 14:30 | Session 2 – Bridging geographical and geopolitical divides (3 x 10 mins; 20 min Q&A) Simon M Hutchinson – An evaluation of the on-going use, development and future opportunities for Virtual Field Trips in Geography and Environmental Science Hooman Foroughmand Araabi (UWE) & Eman Nasr (GCET) – NEW EYES: A Report on Student Cultural Exchange Field Trips – GCET/UWE 2026 Richard Billington – Bringing Positive Impact to Fieldwork Questions & Discussion |
| 14:30 to 14:45 | Coffee break |
| 14:45 to 15:45 | Interactive session SoGES team – Demonstration of field sensing equipment Hiran Vegad – Demonstration of ASD FieldSpec 4 Cameron McAuliffe – Demonstration of immersive technologies |
| 15:45 to 16:00 | Wrap up – Day one review |
| Time | Description |
| 09:00 to 09:30 | Keynote 2 Alan Parkinson – You should get out more… |
| 09:30 to 10:30 | |
| 10:30 to 10:45 | Coffee Break |
| 10:45 to 11:45 | |
| 11:45 to 12:45 | Session 4 talks – Bridging expectation gaps (4 x 10 mins; 20 min Q&A) Alan Marvell and David Simm – Bridging the divide between pedagogy and students’ experiences Moya Burns, Ishwaq Ali, Scarlett Asher, Stuart Desjardins, Diljot Gill, Hannah Harrison, Ceri Jones, Sandra Lee, Adam Tester – Bridging the accessibility divide in field-based learning using place‑based approaches Jonathan Wessell – Examining Experiential Learning Practices at Three Universities across the UK Tory Milner – Increasing student employability & technical skill development through fieldwork: hydrology in action! Questions & Discussion |
| 12:45 to 13:00 | Wrap up – Day two review / closing and next steps |