CLS INAUGURAL LECTURE SERIES - Professor Sarah Gretton

Beyond Boundaries: Transforming Education Through Research and Collaboration

Join Professor Sarah Gretton for her inaugural lecture, “Beyond Boundaries: Transforming Education Through Research and Collaboration.” Discover how interdisciplinary innovation, sustainability, and inclusive practice are reshaping higher education. A celebration of impact, leadership, and the power of working collaboratively to inspire the next generation of learners and educators.

About Professor Gretton

Professor Sarah Gretton is an academic leader in science education and sustainability, currently serving as Director of the University of Leicester Education Academy. Her career reflects a deep commitment to interdisciplinary teaching, educational innovation, and the integration of sustainability into higher education.

Professor Gretton began her academic journey with a BSc (Hons) in Medical Microbiology from the University of Edinburgh. She went on to complete a PhD at the MRC Virology Unit at the University of Glasgow, where she studied the cellular biology of the hepatitis C virus. Her postdoctoral research continued at the University of Leeds, furthering her expertise in virology.

Transitioning into education, Professor Gretton held a sessional lectureship at Nottingham Trent University before joining the University of Leicester in 2010. There, she contributed to the Centre for Interdisciplinary Science and the GENIE Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, teaching across natural and biological sciences whilst working on a range of educational projects.

Her roles at the University of Leicester have included Director of the Centre for Interdisciplinary Science, Programme Director for Natural Sciences (Life and Physical Sciences), and Director of Taught Postgraduate Programmes for the College of Life Sciences. Since 2015, she has also served as the institutional lead for Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), embedding sustainability principles across curricula and institutional strategy. She was appointed inaugural Director of the University Education Academy in spring 2024.

Professor Gretton is a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and was awarded a National Teaching Fellowship in 2021. She led the Natural Sciences team to win the UK Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence in 2017, recognising her commitment to collaborative, student-centred learning.

Her work continues to shape the future of science education, with a focus on interdisciplinary learning, sustainability, and inclusive academic practice.