Bangor Fund provides anatomical models for School of Environmental and Natural Sciences students

A grant from the Bangor Fund sustained by alumni donations and administered by the Development and Alumni Relations Office, has enabled the School of Environmental and Natural Sciences to acquire a collection of anatomical models. These highly accurate representations of a seastar, a crayfish, and a comparative selection of eight vertebrate brains are now enhancing teaching across all seven zoology programmes.

Students in the final year Fish Physiology module were the first to benefit from this new resource. The students used the models to analyse brain morphology of rainbow trout, catshark and lamprey specimens. The models proved to be an ideal companion to the five practicals comparing neural anatomy and hormone expression across vertebrates.

The invertebrate models will make their debut in the Invertebrate Zoology and Integrated Zoology modules in the spring. These durable and dissectible models are ideal in exploring comparative anatomy while supporting the School’s commitment to the 3Rs of Animal Research - reduce, replace, and refine.

As the School’s modern approach to teaching advances with its new curriculum, further expansion of the anatomical model collection is anticipated.

Thanks to our generous alumni, we are able to enhance student experience and understanding of animal anatomy through the use of these reusable and highly accurate scientific models. Through combined support from our benefactors and the enthusiasm of our student body, we are continuously improving our resources and increasing accessibility and inclusivity of all students.

Dr Jo Hoppes (Lecturer in Zoology)