Department of Anatomy & Neuroscience Shines at Learning and Teaching Showcase 2025

11 Dec 2025

Department of Anatomy & Neuroscience Shines at Learning and Teaching Showcase 2025

The Learning and Teaching Showcase 2025 on December 4th 2025 brought together educators, researchers, and students from across the university to celebrate innovation, scholarship, and excellence in teaching practice. The event highlighted novel approaches that enhance student learning, promote inclusive education, and support the continued professional development of staff and learners.

This year, the Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience was exceptionally well represented, contributing an impressive 11 posters to the showcase. These works highlighted the department’s strong commitment to educational innovation, Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and evidence-based teaching practice.

The poster contributions featured a diverse range of projects from MSc and PhD students, demonstrating the vibrant culture of inquiry and collaboration within the department. Several projects stemmed from initiatives supported by a SATLE grant from the Higher Education Authority (HEA), reflecting the department’s success in securing competitive funding to develop impactful teaching and learning enhancements.

Projects presented included advancements in anatomy education, technology-enhanced learning, neurodiversity in the classroom, 3D learning tools, assessment redesign, dissection-based projects and student partnership in research. The strong presence of both postgraduate researchers and staff showcased the department’s dedication to fostering scholarly, student-centred, and inclusive teaching practices.

The Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience continues to lead by example, contributing meaningfully to the university’s learning and teaching community and championing innovative pedagogical approaches. 

The below presentations were among those submitted by the Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience

1. Innovative Anatomy Outreach: Empowering Postgraduate Students through Technology-Enhanced Public Engagement. Aisling Noone, Sarah M. Ross, Mutahira Lone, Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, UCC.
2. Seeing Every Mind: Exploring Neurodiversity in Anatomy Education. Katy Dineen¹, Lara J Duffy¹ , Grace Wachira¹, Eric J Downer² , Denis S Barry², Audrey MK Dempsey³, Ciara M Murphy^4, Helen Dodson⁵, Andre Toulouse¹, Mutahira Lone¹ (¹ University College Cork, ² Trinity College Dublin, ³ University of Limerick, ⁴ Royal College of Surgeons, Ireland, ⁵ University of Galway).
3. Exploring the Role of Generative AI in Human Anatomy Education. Daniel K. Hirt¹, Dr Conor O’Mahony ² and Dr Mutahira Lone¹. ( ¹Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, ²College of Medicine and Health, University College Cork, Ireland. 
4. Game On: Enhancing Dental Education with 3D-Printed Teeth. José Monagas¹, Asma Zulfiqar¹, William Ruane², Martin O’Driscoll², Suzanne Kennedy-O’Shea³, Ayesha Khan³, Mawadda Mohamed³, Mutahira Lone³, André Toulouse³. ( ¹ Cork University |Dental School and Hospital, ² Digital Scholarship Studio, Boole Library, ³ Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University College Cork, Cork.
5. Universal Design in Practice: 3D Printing for Head and Neck Anatomy Education. Carrie Flynn¹, William Ruane², Martin O’Driscoll², Mutahira Lone¹. ( ¹ Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience  ² Digital Scholarship Studio, Boole Library, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland).
6. Anatomy assessment and AI today. Katie Mill, Jane A English and Mutahira Lone. Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, UCC.
7. A study of the intracranial anatomical course and variation of the vertebral arteries to enhance anatomy education. Savanna I Toolis, Ashley Benge and Andreea Factor. Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, UCC.
8. Empowering Neuroanatomy learning: A digital tool for the Trigeminal nerve to mitigate neurophobia. Gillain Yarano, André Toulouse and Harriet Schellenkens.
9. Equity and inclusion in teaching histology. Mairaj Fatime, André Toulouse and Mutahira Lone. Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, UCC.
10. Anatomy as a platform for Interprofessional learning: Rationale, delivery and impact. Mawadda Mohamed, Mutahira Lone and André Toulouse.