Isobel Everest’s droplet-art version of Van Gogh’s The Starry Night features as this issue’s centrefold. Isobel presented a session as part of the online 2022 Annual Conference’s technician day and an extract of her session is available as this issue’s bonus video content.  

Pete Robinson joins Helen Harden in the production of this issue, which includes Dr Richard Birch’s account of a day in his life as an ecologist. The editors hope that this is an article that readers may wish to share with students to illustrate how a study of ecology can lead to an exciting career. For those teaching ecology to post-16 students, the SSR in Depth article by Jon Hale and Andy Nelson may be of interest. The authors present a strategy to improve student recognition of plant species ahead of field work.  

The editors are particularly delighted that this issue includes our first ever article by a (then) Masters student, Rachel Chataway-Green, based on her project to design an olfactory titration method that is accessible to visually impaired students. This issue also launches the first phase of a new, more open process to enable teachers and technicians who have an idea for a case study, hinterland article or practical ideas article to submit a proposal. Please do Get involved! with your SSR and find out more on page 36.