Nicholas SouterNicholas (Nicky) Souter's first science lesson in 'the big school' included being told that the universe consists of matter and energy. That elegant and intriguing starting point was the hook that set him on a lifelong journey of sharing sciene with school pupils and teachers. He possesses undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications in life science and in education awarded by the University of Glasgow, Jordanhill College of Education, Paisley College of Technology and the Royal Society of Biology. He established a reputation as an innovative secondary science practitioner and leader while developing a profile in curriculum development, teacher's CPD and as an examiner in biology. He moved midcareer into full-time teacher education at the University of Strathclyde where he progressed to senior lecturer as well as holding a number of senior faculty positions including leadership for one of the largest PGCE programmes in Europe, external examining, and the accreditation and design of new teacher education programmes in England and Scotland. Nicky has been a member of a number of committees in professional organisations e.g. The Association for Science Education, the Society of Biology and the British Ecological Society. He has undertaken consultancies in Pakistan and Germany, has contributed to more than 25 books, several of which offered supportive advice to life science teaching at all levels of the school curriculum. He is also an accredited provider of primary science CPD for SSERC, and has held consultancies with Rolls-Royce, the Woodland Trust, OXFAM and the BBC. Nicky is a Chartered Science Teacher and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology.