Dr Canning’s passion lies in helping pupils become great thinkers—questioning, reflective, and aware of bias in how information is presented. His recent lecture, part of the Aysgarth Lecture Series, perfectly captured this spirit.

Designed to enrich and extend our curriculum while sparking curiosity beyond the classroom, the compulsory session invited pupils to explore the intersection of science, health, and ethics.

Through presenting facts rather than truths, Dr Canning encouraged pupils to think for themselves—evaluating evidence, weighing up both positives and negatives, and recognising the importance of considering all sides of an argument before forming a view.

The talk delved into polio, COVID-19, smallpox, mumps, and genetic testing, offering fascinating insights into the origins of vaccines and how scientific understanding continues to evolve.

One pupil: “I didn’t know much about vaccinations before the talk. At the beginning, I voted that it was not a moral obligation to be vaccinated, but by the end, I’d completely changed my mind.”
Another added: “I’m not usually drawn to science, but it was so interesting. I’d never heard of some of the diseases and didn’t understand COVID-19. I’m really glad I went, and now I feel confident talking about vaccinations.”