diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index cb787a37bb..76f036cef7 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 ## Features
 
+-   Added Base Parameters class and SymPy in dependencies ([#1495](https://github.com/pybamm-team/PyBaMM/pull/1495))
 -   Added a new "reaction-driven" model for LAM from Reniers et al (2019) ([#1490](https://github.com/pybamm-team/PyBaMM/pull/1490))
 -   Some features ("loss of active material" and "particle mechanics") can now be specified separately for the negative electrode and positive electrode by passing a 2-tuple ([#1490](https://github.com/pybamm-team/PyBaMM/pull/1490))
 -   `plot` and `plot2D` now take and return a matplotlib Axis to allow for easier customization ([#1472](https://github.com/pybamm-team/PyBaMM/pull/1472))
diff --git a/docs/requirements.txt b/docs/requirements.txt
index f09d546bce..ba30ec28b8 100644
--- a/docs/requirements.txt
+++ b/docs/requirements.txt
@@ -18,3 +18,4 @@ matplotlib >= 2.0
 #
 guzzle-sphinx-theme
 sphinx>=1.5
+sympy==1.8
diff --git a/pybamm/parameters/base_parameters.py b/pybamm/parameters/base_parameters.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..94745071b4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pybamm/parameters/base_parameters.py
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+import pybamm
+
+
+class BaseParameters:
+    """
+    Overload the `__setattr__` method to record what the variable was called
+    """
+
+    def __setattr__(self, name, value):
+        if isinstance(value, pybamm.Symbol):
+            value.print_name = name
+        super().__setattr__(name, value)
diff --git a/pybamm/parameters/electrical_parameters.py b/pybamm/parameters/electrical_parameters.py
index 750e8f8782..5cd20d5bdd 100644
--- a/pybamm/parameters/electrical_parameters.py
+++ b/pybamm/parameters/electrical_parameters.py
@@ -3,9 +3,10 @@
 #
 import pybamm
 import numpy as np
+from .base_parameters import BaseParameters
 
 
-class ElectricalParameters:
+class ElectricalParameters(BaseParameters):
     """
     Standard electrical parameters
 
diff --git a/pybamm/parameters/geometric_parameters.py b/pybamm/parameters/geometric_parameters.py
index e31e44fa6c..43b329083c 100644
--- a/pybamm/parameters/geometric_parameters.py
+++ b/pybamm/parameters/geometric_parameters.py
@@ -2,9 +2,10 @@
 # Geometric Parameters
 #
 import pybamm
+from .base_parameters import BaseParameters
 
 
-class GeometricParameters:
+class GeometricParameters(BaseParameters):
     """
     Standard geometric parameters
 
diff --git a/pybamm/parameters/lead_acid_parameters.py b/pybamm/parameters/lead_acid_parameters.py
index 8f52897585..e1557d2960 100644
--- a/pybamm/parameters/lead_acid_parameters.py
+++ b/pybamm/parameters/lead_acid_parameters.py
@@ -4,9 +4,10 @@
 
 import pybamm
 import numpy as np
+from .base_parameters import BaseParameters
 
 
-class LeadAcidParameters:
+class LeadAcidParameters(BaseParameters):
     """
     Standard Parameters for lead-acid battery models
 
diff --git a/pybamm/parameters/lithium_ion_parameters.py b/pybamm/parameters/lithium_ion_parameters.py
index 4e8530e27a..fdd470b947 100644
--- a/pybamm/parameters/lithium_ion_parameters.py
+++ b/pybamm/parameters/lithium_ion_parameters.py
@@ -3,9 +3,10 @@
 #
 import pybamm
 import numpy as np
+from .base_parameters import BaseParameters
 
 
-class LithiumIonParameters:
+class LithiumIonParameters(BaseParameters):
     """
     Standard parameters for lithium-ion battery models
 
diff --git a/pybamm/parameters/parameter_values.py b/pybamm/parameters/parameter_values.py
index 52f4224388..d6023e5e8d 100644
--- a/pybamm/parameters/parameter_values.py
+++ b/pybamm/parameters/parameter_values.py
@@ -802,7 +802,7 @@ def export_csv(self, filename):
 
         df = pd.DataFrame(parameter_output)
         df = df.transpose()
-        df.to_csv(filename, header=['Value'], index_label="Name [units]")
+        df.to_csv(filename, header=["Value"], index_label="Name [units]")
 
     def print_parameters(self, parameters, output_file=None):
         """
diff --git a/pybamm/parameters/thermal_parameters.py b/pybamm/parameters/thermal_parameters.py
index c56e6b1fdd..ca6d01631d 100644
--- a/pybamm/parameters/thermal_parameters.py
+++ b/pybamm/parameters/thermal_parameters.py
@@ -2,9 +2,10 @@
 # Standard thermal parameters
 #
 import pybamm
+from .base_parameters import BaseParameters
 
 
-class ThermalParameters:
+class ThermalParameters(BaseParameters):
     """
     Standard thermal parameters
 
@@ -67,39 +68,29 @@ def T_amb_dim(self, t):
 
     def rho_cn_dim(self, T):
         """Negative current collector density [kg.m-3]"""
-        inputs = {
-            "Temperature [K]": T,
-        }
+        inputs = {"Temperature [K]": T}
         return pybamm.FunctionParameter(
             "Negative current collector density [kg.m-3]", inputs
         )
 
     def rho_n_dim(self, T):
         """Negative electrode density [kg.m-3]"""
-        inputs = {
-            "Temperature [K]": T,
-        }
+        inputs = {"Temperature [K]": T}
         return pybamm.FunctionParameter("Negative electrode density [kg.m-3]", inputs)
 
     def rho_s_dim(self, T):
         """Separator density [kg.m-3]"""
-        inputs = {
-            "Temperature [K]": T,
-        }
+        inputs = {"Temperature [K]": T}
         return pybamm.FunctionParameter("Separator density [kg.m-3]", inputs)
 
     def rho_p_dim(self, T):
         """Positive electrode density [kg.m-3]"""
-        inputs = {
-            "Temperature [K]": T,
-        }
+        inputs = {"Temperature [K]": T}
         return pybamm.FunctionParameter("Positive electrode density [kg.m-3]", inputs)
 
     def rho_cp_dim(self, T):
         """Positive current collector density [kg.m-3]"""
-        inputs = {
-            "Temperature [K]": T,
-        }
+        inputs = {"Temperature [K]": T}
         return pybamm.FunctionParameter(
             "Positive current collector density [kg.m-3]", inputs
         )
@@ -116,90 +107,70 @@ def rho_eff_dim(self, T):
 
     def c_p_cn_dim(self, T):
         """Negative current collector specific heat capacity [J.kg-1.K-1]"""
-        inputs = {
-            "Temperature [K]": T,
-        }
+        inputs = {"Temperature [K]": T}
         return pybamm.FunctionParameter(
             "Negative current collector specific heat capacity [J.kg-1.K-1]", inputs
         )
 
     def c_p_n_dim(self, T):
         """Negative electrode specific heat capacity [J.kg-1.K-1]"""
-        inputs = {
-            "Temperature [K]": T,
-        }
+        inputs = {"Temperature [K]": T}
         return pybamm.FunctionParameter(
             "Negative electrode specific heat capacity [J.kg-1.K-1]", inputs
         )
 
     def c_p_s_dim(self, T):
         """Separator specific heat capacity [J.kg-1.K-1]"""
-        inputs = {
-            "Temperature [K]": T,
-        }
+        inputs = {"Temperature [K]": T}
         return pybamm.FunctionParameter(
             "Separator specific heat capacity [J.kg-1.K-1]", inputs
         )
 
     def c_p_p_dim(self, T):
         """Positive electrode specific heat capacity [J.kg-1.K-1]"""
-        inputs = {
-            "Temperature [K]": T,
-        }
+        inputs = {"Temperature [K]": T}
         return pybamm.FunctionParameter(
             "Positive electrode specific heat capacity [J.kg-1.K-1]", inputs
         )
 
     def c_p_cp_dim(self, T):
         """Positive current collector specific heat capacity [J.kg-1.K-1]"""
-        inputs = {
-            "Temperature [K]": T,
-        }
+        inputs = {"Temperature [K]": T}
         return pybamm.FunctionParameter(
             "Positive current collector specific heat capacity [J.kg-1.K-1]", inputs
         )
 
     def lambda_cn_dim(self, T):
         """Negative current collector thermal conductivity [W.m-1.K-1]"""
-        inputs = {
-            "Temperature [K]": T,
-        }
+        inputs = {"Temperature [K]": T}
         return pybamm.FunctionParameter(
             "Negative current collector thermal conductivity [W.m-1.K-1]", inputs
         )
 
     def lambda_n_dim(self, T):
         """Negative electrode thermal conductivity [W.m-1.K-1]"""
-        inputs = {
-            "Temperature [K]": T,
-        }
+        inputs = {"Temperature [K]": T}
         return pybamm.FunctionParameter(
             "Negative electrode thermal conductivity [W.m-1.K-1]", inputs
         )
 
     def lambda_s_dim(self, T):
         """Separator thermal conductivity [W.m-1.K-1]"""
-        inputs = {
-            "Temperature [K]": T,
-        }
+        inputs = {"Temperature [K]": T}
         return pybamm.FunctionParameter(
             "Separator thermal conductivity [W.m-1.K-1]", inputs
         )
 
     def lambda_p_dim(self, T):
         """Positive electrode thermal conductivity [W.m-1.K-1]"""
-        inputs = {
-            "Temperature [K]": T,
-        }
+        inputs = {"Temperature [K]": T}
         return pybamm.FunctionParameter(
             "Positive electrode thermal conductivity [W.m-1.K-1]", inputs
         )
 
     def lambda_cp_dim(self, T):
         """Positive current collector thermal conductivity [W.m-1.K-1]"""
-        inputs = {
-            "Temperature [K]": T,
-        }
+        inputs = {"Temperature [K]": T}
         return pybamm.FunctionParameter(
             "Positive current collector thermal conductivity [W.m-1.K-1]", inputs
         )
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
index cfd0224cfe..711d81b4f5 100644
--- a/requirements.txt
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ jax==0.1.75
 jaxlib==0.1.52
 jupyter  # For example notebooks
 pybtex
+sympy==1.8
 # Note: Matplotlib is loaded for debug plots but to ensure pybamm runs
 # on systems without an attached display it should never be imported
 # outside of plot() methods.
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 8dd316624d..e455058478 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -163,10 +163,7 @@ def compile_KLU():
 
 jax_dependencies = []
 if system() != "Windows":
-    jax_dependencies = [
-        "jax==0.2.12",
-        "jaxlib==0.1.65",
-    ]
+    jax_dependencies = ["jax==0.2.12", "jaxlib==0.1.65"]
 
 
 # Load text for description and license
@@ -202,6 +199,7 @@ def compile_KLU():
         *jax_dependencies,
         "jupyter",  # For example notebooks
         "pybtex",
+        "sympy==1.8",
         # Note: Matplotlib is loaded for debug plots, but to ensure pybamm runs
         # on systems without an attached display, it should never be imported
         # outside of plot() methods.
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_parameters/test_base_parameters.py b/tests/unit/test_parameters/test_base_parameters.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..85b4b0f5ec
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit/test_parameters/test_base_parameters.py
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+"""
+Tests for the base_parameters.py
+"""
+import pybamm
+import unittest
+
+
+class TestBaseParameters(unittest.TestCase):
+    def test__setattr__(self):
+        param = pybamm.ElectricalParameters()
+        self.assertEqual(param.I_typ.print_name, "I_typ")
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    print("Add -v for more debug output")
+    import sys
+
+    if "-v" in sys.argv:
+        debug = True
+    pybamm.settings.debug_mode = True
+    unittest.main()