MMSA Title: STEM Education Specialist
Hometown: Coleraine, Northern Ireland, UK
Education: I graduated with a BEng in Software Engineering from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. I was fascinated with the ways that technology can change our lives, and I got really interested in teaching others about it. I completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Education at the University of Cumbria and went on to teach in schools in the UK. I added a Masters in Science and Society at the Open University, UK, to better understand the human relationships between STEM and our varied societies and communities.
What is your STEM passion area: In my undergraduate degree I got to learn the theory and practice of coding, AI and tech hardware. When I became an educator I found a real passion for opening up this world for others to explore, with all the creativity and science that this involves. I love to see learners connect with making technology work for them, their needs and the ways it can connect them with peers and other communities. I also love creating an atmosphere where failing is fun, and programs that work in wonky ways make for good entertainment!
What memory from your childhood would you like to share that exemplifies why you do the STEM education related work that you do: I’ll always remember working on international science festivals where we brought STEM workshops and experiences to new places. There was a huge amount of energy for new experiences with the public and I remember working on a STEM busking bike project, setting up in public parks and shopping malls with bags of equipment ready to engage anyone with the wonder of STEM. We had a real blast exploding chemicals, firing marshmallows and having volunteers put us in peril, all in the name of science.
What did you do before you worked at MMSA: I worked with educators in Maine and New England for the total solar eclipse in April 2024 as the Gulf of Maine Research Institute’s Eclipse Coordinator. In the UK I taught in classrooms before working in the informal STEM field, delivering, designing and directing STEM workshops and shows for schools and science festival events. I have also been a tool librarian, an escape room designer, a virtual learning coordinator, a metaverse designer and a circus skills coach.
What do you like to do in your free time: I love exploring all the wonderful outdoor spaces that Maine has to offer, from hiking to mountain biking and skiing. Having grown up on the opposite side of the Atlantic from Maine it’s fun to realize all the similarities in the landscapes, as well as the perks that come from more extreme seasons here. I also like working on maker projects where I get to mostly fail at making things with wood, 3D printers and code.
Favorite STEM-related memory: When I was in elementary school in the UK, our class took on a project about the insects and plants in the school grounds. We called it the “Minibeasts” project and it was the first time that I realized we could look closely enough at our environment and understand how everything fits together. We could see the abundance of life right in front of us, and all the relationships around food, water, homes and life cycles. It totally amazed me that this small patch of ground could harbor so much life and that we got to observe and look after it.
Pronouns: he, him, his
Email: all emails are first initial last name at mmsa.org
