I originally worked with The Oxford Trust for 16 years from the opening of our first Science Oxford centre, Curioxity. In 2017, I re-joined the team as Centre Manager to set up and manage our new Science Oxford Centre, which opens at Stansfeld Park later this year.

I’ve got an exciting and challenging role in the development of our new centre. Firstly, this involves working with Bridget (Director of Education and Engagement) and Whitefire Associates to develop the interactive science exhibits for the centre’s Exploration Zone. It’s an interesting process as we are taking a novel approach to creating these exhibits, based on the Thinking, Doing, Talking Science methodology. Our aim is to provide more opportunities for higher-order thinking in science by making it more practical, creative and challenging for young people. I am also in charge of the programme for visiting schools, which will include workshops and science shows in the new auditorium. One of these will be and adapted version of the Science of Magic Show that I developed for Science Oxford many years ago to engage young people in the science behind the magic. It is still incredibly popular and I have performed it over 600 times! There’s going to be lots of tweaking and trialling before we fully open to schools in Autumn 2019 but I want to create an exciting and memorable experience for young people visiting the centre that teachers will value too.

Between my two Science Oxford placements, I worked at Oxford Brookes University as a Senior Lecturer in Primary Science and taught science and DT to BA and PGCE students in primary education. I have also been primary teacher in Oxfordshire and even tried my hand as a children’s entertainer for a short time.

Recently, I have been involved in some fundraising. My wife died in 2014 and spent her last few weeks at Sobell House in Oxford. It was during this time that we realised that each of the rooms would benefit from individual TVs. So, I planned a series of full-on local events and raised £12K in just six months. My passions are, of course, my three sons but I also enjoy tennis, my local book club and am a member of Headington Singers.