I started my academic life researching semiconductors and found the appeal of teaching in the labs too strong. After completing my PGDE at Strathclyde I took up a post as a Physics teacher taking on a wide range of curricular and extracurricular roles. I returned to study at Strathclyde and achieved an MEd in Leadership and Management in Education before becoming a Principal teacher of Physics.  The draw of academia led me to take up a position as a Teaching Fellow in Leadership and Management in Education.

In my current position as Director of STEM in the School of Education, my work sits uniquely at the intersection of science, digital education and educational leadership. I view my work through a socially progressive lens, bringing together my scholarship and teaching interests to work towards new ways of ensuring that STEM education can act as a facilitator of equity and fairness in society. In particular I am interesting in widening access to high quality STEM instruction to all young people. I recently received funding to develop CLPL for Early Years STEM, I am firmly of the opinion that a strong basis to STEM education will lead to a brighter future for pupils – whether or not this is their chosen career path.

Science and Engineering remain at the core of my interests. In terms of research, I am particularly interested in the dynamics of leadership and how this can be related to balanced subject choice, Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) education.

As Vice Chair of the Institute of Physics Scotland committee I advocate for continued high quality specialist provision of Physics in Scottish Secondary Schools. Ensuring access to this instruction is central to a socially progressive view of Science learning.