Science Speaker Biographies

Science Speakers

Dr Paul Barker studied for his first degree at Imperial College and followed this with a PhD in Oxford working on the electrochemistry of metalloproteins. After post-doctoral research in Biochemistry at the University of British Columbia, he started independent research at the MRC Centre for Protein Engineering in Cambridge.  In 1998 he was awarded a BBSRC Advanced Fellowship and moved into the Chemistry Department, University of Cambridge becoming a Lecturer in 2003 and Fellow of Downing College. Now a Senior Lecturer, his research is multidisciplinary and based around protein engineering of metalloproteins, for both the understanding of metals in biology as well as engineering new biological electronic devices. He teaches Chemistry and Biochemistry as well as bionanotechnology at undergraduate and postgraduate level.

Dr Phil Cox works in the department of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Liverpool.  His research is primarily concerned with functional morphology of the Eutheria, the placental mammals, concentrating in particular on cranial morphology. He is interested in how the form of the skull and other cranial structures vary between different eutherian groups, and whether this variation can be ascribed to function or phylogenetic history. His research has touched on all members of the Eutheria, but groups of particular interest are the Rodentia and the Afrotheria, the grouping of endemic African mammals that includes elephants, manatees and dugong, hyraxes, tenrecs, golden moles, elephant-shrews and the aardvark. 

Dr Katharine Hubbard is a Post Doctoral Researcher based at the University of Cambridge, whose research concerns the roles of both the circadian clock and the cellular messenger Ca²⁺ in coordinating plant physiology and stress responses. Dr Hubbard has recently returned from a research post in California, where she used advanced fluorescence microscopy techniques to investigate some of these questions in stomatal guard cells. She is also an advocate of inter-disciplinary research, particularly in the use of mathematical and engineering tools in answering biological problems.

Dr Lisa Jardine-Wright is currently educational outreach officer at the Cavendish Laboratory, the Physics department of the University of Cambridge and director of studies in Physics for Churchill College. She did her undergraduate degree in experimental and theoretical Physics at Trinity College in Cambridge and then went on to do a PhD in theoretical cosmology at the Institute of Astronomy in Cambridge. Her research focussed on the formation and evolution of spiral galaxies, from the Big Bang to the present day. During her time as a PhD student she also began her Science communication career. From 2004 to 2007 she was the Astronomy consultant for the recently opened astronomy galleries at the Royal Observatory Museum in Greenwich.  In 2004 she was awarded a BA Media Fellowship which placed her as a Science writer for the Financial Times writing international news and feature articles. Her media experience also includes a number of appearances on radio and television including live appearances on the Children's BBC channel.

Dr Jim McElwaine is EPSRC Advanced Research Fellow in the department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics at the University of Cambridge as well as a Fellow of St. Catharine's College, Cambridge. His research concentrates on granular flows and fluid dynamics including snow avalanches, pyroclastic flows, gravity currents, segregation and ripple formation, and since 2002 he has been a visiting scientist at the Swiss Federal Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research in Davos, Switzerland.

Dr Andrew Pontzen is a research fellow in cosmology at Emmanuel College, University of Cambridge. His research covers a wide range of topics from galaxy formation to the cosmic microwave background (the radiation left over from the big bang). He is committed to communicating Science and Cosmology to a wide audience, having been proactive in engaging with school groups from the beginning of his PhD. He recently won the Masterclass Award in the Famelab 2009 national Science communication competition, and can be heard on the monthly podcast Naked Astronomy and on occasional episodes of The Naked Scientists (BBC radio).

Dr Rupert Sheldrake is a biologist and author of more than 80 technical papers and ten books, including A New Science of Life.  A former Research Fellow of the Royal Society, he studied natural sciences at Cambridge University, where he took a Ph.D. in Biochemistry. He was a Frank Knox Fellow at Harvard University before returning to Clare College, Cambridge where he was a fellow and Director of Studies in Biochemistry and cell Biology. From 2005-2010 he was the Director of the Perrott-Warrick Project, funded from Trinity College, Cambridge. He is currently a Fellow of the Institute of Noetic Sciences, near San Francisco.

Ian Skelly is a broadcaster and writer. He has been a familiar voice on the BBC's national radio station dedicated to classical, world and jazz music, BBC Radio 3, for fifteen years, introducing live concerts and most of the station's programmes across the day. He has made documentaries for both Radio 3 and 4. He was also an award-winning travel writer for the Observer. Ian has worked closely for several years with HRH, The Prince of Wales, helping to articulate the detail of the Prince's vision and the initiatives and enterprises he has set up. Their book together, called Harmony, has just been published in the UK and worldwide by HarperCollins and the film they have made by the same title will be screened on prime-time television by NBC in the USA next week.

Prof Geoff Tansley is Professor of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science at Aston University. Prior to his academic career, he worked for a medical device company in Sydney, Australia where he led a team in the development of the implantable systems of a medical device (ventricular assist device). His research has always focussed on medical devices – especially those in contact with blood and he has a great interest in the fluid dynamics of blood.

Panelists

Liz Francis taught for 5 years before working in a number of government agencies including SEAC, SCAA and QCA.  At QCA she worked on new modular A levels for Curriculum 2000 and 14-19 developments.  She left QCA to work as a 14-19, then senior advisor for Suffolk LA, where she also worked as an Ofsted inspector.  She is currently the Director of Workforce Strategy, Standards and Qualifications which involves supporting schools in improving the quality and impact of professional development.  She leads TDA’s work on CPD leadership, quality assurance, 14-19 workforce development, CPD information and guidance, standards and qualifications.

Michael Chisnall is one of Her Majesty’s Inspectors (HMI) and is professional adviser to Christine Gilbert, Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector. He began his teaching career in 1974 with posts in Berkshire and Somerset. In 1980, he took up a deputy headteacher post in Cheshire, followed by three headships in Kent. In 1994 he became a school improvement adviser in East Sussex; his work included inspecting schools on behalf of the then recently-formed Ofsted, and having a strategic lead for Mathematics. He spent four years with Kent local authority as an area education officer and as Kent’s inspection training manager. In 2003 he joined Ofsted, where he inspected and quality assured in the primary, secondary and initial teacher education sectors. As a senior manager in Ofsted, he has responsibility for providing professional support for the Chief Inspector and in managing learning and development for the senior team.

Prof Celia Hoyles OBE has been Professor of Mathematics Education at the Institute of Education, University of London since 1984, following teaching in London secondary schools. She co-presented a popular TV Mathematics quiz show, Fun and Games, shown at prime time on Yorkshire TV 1987-90. Celia Hoyles was awarded an OBE in the New Year’s Honours list 2004 for services to Mathematics education and was chosen as the first recipient of the Hans Freudenthal medal, in recognition to her cumulative programme of research. In December 2004 she took up the position of the U.K. Government’s Chief Adviser for Mathematics (75% of her time), a position she held until November 2007. In June 2007, Celia Hoyles was appointed as Director of the National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics.

Professor Mary Ratcliffe is Associate Director of the National Science Learning Centre. She taught Chemistry and Science in comprehensive schools in East Anglia before joining Southampton University as a lecturer in Science education in 1990, gaining a personal chair in 2004. She has been Chair of the Association for Science Education (1996/7) and was part of the Evidence-based Practice in Science Education network (with colleagues from the universities of York, Leeds and King's College, London). Research projects have included evaluations of Twenty First Century Science GCSE, innovative professional development and assessment of ‘ideas-about-science’. She has published very widely for national and international audiences, including many research publications, textbooks and curriculum materials. Before joining the National Centre in 2009, she was Head of the School of Education at the University of Southampton. As Associate Director, she oversees the National Centre, Regional Centres and National STEM Centre programmes and leads on research and evaluation for the organisation.

PTI Staff

Alastair Cuthbertson (Science Stream Designer)

Alastair began his career in Science and Physics teaching as a VSO in SW Nigeria. Since then he has taught and worked as head of subject/department in Bristol, Bedford and currently in Devon, most recently as Director of Science at Ivybridge Community College. He has also worked for four years as a lecturer in Science education and PGCE Science course coordinator at the London Institute of Education. He led a NESTA-funded project within the National Collaborative 2005/6 to develop an alternative approach to Science for Year 9 low achievers, and is currently enjoying the additional challenge of teaching Theory of Knowledge within the IB Diploma course at Ivybridge.

Natalia Timoshina (Science Stream Designer)

Natalia was educated in Russia, and read Physics at Moscow University where she was awarded a MSc. Since 2008 she has taught at North London Collegiate School, where she is currently Head of Physics.

Oliver Blond (Deputy Course Director, Course Designer)

Oliver is Head teacher of The Henrietta Barnett School in North London and an English and Drama specialist by training. He has worked in a variety of schools across London, as Head of English and Drama at Wimbledon High School and Deputy Head at North London Collegiate School. He has been involved in The Prince’s Teaching Institute Residential events since they began in 2001.

Stephen Miles (Schools Programme Co-ordinator)

As a delegate at the first PTI Residential event, Stephen has enjoyed the role of Teacher Leader at subsequent events and contributes to the planning of the course. Stephen held a variety of roles in the secondary sector for many years before his move into Initial Teacher Training at Bath Spa University as Course Leader for the KS2/3 English PGCE. He is now a Head of English at Worle Community College.