In this voluntary role, I collaborate with two other members of the IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach's UK National Outreach Co-ordinator team. Recently, I have supported the creation of a brand new email list community to bring together everyone involved with non-formal astronomy communication activities across the UK – AstroMailbox.

I voluntarily contribute to writing articles for the Society of Popular Astronomy's bi-monthly magazine - PopAstro.

I worked in the Engagement Team, delivering inspiring, curriculum-linked engagement sessions for visiting school groups. These included classroom-based workshops, planetarium sessions and on-gallery engagements with a focus on science, engineering, astronomy and the heritage of Jodrell Bank. I also visited schools to deliver inspiring outreach sessions as part of our Widening Participation programme. Additionally I enjoyed presenting shows and supervising craft activities. My experience… Show more I worked in the Engagement Team, delivering inspiring, curriculum-linked engagement sessions for visiting school groups. These included classroom-based workshops, planetarium sessions and on-gallery engagements with a focus on science, engineering, astronomy and the heritage of Jodrell Bank. I also visited schools to deliver inspiring outreach sessions as part of our Widening Participation programme. Additionally I enjoyed presenting shows and supervising craft activities. My experience of science engagement has provided me with excellent communication skills and I have grown to be a highly confident public speaker. I enjoy working in a busy, dynamic environment where I can use my creative problem solving skills to meet challenges. Show less

Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre receives more than 180,000 visitors per year, 26,000 of whom are school pupils. As an Explainer I engaged with school groups aged 5-18 from diverse backgrounds, delivering science and heritage talks in the exhibition spaces, answering any questions, and being on hand to provide first aid. I aimed to enthuse and inspire our visitors through my passion for science, and also took an active role in the summer engagement programme, tours and the annual Bluedot festival.

As a mentor, I motivated 16-19 year old students by being a positive role model, aiming to engage students with physics – including those that might hold negative views towards science in general. My task was to show students that physics isn’t always hard, or boring or irrelevant to real life. I did this by providing support for an exciting project on exoplanets organised by the Stimulating Physics Network, Institute of Physics. I mentored two classes online from different schools in… Show more As a mentor, I motivated 16-19 year old students by being a positive role model, aiming to engage students with physics – including those that might hold negative views towards science in general. My task was to show students that physics isn’t always hard, or boring or irrelevant to real life. I did this by providing support for an exciting project on exoplanets organised by the Stimulating Physics Network, Institute of Physics. I mentored two classes online from different schools in England over an eight week period, providing regular feedback to student each week. This involved encouraging them to be creative, stressing the importance of blogging and interacting with myself from the very beginning, to build a good relationship so that I could offer them more support.Not only was the project about helping students understand physics and some of the maths involved, it was also about being that someone who isn’t a teacher, but who still has an enthusiasm for the subject. This can be really valuable for younger students and can help them make important decisions about their future study, and it was this that motivated me to volunteer for this role. Show less