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Biography

I completed my PhD in Computing at the University of Bath in 2009 and I am in my first permanent academic post as a Lecturer in the Department of Information Systems at UWIC. My research interests lie at the interface of hardware and software: code optimisation, compilers, microprocessor design, applications of logic programming (especially Answer Set Programming) and programming language design and implementation.

What motivated you to engage with the public?

I have always been interested in how science is portrayed and how universities engage with the wider public, particularly when I started my PhD and had to explain the context, importance and potential impact of my research to non-technical audiences. Alongside the recent focus on the STEM subjects, I feel that public engagement is a vital strand in highlighting and reinforcing the importance of scientific research and the role of HEIs to the wider public and the modern world. This interaction strengthens links between the academic and non-academic communities, which is becoming increasingly more important. My recent roles and activities have had some public engagement aspects, especially being a STEM Ambassador and raising the profile of STEM subject areas, research and careers. Contributing to the recent EPSRC ExICTe meeting and especially SET for Britain 2010, has further reinforced the importance and significant benefits of promoting research by engaging with the wider public. I feel that becoming a Public Engagement Ambassador would strongly complement my teaching and research roles and provide a structured framework for improved public engagement for both myself and UWIC as an institution.

Describe the public engagement work you have done

I have been a STEM Ambassador (as part of the STEMNET Programme) since I started at UWIC, as I have a strong interest (from both a teaching and research perspective) in how the STEM subjects, especially computing and mathematics, are taught and portrayed. This role involves promoting and widening access to STEM subjects and careers across South Wales. I recently attended an EPSRC meeting – ExICTe: Igniting Enthusiasm for ICT – which addressed the problem of raising the profile of computing and ICT across not only the research community, but also the government and wider public. I have also recently presented my research at SET for Britain 2010 at the House of Commons, organised by the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee, which aims to support and promote Britain’s early-career researchers, along with engaging MPs with British scientific research. I have also recently applied to become a NOISEmaker, part of the New Outlooks In Science & Engineering campaign funded by the EPSRC.