We're excited to be working with the following speakers who will be sharing their knowledge and expertise as part of the training programme:
Wyn Griffiths, Director of SMASH-UK CIC
Wyn is a Senior Lecturer in Design Engineering and Mathematics at Middlesex University and Director of SMASH-UK CIC (SMASHfestUK). He is committed to working for social justice, equality, diversity and inclusion in education and wider society. He develops, leads, partners and delivers design education, social innovation research and community-based design practice that explores new methods and approaches for empowering participants in interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral collaborations to create sensitive and meaningful solutions to complex social problems. More information: https://www.mdx.ac.uk/about-us/our-people/staff-directory/profile/griffiths-wyn
Lewis Hou, Community & Public Engagement Consultant
Lewis Hou is founder and director of the Science Ceilidh, an intermediary organisation supporting communities, education, research and culture across Scotland. He consults on equitable community engagement both nationally and internationally and is an organising member of the international DiverSci Community of Practice. He is Fellow of the Young Academy of Scotland and was awarded the Public Engagement Innovator Medal with the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Lewis is currently working with the British Science Association supporting participatory grant schemes which places the power in communities to lead public engagement and community-based research on mental wellbeing and climate change in the Highlands and Islands.
Claire Schmidlin
STEAMTISTIC was set up by Claire to facilitate child-led, free-play clubs where neurodivergent families can engage with science, technology, engineering, the arts, and maths (STEAM) activities in a way that is meaningful to them and makes them happy. As an autistic-led group, they liaise with STEAM centres, community groups and charities to facilitate workshops on how to explore neurodiversity through the medium of STEAM, reduce barriers to inclusion and develop projects that engage an even wider range of children. Find out more STEAMISTIC
Dr Jackie Bell, Senior Teaching Fellow at Imperial College London
Dr Jackie Bell is a Senior Teaching Fellow at Imperial College London and Honorary Fellow of the University of Liverpool. With over 10 years’ experience in the youth and community sector, Jackie is passionate about making education accessible and inclusive for all. An advocate for diversity, equality and inclusion in the STEM sectors, Jackie was recently named as one of Computer Weekly’s 2021 women in tech Rising Stars and has given talks across the UK - including a Royal Institution family lecture and TEDx talk in her home city of Liverpool.
Sam Stephen, Makaton Tutor
I gained my Makaton Tutor license in 2021. I had been using Makaton for 4-5 years prior to this within my education roles and knew from early on in my Makaton journey that I wanted to be a tutor. Since gaining my license, I have taught Makaton workshops across the UK in nurseries, mainstream, and SEND schools, supported the staff at public venues such as Chessington Zoo, and a variety of adult learning services in the third sector, to name a few.
At the core of what I do is communication. Understanding how to communicate, understanding how others communicate and being a vehicle for those whose version of communication has not yet been discovered.
Siôn Edwards, Communications Manager at The Venture
Siôn is a playworker at The Venture Integrated Children’s Centre in Caia Park, Wrecsam – the largest housing estate in Wales with some of the highest levels of child poverty in the country. Siôn is The Venture’s Communications Manager and also leads on their Inclusion Project for children and young people with neurodevelopmental conditions, such as autism and ADHD. Siôn is Chair of both The Playwork Foundation and Wrexham Musical Theatre Society and voluntarily coordinates a weekly online reflective practice session for playworkers across Great Britain and beyond.
Dr Emily Fisk, Operations Manager at Science Oxford
Emily organises and delivers activities for both primary school and family audiences at the Science Oxford Centre. She and the Science Oxford team have been working to increase accessibility and inclusivity at their centre, to improve community connections and opportunities for local underserved audiences. Prior to working at Science Oxford, Emily worked at the Cambridge Science Centre and was involved in university public engagement during her PhD.
Andy Kensley, Head of Education Outreach and Training, Science Oxford
Andy leads the Education Team’s outreach work for Science Oxford in primary and secondary schools. He is also manages the Thinking, Doing, Talking Science programme which is currently undergoing a national effectiveness trial funded by the Education Endowment Foundation. Andy has been part of the Explore Your Universe project, inspiring local communities in Banbury with STFC science both in their localities and through visits to the Science Oxford Centre. Prior to joining Science Oxford Andy was a primary school teacher. He has a degree in Electrical Engineering and was formally a Power Systems Engineer!