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Science Shops Wales Staff Biographies / Bywgraffiadau Staff
Dr. Steven Harris, Manager, Science Shops Wales
Steve Harris has day-to-day responsibility for managing Science Shops Wales. Steve has a first-class honors degree in computing (multimedia and hypermedia) and a PhD in human-computer interaction. Steve's research interests focus on the intersection between science, computers and learning, encompassing human-computer interaction, technology-mediated education and general and science communication. This work is mainly conducted within the theoretical framework of activity theory and has often been carried out in educational settings. Steve is a member of The International Society for Cultural and Activity Research (ISCAR), The British HCI Group (B-HCI-G) of The British Computer Society (BCS), The BA, the British Society for the History of Science (BSHS), The Institute of Welsh Affairs and Scientists for Global Responsibility. Steve is also a practicing Buddhist.
More information about Steve's research can be found here.
Nicola Shelswell, Development Officer
Nicola Shelswell worked in the field of adult basic education for twelve years before joining the Science Shops team. Whilst in the role of Head of School at Coleg Morgannwg, Rhondda Cynon Taf, she contributed to the development of innovative approaches to the teaching and learning of adult basic skills involving use of IT and collaborative learning methods. Her MPhil dissertation provides an in-depth evaluation of this work. Nicola is an Additional Inspector with ESTYN, and a Welsh speaker.
Since joining Science Shops, Nicola has facilitated a ‘community biodiversity audit’, and led in the production of a handbook giving easy to follow step-by-step guidance to community groups interested in carrying out their own local audit. Nicola is also working on the development of methods for communicating climate change and other science issues of local relevance to non-expert audiences, and has contributed to Science Shop’s range of highly readable short publications.
Dr. Leonie Richardson, Development Officer
Leonie Richardson (née Salmon) works for Science Shops Wales as a Development Officer and has a particular interest in Ecology, Biodiversity, Sustainable Development, Renewable Energy, Marine Biology and Community Based Research. Leonie obtained her PhD entitled, ‘Seasonal physiological energetics of the temperate symbiotic anemone, Anemonia viridis’ from the University of Wales, Bangor in 2006 after graduating with a first class honours degree in Marine Biology at the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1999.
Prior to working with Science Shops Wales, Leonie worked for the Countryside Council for Wales in the Phase 1 Intertidal Team and Maritime Policy Support, and with the Royal Geographical Society on the Shoals of Capricorn Programme. Leonie is also a PADI Divemaster and Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. Leonie enjoys gardening, walking her dogs, diving, mountain biking, windsurfing, badminton, reading, writing and photography.
Kathryn Williams, Development Officer
Kath Williams works for Science Shops Wales as a Development Officer and has particular interests in Community Based Research and the Cultural Interpretation of Landscape. Kath has an MSc in Communicating Science and a First Class Honours degree in Anthropology and Astronomy. Kath has extensive experience of teaching adult learners both in the community and on campus and particularly enjoyed her time sharing knowledge with others. With research interests in the UK and the USA, Kath has also been heavily involved in running Field Schools in both the United States and Europe, directing the 2006 Glamorgan Astronomy and Anthropology Field School, which gave Glamorgan students an opportunity to visit a number of important astronomical sites, based in the American South-west. Kath enjoys reading and exploring big landscapes and is a keen amateur geologist.
Donna March, Development Officer
Donna works for Science Shops Wales as a Development Officer and has a particular interest in Sustainable Development, Low Impact Development, Permaculture and Renewable Energy. Donna is a graduate of the University of Glamorgan with a MSc. in Renewable Energy and Sustainable Resource Management. She has a background in the application of Information and Communication Technologies to support business and previously worked at the Ecommerce Innovation Centre (eCIC), Cardiff Business School, Cardiff University. Prior to working with Science Shops Wales, Donna was employed at the Sustainable Environment Research Centre, University of Glamorgan on the Welsh Energy Sector Training (WEST) project where she explored demand for hydrogen and fuel cell training, and training requirements within Wales. Wider interests include walking, cycling, wild food and medicinal plants and sustainable building techniques. She is a member of the Cardiff Conservation Volunteers, the Cardiff Transition Project and also a Volunteer Ranger with Sustrans for the National Cycle Network.
Thomas Thornton, Administrator
Tom Thornton is the Administrative Officer for Science Shops Wales. He has a BSc (Hons) in Environmental Science [Energy Opt.] from Leeds University (a course focussing on sustainable energy generation and cleaner fuel technologies) and has spent further time studying Engineering Microbiology in the same institution. In his spare time he enjoys surfing, reading science fiction novels – particularly those of Larry Niven and Iain M. Banks, and composing electronic music.
Kim Treasure, Strategic Development Officer
Kim Treasure has a background in community engagement and supporting the participation of communities often absent from public and policy fora. Following a career in community education projects and in the NGO sector, Kim moved into working in higher education as a Community Engagement Manager in a research intensive university. Kim is now Strategic Development Officer for the Science Shops Wales Network where she focuses on developing participatory student research services and supporting Welsh universities to develop their own science shop. Kim is dual US/UK citizen and has presented peer assessed papers in America, UK, Continental Europe and the Republic of Ireland; her research interests include the impact of public engagement on researchers, the purpose, intention and process of higher education and public engagement.
Elaine Rees, Communications Officer
Elaine joined Science Shops Wales after eleven years experience promoting STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) activities, to primary and secondary schools throughout Wales. Her interest in communicating techniques led her to complete a HNC in Web Design and Computing at the University of Glamorgan. She is a member of the STEM Ambassador programme http://www.stemnet.org.uk/ambassadors.cfm volunteers helping to enthuse young people about science. Elaine has many interests which vary from running, walking and keeping fit to creating crochet baby garments. She loves the great outdoors and enjoys spending her weekends in the countryside in her VW camper van.
Angharad Dalton, Development Officer
An International Politics graduate of the University of Wales Aberystwyth, Angharad worked as a political monitor and analyst for public affairs agency StrataMatrix, and then as Sustainable Solutions Project Officer for Sustainable Wales following a stint volunteering for the charity.
A fluent Welsh speaker, Angharad has a keen interest in Welsh politics and current affairs, animal rights, women’s issues and of course Sustainable Development. Her wider interests include design, IT, music and fashion. A keen dog-lover, she dotes on Siân, her rescue Corgi and much of her spare time is currently taken with volunteering for Sustainable Wales and the sustainable rennovation of a Cardiff-based victorian flat.
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Science Shops Wales
University of Glamorgan * 4 Forest Grove * Treforest * CF37 1DL
0845 841 3545
scishopw@glam.ac.uk