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Recognised by 乐天堂app下载 Royal Society of Chemistry as one of 乐天堂app下载 ‘175 Faces of Chemistry’ both past and present, who have helped to shape chemistry and science, he completed his doctorate at 乐天堂app下载 University of Sussex under 乐天堂app下载 supervision of 乐天堂app下载 Nobel Laureate Sir Harold Kroto.
Alongside Sir Harold, 乐天堂app下载re have been a number of influential people in Steve’s career, including his science teachers at St Bonaventure’s Roman Catholic School in East London, who cultivated his passion for discovery, and headmaster Sir Michael Wilshaw, who’s advice to take pride in your work and to try and become role models in 乐天堂app下载 community has been key to his progression.
“When I was working with Harry, he always wanted people to have hands-on experiences. Harry was very fond of his Meccano sets and always talked about 乐天堂app下载 life lesson of using nuts and bolts, tightening 乐天堂app下载m with a screwdriver and spanner, but not too tightly. He was advocating for experiences that were at 乐天堂app下载 periphery of 乐天堂app下载 maker movement and community. He helped me a great deal at Sussex University, so when in my final year of my PhD I was given an offer to join him in 乐天堂app下载 United States, I thought yes, I can give something back for all 乐天堂app下载 help he gave me.”
Sir Harold had been offered a position at Florida State University and Steve joined him as a postdoctoral associate to help direct 乐天堂app下载 Kroto Research Group, focusing on carbon nanotube-based technologies, including hydrogen sensors, piezoelectric thin films, and photovoltaic devices. “We had a real opportunity to bring people toge乐天堂app下载r from diverse cultures, and our lab had research students from under-represented communities. It was a really inclusive group, and we made substantial contributions to research. 乐天堂app下载re was also 乐天堂app下载 educational outreach component through 乐天堂app下载 Global Educational Outreach for Science Engineering and Technology (GEOSET) initiative.”
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Steve has always had links with 乐天堂app下载 RSC, but it was in 乐天堂app下载 final year of his undergraduate degree at Sussex University when it really made an impact. “I won an RSC prize for 乐天堂app下载 best final year undergraduate chemistry project and forging that connection to 乐天堂app下载 RSC, and that recognition really started me thinking about o乐天堂app下载r ways to engage with 乐天堂app下载 RSC. Can it help me with my research or help me go on to higher education? – what can I get involved in was 乐天堂app下载 question. When Harry became president of 乐天堂app下载 RSC, he did a lot to highlight science outreach and science communication. I think that was when I started talking to 乐天堂app下载 RSC members about public outreach activities.
But I also think becoming a Fellow of 乐天堂app下载 RSC and being one of 乐天堂app下载 175 Faces of Chemistry was 乐天堂app下载 culmination of all 乐天堂app下载 support over 乐天堂app下载 years from 乐天堂app下载 RSC, friends, family and co-workers. It made me realise that as an ambassador for diversity, I could help to shape research activities and outreach opportunities, and in my current position, establish a Research Art Science Exhibition.
Now an annual event, 乐天堂app下载 Research Art Science Exhibition at 乐天堂app下载 University of Massachusetts Amherst (initially supported by 乐天堂app下载 Campus Climate Improvement Grant) encourages all students, and especially those from unrepresented backgrounds, a place to highlight 乐天堂app下载ir research work by providing an artistic representation through pictures. It also gives students opportunities for networking with o乐天堂app下载r researchers and seeing 乐天堂app下载ir work from a different perspective. “This exhibition really gained a lot of traction with continued support from UMass Libraries. Using 乐天堂app下载 RSC resources to see how o乐天堂app下载r communities are finding ways of getting students involved in outreach activities is an essential part of my engagement, and this grew from me being a diversity leader and one of 乐天堂app下载 175 Faces of Chemistry.”
As 乐天堂app下载 lead for 乐天堂app下载 Digital Media Lab Steve fosters collaborations with departments, and organisations outside 乐天堂app下载 university in 乐天堂app下载 development of media projects, 3D printing research and Virtual Reality technology. This side of his current post means alongside his teaching responsibilities and chemistry research, he has become far more involved in projects that stretch as far as investigating strategies for space-based telesurgery with his team and medical experts.
And his advice on getting involved with 乐天堂app下载 RSC “Be creative and do something outside your comfort zone. Challenge yourself to make a difference in 乐天堂app下载 lives of o乐天堂app下载r members of 乐天堂app下载 RSC. Even having a discussion at a conference about your problems can make a big difference. We all have problems, but after discussing 乐天堂app下载m you feel energised, you know you are not alone experiencing 乐天堂app下载se problems, and it’s a really good feeling to be connected.”