Project Director
Anu Ojha
National Space Centre
Anu Ojha has been Director of Education and Space Communications at the National Space Centre, Leicester since 2008. Awarded Advanced Skills Teacher (physics/science) status in 2003, he was formerly Assistant Headteacher (Director of Science and Mathematics) at the largest Specialist Science College in the UK and a Triple Science Lead Practitioner (Physics) for the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust.
He has presented sessions at NASA conferences at Johnson Space Center (2008-2010) as well as at the 2010 and 2011 ESA (European Space Agency) Teacher Conferences held at ESTEC. Anu also contributed to the UK Space Agency’s Space Exploration Review (BNSC 2009), ESA/EU workshops on future exploration strategies (2010) and has worked on ESA projects focused on the SOHO mission and ESA’s Virtual Observatory.
In 2010 Anu was selected to be an ESA “space ambassador” for the UK Space Education Office (2010-present) and was also awarded the Sir Arthur Clarke Award for Inspiration by the UK space industry.
Other roles currently include STFC’s Science in Society Advisory Panel and the National Centre for Earth Observation’s (NCEO) Advisory Group (education and outreach).
Project Manager
Dr Sarah Hill
National Space Centre
Dr Sarah Hill joined the National Space Academy in July 2008 as the Project Manager. Before joining the National Space Centre she worked as a Volunteer Manager for a mentoring charity in Manchester coordinating and supporting student volunteers to work in challenging city schools as mentors.
She completed her PhD in Physical Chemistry at the University of Manchester in 2007. During her postgraduate studies Sarah became part of a group of PhD students travelling around the North West region giving “Solids, Liquids and Gases” demonstrations in primary schools.
Sarah is a member of the Royal Society of Chemistry and sits on the East Midlands Local Section Committee and Regional Young Members Network.
Education Officer
Sophie Allan
National Space Centre, Leicester
Sophie Allan is the National Space Academy Education Officer at the National Space Centre in Leicester.
She studied Physics with Astrophysics at the University of Leicester, where she was also Vice President of LeSEDS (Leicester Students for the Exploration and Development of Space).
After graduating she stayed at Leicester to complete a PGCE in Science and worked as a specialist Physics teacher in Leicester City Schools.
In 2010 she was asked to lecture at the European Space Camp in Norway and was invited back in 2011 to repeat these lectures and work as team-leader for the atmospheric physics group.
As well as teaching programmes for the National Space Academy, she is also actively involved in the development of new curriculum focused STEM masterclasses and activities with a particular specialism in GCSE Astronomy and Applied Science.
Project Scientist
Dr Simon Roberts
University of Nottingham
Dr Simon Roberts joined the National Space Academy in September 2008 as the Project Scientist at the University of Nottingham. His background is in earth observation, GPS and geographical information systems in the environmental sciences, which has seen him working in places from the North Pole to South Africa.
As part of his role, he continues to be involved in research and is currently working on projects in Uganda with the Foundation for Aids Orphaned Children in Mbarara, and with Vets Without Borders and the Large Predator Project, tracking lions in Uganda’s national parks.
Project Scientist
Dr Rebecca Wilson
University of Leicester
Dr Rebecca Wilson is the National Space Academy project scientist, based at the Space Research Centre at the University of Leicester. She is a planetary scientist, with a research background in astrobiology. Her Ph.D. at The Open University focussed on (micro)meteorites and their delivery of substantial quantities of biologically significant organic material to Earth to aid the emergence of life or alter the early Earth environment.
Her current research interests are in the fields of meteorite studies, astrobiology and atmospheric sciences.
Lead Educators - Chemistry
Steve Althorpe and Judith Green
Robert Smyth School
Steve Althorpe is Head of Science at Robert Smyth School, one of the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust (SSAT) Leading Space Education Programme Schools.
Judith Green also teaches science at Robert Smyth School. She was awarded Advanced Skills Teacher status in 2002 and has also worked as a Lead Educator for the SSAT. This year Judith was a winner of the Royal Society's Hauksbee Award in acknowledgement of her outstanding work in supporting STEM education. For more information click here
Between them they have an impressive record of innovation in teaching and learning that has lead directly to deeper student understanding and increased student numbers in science.
Judith and Steve were selected to present Teacher Masterclasses at NASA’s 2009 Space Exploration Educators Conference at Johnson Space Centre in Texas.
Lead Educator - Biology
Chris Carr
John Leggott College
Chris Carr is a National Space Academy Lead Educator based at John Leggott Sixth Form College, North
Lincolnshire. Currently seconded to the Space Academy, he has used his experience of
teaching biology and environmental science, together with a lifelong interest in space science
to produce this masterclass. Chris has also been heavily involved in rocketry projects within
his college, taking a group of students to the finals of the UK Aerospace Youth Rocketry
Challenge (UKAYRoC) in 2009.
Chris has taught in both the secondary and further education sectors and is a
member of the Institute of Biology. He now teaches both A-Level Biology and GCSE Applied
Science to students across a full range of abilities and has specific responsibilities for the
support of gifted and talented students and the use of technology for learning.
Lead Educator - Geography
Patrick Knight
Gleed Girls' Technology College
Patrick Knight is currently a Deputy Head Teacher at Gleed Girls' Technology College where he leads in Teaching and Learning development. He has been heavily involved in 14 - 19 curriculum developments, STEM agenda promotion and has formed a close partnership with the National Space Centre through the National Space Academy.
Patrick has a degree in Geography and Cartography (Oxford Brookes University) and has more than 14 years experience in teaching Geography and as Head of Department in East of England schools.
Lead Educator - Applied Science
Ruth Williamson
The Priory LSST
Ruth Williamson is currently a Lead Educator and Teacher of Science at the Priory Academy City School in Lincoln.
Prior to moving to Lincoln she taught at the Thomas Deacon Academy in Peterborough, where a considerable part of this time was spent teaching Applied Science at Key Stage 4.
Ruth also has experience in SEN education and township schools in South Africa.
