Hello

I was lucky enough to grow up in a very small coastal community, spoiled really by the landscape and the stories about it. Spending hours and hours out exploring beaches, rivers, glens and trees. 

Those shiny pebbles and gemstones grabbed my eye, rocks were endlessly fascinating.  Searching for the smallest shells was a favourite past time.  Dancing and moving was a primal need so when I thought about my future it was on the stage or dancing in some form, not even a question. School didn't hold my attention unless I loved it, which I didn't.  Environmental science or geology were not and are still not really a major part of the Scottish curriculum. As soon as I was able I  left school to pursue dancing or choreography as a career. But fate had other plans and an injury meant I didn't get much further and so I turned my attention to school,again fate decide a family of my own was better at the time.  Not until the older boys were in high school did I get back to my original passion for the rocks and outdoors with a Degree in Natural Science from the Open University and that took me to a mash up of my aptitude for performance and the science facts that brought me to the exciting role of Science communicator.  

Gaining experience in public and community engagement and  school outreach at Dundee Science Centre made me realise that I wasn't going to get anther opportunity to write the stories I wanted to tell.  I had found kindred spirits and a place where I was myself. Speaking to audiences of all ages about science and not just Earth science, any science was fun, hardly felt like working and then developing and presenting my own material felt like what I was supposed to do.  

The 2020 Lockdown also played a part in actually getting back outside for fun. I had time to write, short stories, poetry and maybe even a novel too. I was energised into action, to keep writing, keep moving and to be outdoors. My current role at St Andrews Botanic Garden gives me the same experience of engaging with lots of different audiences about science which is much more aligned to my overall ambition to help others find their place in science. I also get to spend my whole day outside amongst nature. Which is a bonus! 

In 2023 I obtained some samples of Southern North Sea core samples which I plan to take into schools around Fife and Tayside.

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