Who is SMART?
Dr Terry Burns
Creator and Director of SMART
Terry worked with Professor John O’Connor to develop the SMART program in 1998, and has played a vital role as its Director since that time. Terry has always loved science, and in 2003 was the first person to be awarded a PhD in Science Communication at the University of Newcastle. He loves seeing young people enjoying science and technology, and is keen to facilitate this not only through SMART, but also by assisting other projects and people with similar interests. Terry is currently developing an on-line science communication course for 2010. His other interests include M.A.D. (Make a Difference) projects, classic cars, cycling, travel, hovercraft, and anything creative including photography and writing.
"SMART is good for everyone involved. University students get paid to develop their communication skills, the community enjoys high quality science communication events, and the University of Newcastle and sponsors get to support a great program."
Sarah-Jane Judge
SMART Outreach Manager
Sarah-Jane Judge left Scotland (minus 20 degrees) to take up the role of SMART Outreach Manager here in Newcastle (plus 30 degrees) in February 2011. Other than being worried about the extreme temperature gradient, she was very excited about managing SMART, and thankfully she still is!
As a student (reading for an honours degree in Aquatic Biosicence and then a Masters in Ecotourism) Sarah-Jane was lucky enough to get a job at the Glasgow Science Centre working (if you can call anything that much fun work!) as a science communicator. During her five years at the Science Centre she learnt to translate complex issues into simpler forms and communicate them to the public. This often involved blowing something up and involved a surprising amount of balloons. It was then that she decided that she loved science (and talking) too much to become a research scientist, so I decided to make a career out of it (science communication, not blowing things up!).
Since then she had gained 8 years experience as a professional science communicator working in all kinds of media, covering a hug range of subjects, in a variety of roles including exhibition researcher, science show presenter, communication manager and Wallace and Gromit’s tea girl!
Sarah-Jane want to make other people as excited about science as she is and realise that scientist does not have to equal "geek" .Or, that if it does, then everything is geeky, from Formula One cars to Hollywood movies.
Nathan Cooling
Nathan is a chemistry PhD student who is currently working on a project about organic solar cells. He hopes to discover the most cost effective and efficient way to generate solar energy. His work can potentially lead to the discovery of solar paint which, after being applied onto houses’ rooftop tiles, could generate electricity for the building. Because the cells are cheap and flexible, they could also be integrated into a T-shirt that would power ipods, or boat sails that could power the boat radio. Exciting stuff!
Nathan joined the SMART team in 2002, and has run the chemistry show ever since.
Anna Evans
SMART Admin Assistant and Presenter
Anna is completing a double degree in Chemical Engineering and Physics. She joined SMART in early 2010 as a scholar, and since then has moved into the role of administration assistant and presenter.
Anna believes that capturing the interest of children and dispelling the myth of science as being boring, hard to understand or just for geeks, will help them realise how amazing science is. Sparking children’s interest and passion from an early age will be pivotal to encouraging the next generation of
scientists and engineers to enter those professions.
In Anna’s main role, as administration assistant, she organises Australia-wide tours, local shows, and on occasions presents these shows.
Anna loves everything to do with science and has so far visited such prestigious scientific locations, as ANSTO, many CSIRO facilities and will be visiting CERN on the France/Switzerland border in mid 2011.
Anna lives for travelling and is planning to do a year-long exchange in Sweden during 2013. She has trips planned every year until she has completed her degree (still another 4 and a half years to go!). She believes it is important to keep a good work/life/study balance and believes SMART helps her achieve this (as well as helping to fund her holidays!)