Writers
Dr Lynne Bianchi
l.m.bianchi@shu.ac.uk
Lynne is a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Science Education, developing, and managing a range of projects within the 'Personal Capabilities Programme'. Having qualified and practised in schools, she completed a Masters in Education degree at Manchester Metropolitan University in 1999. Her interest in Education and Research and Development led her to a PhD into 'Teachers' perceptions of the teaching and learning of Personal Capabilities in Science', completed in 2002.
Lynne has worked on a number of curriculum development and research projects with organisations such as CCEA (Northern Ireland), QCA (England) and Manchester LA and Cape UK's Creative Space initiative, which focus on the development of generic skills development. She has co-authored related publications, such as Smart Science, and pursues consultancy work with organisations interested in the area of personal skills and capabilities development from primary to secondary school level.
Lynne has also co-written curriculum materials for BAE Systems, the Environment Agency and Waitrose Supermarkets. Lynne regularly presents her work for discussion at regional and national conference events and continues to explore its implications through further research and development studies.
Richard Barnett
ra.barnett@virgin.net
Richard Barnett is a freelance education consultant. As well as Smart Science, he has worked as author and editor on a number of other curriculum development and writing projects including Primary Upd8, QCA Level 6 extension tasks and WHSmith Key Stage 2 National Tests Revision Guide. His work includes delivering school based science training and support for teachers and teaching assistants in primary schools. He has provided long term support in several schools in special measures. Richard also work as a part time Lecturer and tutor on the Graduate Teacher Programme at the University of Derby.
After graduating from Sheffield University in 1978 with a special honours degree in Plant and Animal Biology and completing his teacher training, Richard worked in a secondary school in Derby for 10 years as a science teacher and head of careers education. He then moved to working for Derbyshire Advisory Service in 1989, supporting primary and secondary science as both advisory teacher and science adviser. After a spell as science advisor for Derby City Council he became a freelance consultant in 2000.
Richard is a keen dingy and yacht sailor and most weekends trys to spend some time racing his Laser at Stanton Harold Sailing Club near Derby where he is also a dinghy instructor. His yachting trips have taken him to Northern Brittany, the Scilly Isles and the Hebrides. Richard and his wife also enjoy walking their neighbour's dog, especially to the pub.
Editor
Gareth Price
g.price@shu.ac.uk
Gareth is a biology graduate of London University (BSc2(i)) where he majored in botany and the impact of humans on the living environment. After graduating he trained as a teacher of science. After working for ten years as a teacher of Science, English and Humanities at Countesthorpe Community College (ages 14-19) he entered educational publishing as a writer and editor with Collins Educational Publishers. When Gareth left Collins he was responsible for a range of projects across all ages and subjects in the digital realm.
Following a brief period teaching ICT and science in Leicestered Gareth joined Sheffield Hallam University on a three day a week contract in the Centre for Science Education. The remainder of his time is spent working as a consultant, author and software developer for schools in the UK and China.
In his spare time Gareth enjoys music, particularly live music, and attends as many gigs as possible in Leicester. He also enjoys reading, particulalry modern novels and in his more rational moments Gareth enjoys some gentle hill walking and has discovered the joys of foreign travel.
Project Director
Ken Mannion
k.mannion@shu.ac.uk
Tel: 0114 224 4881
Over the last 15 years Ken has been involved in a wide variety of curriculum R & D projects, including ATLAS (active teaching and learning approaches in science), the Pupil Researcher Initiative (PRI), Researchers in Residence, and the development of the National and Regional Science Learning Centres. A recurring theme across this work is the need to develop innovative approaches to the long-stanfing problem of motivatin young people in science and engineering.
Following 10 years teaching science and biology in comprehensive schools, Ken worked for 5 years in an LEA advisory service, where he was responsible for science and assessment in the seondary phase. In 1993 he started at CSE as a senior lecturer, but soon became involved in designing and managing a range of R & D Projects, such as PRI.
Having been Deputy Director of CSE from 2000, he became Director in summer 2004. His main professional interest now lies in designing solutions to the problem of under-recruitment of young people to careers and qualifications in science and engineering.