Job title and an explanation of the role I work in Strategic Materials, which is responsible for forecasting the demand of materials, management of these and the end-to-end lifecycle of materials. Essentially ensuring the material demand is known, met and waste disposed of. There are lots of interactions across the company and with external parties, which provides great diversity to the work – interacting with manufacturing, infrastructure, product design, product strategy areas and partner collaborations to name a few. Who or what inspired you to follow this career path? I’ve always loved sc ..read more

Dr Nikhil Mistry is an acoustical engineer and has been an active member of the outreach community for almost 10 years. He currently works at the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, as a researcher in underwater acoustics. He studied at the Institute of Sound and Vibration Research (ISVR), at the University of Southampton and has voluntarily managed their outreach and public engagement since 2014, including collaboration with the Winchester Science Centre in their design of their world-leading acoustics exhibition space. Nikhil is passionate about acoustics and the communication of the ..read more

From apprentice to Director at SETA STEM has been important all the way through the working life of Mike Driscoll, Operations Director at The Southampton Engineering Training Association (SETA), based at Millbrook, Southampton. Let’s hear how he went ‘full circle’. Have you always been interested in STEM? Yes, often without even realising. As a youngster I grew up around aspects of engineering and I enjoyed studying all STEM subjects at school. My career in aerospace used STEM as a platform on which to perform under pressure, applying scientific principles to engineer solutions for customers ..read more

Mark Tucker may be retired, but he’s not taking a break. His career in Engineering began as a hobby in his teens and evolved into a career as a project manager. Throughout his time in the industry, he’s witnessed the birth of the internet and a boom in technology, and is using the breadth of his experience volunteering as a STEM Ambassador to pass on his knowledge to children, teachers and other volunteers through code clubs and training for the betterment of the STEM industries. Answering a special edition of the STEM NOW Q&A, Mark discusses his retirement, Micro:bits and his hopes for th ..read more

Dave Oxley is a Software Security Architect at McAfee and a STEM Ambassador. Answering the STEM NOW Q&A, he talks about how a love for technology evolved into a career in STEM... Who or what first inspired your curiosity in STEM? DO: I think I'd just seen Tron in the cinema and started badgering my mum to get me a computer. About the same time some friends got a Sinclair Spectrum 48K which their dad had reconfigured to be in a hard key shell. Every time we visited I was on their computer for as long as I was allowed. What was your personal journey into STEM, or your chosen field? DO ..read more

Andrew Lane is the Production Shift Manager at BOC Fawley, an armed forces veteran and a STEM Ambassador. Answering the STEM NOW Q&A, he highlights the value of STEM workplace visits for young people... Who or what first inspired your curiosity in STEM? AL: I have always had an interest in engineering and science, but my chemistry teacher at school inspired me the most. He had come into teaching from industry and managed to bring chemistry to life, giving it meaning and practical application. What was your personal journey into STEM, or your chosen field? AL: I left school with a han ..read more

Laura Michie is a Marine Biologist and a STEM Ambassador. In her STEM NOW Q&A, she speaks about her passion for inspiring the next generation of women in STEM... Who or what first inspired your curiosity in STEM? LM: My initial love of Biology began in High School. My biology teacher always made our lessons fun and interactive and I was fascinated by the complexity of living things and how they interact with each other and the environment. What was your personal journey into STEM, or your chosen field? LM: From my initial love of biology, I always knew I wanted to study science after ..read more

Paul Masser is a Continuous Improvement Lead and a STEM Ambassador. In answering the STEM NOW Q&A, Paul teaches us that Apprenticeships are a great way to get into a STEM career... Who or what first inspired your curiosity in STEM? PM: My Father worked for a Civil Engineering company as a Quantity Surveyor and would always bring Blue Prints of new projects - Telecom Tower, Thames Barrier, Channel Tunnel home. I found these fascinating. What was your personal journey into STEM, or your chosen field? PM: Initially lined up for a Sponsored Degree course with Austin Rover in Production E ..read more

Jen Barfoot is a STEM enthusiast, volunteers as a Civilian Instructor with the Air Cadets and is also a STEM Ambassador. Answering the STEM NOW Q&A, she paints a picture of how fascinating STEM can be... Who or what first inspired your curiosity in STEM? JB: I can never remember not having an insatiable curiosity and desire to learn. At home, my family encouraged me to pursue my interests. To never give up exploring, learning and enjoying the universe and all the mysteries and adventures it had to offer. They took me and my sibling to local places including the zoo, museums and scien ..read more

Lieutenant Tom Steadman is a Weapon Engineer Submariner for the Royal Navy and a STEM Ambassador. In answering the STEM NOW Q&A, he talks about the hurdles he overcame on his STEM journey... Who or what first inspired your curiosity in STEM? TS: Nothing specifically triggered my interest, it was just something I found that I was good at. I liked understanding why things happened (at a theory level as I was a little clumsy!) and had a knack for maths and physics, it just seemed to click! What was your personal journey into STEM, or your chosen field? TS: I wanted to join the Royal Nav ..read more