Teaching & outreach

Sharing the Universe — in lecture halls, festivals and comedy clubs

Teaching

Undergraduate and postgraduate teaching

I wrote and currently teach the first-year undergraduate course on exoplanets at The University of Manchester, introducing students to how we find and study worlds around other stars.

Previously I have taught the second-year course on galaxies, the fourth-year course on Frontiers of Astrophysics and, for many years, demonstrated in the third-year undergraduate physics laboratory. The experiments I demonstrated include solar spectroscopy, using neutral hydrogen to probe dark matter in the Andromeda Galaxy, and studying pulsars with radio telescopes at Jodrell Bank Observatory. I designed an experiment on microlensing and difference imaging — bringing current research techniques directly into the undergraduate curriculum.

In addition, I also supervise fourth-year undergraduate masters projects, as well as postgraduate masters and PhD students.

Public engagement

The Jodrell Bank Alien

Occasionally I climb into a green morphsuit to become the Jodrell Bank Alien — science outreach for audiences who enjoy a laugh with their science.

The Alien performs science talks at major festivals and science stand-up comedy for adult audiences.

The Jodrell Bank Alien — a performer in a green alien morphsuit
The Jodrell Bank Alien
Reach

Beyond the university

From BBC Stargazing Live in 2013 to the BBC Breakfast sofa today, public engagement runs alongside my research — as a live broadcaster, a writer for The Conversation, a podcast contributor and a performer.