Margaret Low, Principal Teaching Fellow at WMG has received a highly commended certificate from STEMNET for her work promoting STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) subjects.

Margaret was nominated for the STEMNET Awards (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Network) by colleagues who work with her across her activities.

Tariq El-Ayat from STEMNET added in his response:

We were hugely impressed by [Margaret’s] level of dedication in inspiring young people in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths. We greatly appreciate [Margaret’s] involvement in STEMNET’s programmes, and hope to hear more about activities in future."

Professor Christina Hughes, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education said:

I have been tremendously impressed by Margaret’s dedication to working with and promoting STEM Ambassadors to as wide an audience as possible, Margaret has not only engaged fully in new developments within the University of Warwick, she has also engaged with a range of external partners in ways that make a serious regional contribution to enhancing public understandings of STEM.”

Thomas Preece, Undergraduate student and member of Technology Volunteers said:

I would describe Margaret as the foundation of the Technology Volunteers, her dedication to the project and the volunteers has made sure that the project has been continually successful, which shows by the increased number of students wanting to volunteer each year and the excellent feedback we get from schools."

Stephen Pithouse, First Year Undergraduate, School of Engineering said:

I was in Year 9 at school when I was fortunate enough to be part of a STEM club which Margaret Low had arranged. A STEM volunteer and two Warwick Volunteer students came and ran a workshop introducing me and my friends to the field of electronics and programming through the medium of 'Arduino' boards. Before this, I had no idea as to which career path I would like to take. This STEM club gave me the first step that I most definitely needed to introduce me to electronics and gave me a huge desire to pursue electronics further as a degree."

Margaret is the Widening Participation Officer for WMG, co-ordinating outreach activities across the department and collaborating with colleagues across the University. Margaret has organised a number of outreach and other activities for children in local schools and has worked closely with Warwick Volunteers, a part of the University which provides opportunities for students and staff to volunteer in a variety of roles within the local community. Working with Warwick Volunteers, Margaret created the Technology Volunteers project. This encompasses several projects, led by local STEM Ambassadors, and supported by student volunteers. The Scratch activity is one, and a second activity looks at building low cost electronic systems to interact with the real world.

Margaret’s expertise in her subject is combined with the resources of the national STEM Ambassadors’ scheme to provide a high quality programme. Warwick Volunteers’ long track record of recruiting enthusiastic volunteers to run extra-curricular activities in local schools is utilised to deliver the programme in local schools. This ensures a high quality experience, both for the school children taking part and also the volunteers, who are enabling the delivery of a quality programme that addresses an issue of national importance- the engagement of young people with STEM subjects.