Professor Margaret Low, Director of Outreach and Widening Participation for WMG, leads on outreach activities across the department. To increase engagement in the local community, Margaret and her team deliver inspiring, interactive presentations, workshops and demonstrations.

Her journey began with a spark of curiosity and a passion for science that ignited at a young age. Growing up, Margaret was fascinated by the wonders of science and technology and the endless possibilities they offered for solving complex problems and improving lives. This innate curiosity would shape her path and drive her to pursue a career dedicated to promoting STEM education and community engagement.

As Margaret embarked on her academic journey, she found herself drawn to the intersection of technology and education. Having joined the University in 1988, Margaret has taken on several roles in WMG, from research to education, where she is now renowned for her work in Outreach and Widening Participation.

Margaret has continuously worked to narrow the gap between academia and the community by engagingly championing STEM education. In 2008, she created the Technology Volunteers project through Warwick Volunteers. It’s student-led, and volunteers are recruited from across Warwick to run Scratch workshops in local primary schools. Each year they work with over 300 children in the local area.

At the University, Margaret's dedication and commitment to her work have not gone unnoticed. She was recognised with a staff ‘Wows and Wonders’ award for her exemplary contributions to the university community. Margaret's continuous efforts to promote STEM education and diversity through initiatives like the Royal Institution Engineering Masterclasses is a prime example.

Margaret and her team have dedicated the last ten years to sharing these masterclasses for local school students. These sessions, attended by Year 9 students each year, show the breadth of engineering careers, with each session led by a member of WMG staff.

Margaret says, "Initiatives such as this aim to cultivate diversity and inclusion in STEM by actively involving students targeted by Warwick's widening participation agenda. This includes local state school educated students, those who would be the first in their family to attend university, students from low socio-economic backgrounds, and students from neighbourhoods with low progression to higher education.

“Working in collaboration with the University Widening Participation team, through tailored outreach endeavours and inclusive programmes, our goal is to nurture a welcoming and supportive learning atmosphere where all individuals are respected and encouraged to pursue their interests.”

Margaret's passion for STEM education and community engagement runs deep, rooted in her belief in the transformative power of education and the importance of equal access to opportunities. She says, “I see universities as key players in promoting STEM education and increasing diversity and inclusion in the field. By leveraging their resources, expertise, and networks, universities can drive positive change in society and create pathways for future generations to succeed.”

Most recently Margaret has been developing activities that highlight the creative side of STEM, linking maths, programming and textiles through the Stitch in Time project. Students write programs to control a turtle on screen, creating patterns that can be stitched on an embroidery machine. This provides them with an opportunity to experience manufacturing in their classrooms.

In 2021, Margaret was recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours 2021, receiving an MBE for her outstanding work.

While Margaret deeply values her role, she emphasises the importance of leisure pursuits to sustain her passion and energy. Among many cherished moments at the University, her favourite spot is the lakes by Tocil Wood, evoking fond memories of time spent with her children, enjoying walks and the wildlife there.

Fun fact! Margaret possesses a keen interest in repairing and repurposing materials, from her desire to reduce waste. In the past year, she installed an old camera in an unused birdbox, to capture the beauty of nature.

Read more about the WMG Public Engagement and Outreach Programme here: Public engagement and Outreach (warwick.ac.uk)