Interviews on wonder, curiosity and creativity
Susan Engel is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology and Founding Director of the Program in Teaching at Williams College. Her research interests include the development of curiosity, children's narratives, play, and more generally, teaching and learning. She has authored 9 books including The Hungry Mind: The Origins of Curiosity in Childhood and the upcoming release The Intellectual Lives of Children.
Chris Wardle is an experienced primary years teacher who spends his spare time devising magic effects. He has written widely for both magical and educational publications. He has created tricks which have been performed by top professionals on TV, radio and on the stage. He is an award-winning member of The Inner Magic Circle, with Gold Star.
Science magician Dr Matt Pritchard is a Curator of Wonder. As an independent science communicator he works with over 100 schools and universities a year. Previously Matt conducted atomic physics research at Durham University. He subsequently went on to work within the Education department at Thinktank Science Museum, Birmingham before setting up his own company. In addition to this experience, he has spent the last 20 years working as a professional magician and is an Associate of the Inner Magic Circle - one of only 300 people in the world to hold this distinction.
Tom Pringle (AKA Dr Bunhead) has been a globe-trotting, freelance science communicator for over 20 years and is internationally renowned as a pioneer of performance-science shows and immersive training programmes. He has performed on TV (Brainiac, Blue Peter etc.) and in theatres and schools across 30 countries. He has trained thousands of people (including scientists, students, teachers, technicians & science presenters) in many languages and cultures, across all six inhabited continents. Occasionally, he writes for press, educational journals and books. Tom embraces science, education, physical theatre, dance, puppetry and applied improvisation to deliver innovative and impactful science communication and CPD for school teachers and academics.
Sugata Mitra is an independent researcher, author and speaker. A Ph.D. in theoretical physics, he retired in 2019 as Professor of Educational Technology at Newcastle University in England. His interests include Children’s Education, Remote Presence, Self-organising systems, Cognitive Systems, Complex Dynamical Systems, Physics and Consciousness. He received, among many global awards, the million-dollar TED Prize in 2013.
John broke the world record for paper aircraft distance in 2012; a record he still holds. Author of four books of original designs, John has been called the world’s foremost expert on paper airplanes. His planes are recognized around the globe, and one was featured in the movie “Paper Planes”. His books have been translated into... Continue Reading →
Trained as a neuroscientist, she now works in science communication and education. She has worked in science education at The Physiological Society, Nesta, Planet Science, Science in School, Ignite! and Queen Mary University of London. Her MA research looking into how young people learn accurate science from the entertainment media, saw her take up an International Fellowship at the National Science Foundation, Washington, D.C. and a Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Travel Fellowship. She currently works with teachers, artists, pathologists, conservationists and preschoolers…but not at the same time (well, not always).
A freelance children's science writer and presenter. She does science shows as Sarah's Adventures in Science, writes for Aquila Children's Magazine, develops activities for the Curiosity Box (a subscription science kit service) and writes in her own name. She mostly works with primary aged children, children with special needs and their families and carers.
A researcher in cognitive psychology, investigating creativity and insight (if that name doesn’t quite resonate, it’s also known as the aha experience, eureka moment, the penny-drop, light-bulb, and gestalt click – among sundry others). She's interested in whether individual differences (such as particular personality types, or intelligence) are associated with a tendency towards having insight moments.
STEM communicator, physics music graduate, passionate about performance and people. lecturer Cardiff uni & founder of science made simple
Words on Wonder 