Dr RS Perry is the founder of the UKSDC and the Space Science Engineering & Environmental Foundation (SSE²F) and its Honorary Chair. The SSE²F is a registered UK charity. It supports the UK, EU Middle East and Africa Space Design Competitions, the Environmental Design Challenge (EDC) and the junior Galactic Challenge and Eco Meet or 9-14 year old students. He is a director of the Global Space Design Challenge and Pro Ed et al. He has held the US and Canada National Science Foundation Fellowship at University of Oxford and as a Royal Society Fellow at Imperial College London. He has a B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Washington, and is a certified NASA astrobiologist. His current focus is on education. In addition, he has published widely in his areas of interest of Earth and planetary sciences, geochemistry, microbiology and education. He is the author of six novels under RS Perry. Besides scientific talks he enjoys giving presentations in a wide variety of public venues for example being invited to give the Public Lecture at the Durham Institute for Advanced Studies on a Definition of Life and as a painter and member of the Chelsea Art Club an invited talk on Science and Art. As a script writer he is a member of the Writers Guild of America West. In his spare time he enjoys trekking, scuba diving and flying helicopters and aircraft. He has since visited many of the Earth’s extreme habitats including diving in ‘Alvin’ the deep submersible. He has sailed across the Atlantic in a small sailboat.
Marcus du Satouy
OBE. FRS
Patron
Is the Simonyi Professor for the Public Understanding of Science and a Professor of Mathematics at the University of Oxford. Formerly a Fellow of All Souls College, and Wadham College, he is now a Fellow of New College. He was previously President of the Mathematical Association, an EPSRC Senior Media Fellow, and a Royal SocietyUniversity Research Fellow. His academic work concerns mainly group theory and number theory. In October 2008, he was appointed to the Simonyi Professorship for the Public Understanding of Science, succeeding the inaugural holder Richard Dawkins.
Yasmin Sarwar
Consultant
Yasmin Sarwar has been involved with the Space Design Competitions since 2009. She is currently the Non-Executive Advisor to Pro Ed et al. Ltd, the SSE²F board and past Chief Education Officer at Oxford International College. She joined OIC in 2017, and under her leadership, it has become the UK’s No.1 A-Level college. Born in Lawas and raised in Kuching, she completed her SPM in Malaysia, and continued her education in the UK. Calling herself an “edupreneur”, she sees her role as an innovator in education. At OIC, Yasmin has developed the “Strategic Global Pathways” curriculum, which combines academic excellence, career preparation and personal development to give students an enhanced ability to succeed not only at university interviews, but higher education and later in their professional lives. Yasmin has achieved several awards, including the Welsh Asian Business Woman (2015), the Pearson Teaching Award for Science Teacher of the Year, and a Pearson Teaching Awards Fellowship (2011). Yasmin is regularly invited to share her expertise with government officials, fellow educators, parents, students, and the general public. Her public talks include Welsh Assembly (Gorwel) and TEDx (DVLA- Swansea). Prior to joining OIC, Yasmin co-founded one of the most successful A-Level colleges in the UK and one of the major A-Level destinations for international students.
Sam has recently joined the GSDC after spending 25 years providing world class customer service in the air with British Airways. Now that her wings have been clipped she is looking forward to organising and running the GSDC programmes with the rest of the team. Sam is calm and efficient and as our Programme coordinator, she will enjoy using the super organised side of her personality to ensure that all our events run smoothly.
On her days off she can be found hanging out at the beach, paddleboarding, or officiating a basketball game.
A passionate believer in the benefits that practical science brings to school based learning. Jenny has taught in both the private and public sectors, and additionally worked with a variety of agencies to promote and fund the setting up of Science Clubs. She received a BSc from University of Westminster in biological sciences. She has attended University of Sussex and received an endorsement to teach chemistry after receiving her PGCE from University of Middlesex.
Having worked voluntarily for the UK SDC, she is now excited to have the opportunity to extend their project based learning methods to a wider audience, and is looking forward to the continued success of the Space Science Engineering & Environmental Foundation (SSE²F), the UKSDC, EUSDC, MEASDC , Middle East, Africa, and the Galactic Challenges.
When not working with SSE²F and GC, Jenny enjoys the great outdoors by taking part in Open Water Swimming challenges, as a member of the UK Wild Camping group, and as an assessor and trainer for the Duke of Edinburgh scheme.
Trisha is the Co-Vice Chair of the Space Science Engineering Foundation. She first took part in the UKSDC in 2014 as a participant, and although her team won she did not have the chance to go to the Kennedy Space Center. This motivated her to try once more in 2015, when her team won again and this time she had the chance to represent the UK at the International competition. Since then she has been involved with the regional and micro competition heats as a judge and CEO. She is currently in her third year at Imperial College London, studying Physics, and hopes to one day work for the UK Space Agency.
Trisha was the UKSDC organising chair for 2016/17.
Aadil Kara
Co-Mentor Team Leader
Aadil currently works as a government data analysis. He graduated in Physics at Imperial College. As an alumnus of the 2017 national and international Space Design Competitions (UKSDC, ISSDC), he has been involved in various activities for the UK Competition from outreach at a local summer school to organising logistics at the internationals. He is enthusiastic to build on the successes of the competition, bringing the experience of science and mathematics to even more students. Outside of studies and Space Design, Aadil is a volunteer tutor, website designer, and can occasionally be found exploring the London Underground.
Evan Meyrick
Engineering Programme Coordinator
Evan has been involved with the UK Space Design Competition since 2012, and deeply enjoys helping others further their learning. After completing a degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Imperial College London, he currently works as a systems engineer specialising in information security for unmanned air vehicles and communications networks, with a wider interest in global security and counter-terrorism.
Alison Ahearn
Director of Curriculum Development
Alison Ahearn is a Principal Teaching Fellow at Imperial College London, teaching undergraduates and postgraduates in civil engineering law and management. At College level, she works with the Educational Development Unit on teacher-development and the formalising of systems for recognising the learning achieved by students outside the classroom. Alison joined UKSDC for its first London final and brings boardroom experience from her 10 years as Chair of the Zebra Housing charity (student accommodation). Alison has a particular interest in industry-academic partnerships and versimilitude in project-based learning.