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open source science on a budget
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Some Recent Works
Microbarometer
microbarometer
Infrasound Monitor
infrasound monitor
Aurora Monitor
aurora monitor
Pi Seismic Monitor Code
aurora monitor
Learning Physics by Coding

F.P.G.A."Chip Design"
aurora monitor
Ian at makerfaire2018
Science on Stage Prague 2022 - display
Ian at makerfaire2018
Displaying at MakerFaire 2018

Hi .. this site exists to promote school/citizen science projects in physics, geophysics and computing which may be worth browsing if you are interested in:-

  • Promoting 'real science' (S.T.E.M) projects in schools/colleges.
     
  • Building a leading in-house and outreach STEM programme.
     
  • Cutting edge citizen science.
     
  • Infrasound detection.
     
  • Geophysics magnetometry.
     
  • Advanced Computing Projects.
     

I have over 25 years experience teaching A-level Physics, additionally A-level Computing, various applied science courses, engineering and some adult physics. For the past 15 years I have been actively involved in computational physics research at M.Sc, Ph.D and post-doc levels whilst teaching predominantly A-level physics.

“Curiosity and passion determine success” - Pat Hanrahan

There should be a joy in learning and enthusiasm in teaching, as student skills are nurtured and developed. In the U.K. state-sector these have been eroded by a relentless drive to achieve often baseless numeric metrics at the behest of OfSted - a standards organisation whose reports are regarded by many in teaching as meaningless. Little wonder so many of our political leaders choose a private education for their own children.

In my direct experience there is considerable merit in giving students the opportunity to develop their science interests in extra-curricula science 'clubs'. I have lost track of the number who explained how their university interview was dominated by discussion of such extra-curricula work. Whilst regrettably rare in UK state schools advanced science project work is common in much of Europe and the US. Here it is not uncommon for pre-university students to engage in original research. There is no reason why an ordinary UK school cannot make a big impact for little resourcing.

I am committed to setting up national/international class STEM programmes in the sort of geophysics/space-science projects described here. These are well suited to school or college science clubs/enrichment activities either on one site or as part of a distributed network between schools. The projects here are cheap, research-level and released entirely open-source. Feel free to have a go at them, I am happy to help as long as not in direct competition with my current employer.

Drop me a line if interested.

  • 6/1/23 :: Presented at A.S.E. Annual Conference, Sheffield Hallam University.

  • 19/10/22 :: New low-cost microbarometer project.

  • 16/1/22 :: detected Infrasound pulse from Tonga eruption at 16,000+km.

updated 3/07/23

Opinions expressed on this site are my own and not necessarily those of my current employer.