Winner: 2024 Excellence in Primary Education Prize
Dr Jo Montgomery
Dr Jo Science Solutions, Babraham Institute
For a significant contribution to STEM education in the last 20+ years, inspiring children and supporting teachers in the UK and around the world.
Dr Jo teaches children, supports teachers, trains scientists and inspires minds!
Biography
Dr Jo Montgomery is a teacher, trainer and scientist with nearly thirty years' experience in science and education. Dr Jo is passionate about science, education and supporting others, promoting scientific literacy, raising science capital and inspiring a love of science. Jo currently teaches primary science, develops resources and delivers hands-on workshops, trains scientists, and supports teacher professional development. She is an independent consultant at Dr Jo Science Solutions, and works with Primary Science Quality Mark (PSQM), STEM Learning, Science learning partnerships and hubs, The Great Science Share for Schools and SEERIH (Science and Engineering Education Research and Innovation Hub) at The University of Manchester. She is an accredited Primary Science Capital Teaching Approach trainer, Explorify champion and Association for Science Education (ASE) Teacher Developers committee member.
My students inspire me to see the creativity and wonder in every day. Children's natural curiosity should be nurtured and encouraged; seeing scientific phenomena through their eyes for the first time is a pleasure and a privilege and keeps me smiling!
Dr Jo Montgomery
Q&A
What would be your advice to educators who are working with colleagues going above and beyond, but are yet to nominate them for an RSC Education prize?
Even receiving a nomination is an extremely powerful recognition of doing a good job, and goes a long way to support and reward those amazing colleagues.
How did you first become interested in chemistry or science?
I think I was always a scientist. From my early childhood spent collecting snails and woodlice, playing in the mud and mixing potions on the bathroom floor, my natural curiosity about how the world works led me to wonder why, to ask questions and to pursue a career in science.
Who or what has inspired you to have a role in education?
My parents were both teachers and always supported me to follow my passions and to be the best I could be. There's a bit of a running joke in the family that I was initially put off teaching due to the long hours and low pay – only to go into research science where there are long hours, low pay... and not even school holidays! After a few years, the draw of education was too strong and I combined my careers!
How have your students inspired you?
My students inspire me to see the creativity and wonder in every day. Children's natural curiosity should be nurtured and encouraged; seeing scientific phenomena through their eyes for the first time is a pleasure and a privilege and keeps me smiling!
How can good science education support solving global challenges?
We need a scientifically literate society. Not everyone needs to be a scientist, but having an understanding of scientific phenomena, in meaningful, real-world contexts, is essential to engaging in issues and identifying and solving global challenges and problems.
What is your favourite element?
My favourite element is carbon because it's so versatile! From soft structures like graphite to strong diamonds, and the basis of all life. Carbon's ability to bond in so many different ways allows it to create many different materials – I love this flexibility and adaptability which resonates with education!