STEM Team East are a team of committed STEM professionals. Through their education and career backgrounds they have a wealth of experience and expertise spanning each subject of STEM. The team has particular strengths in STEM careers, career pathways, science communication and education. They believe strongly in equality of opportunity and progress through STEM for all pupils in the regions schools and colleges. With their own children currently passing through the education system, and studying STEM subjects through from primary to sixth form, they have first hand experience of the STEM agenda and current teaching in schools.
Elizabeth Crilly
Elizabeth Crilly is the Director of STEM Team East. Elizabeth studied Pure and Applied Physics at Queens University Belfast and then gained an MSc in Bio-Medical Engineering and Medical Imaging at Aberdeen University. She worked as a research scientist at Unilever and Smith & Nephew Research before having a career break to start a family. During this time she did a PGCE at Homerton College, Cambridge and taught Physics and Mathematics for 8 years in secondary schools in Bedfordshire. In 2008 she held an Ogden Trust Teaching Fellowship. Seeking a return to research she was awarded a Daphne Jackson Fellowship – a scheme for women returners to Science and Engineering. On the strength of this she was able to return to a research position with Cambridge University working on a medical electronics project sponsored by the British Heart Foundation and then on to her current post as the charity’s Director .
Jane Bushen
Jane Bushen is the CREST scheme and STEM Ambassador coordinator at STEM Team East. Jane trained as a biomedical scientist at Colchester General hospital, and undertook the majority of her professional studies there and at the University of Westminster, gaining Fellowship of the Institute of Biomedical Science. She moved to Cambridge in 1993 and worked as a senior biomedical scientist at Addenbrookes hospital, specialising in haemostasis. Whilst working at Addenbrookes, Jane lectured in haematology on the BSc Biomedical science course at Anglia Ruskin University and as module leader in haemophilia on the MSc course. This experience, along with having the role of training officer and mentor for BSc placement students, inspired Jane to complete a PGCE in post compulsory education at Anglia Ruskin University, qualifying in 1998. Jane took a career break to raise her family and returned to the workplace to join STEM Team East in 2008. Jane’s husband has recently moved from industry to physics teaching.
Lucinda Spokes
Lucinda Spokes is is responsible for STEM Communications and STEM Outreach at STEM Team East. Lucinda offers schools advice on STEM enrichment and runs hands-on STEM Activities in schools and colleges. Lucinda studied Chemistry at The University of Birmingham and then moved to The School of Environmental Sciences at the University of East Anglia in Norwich for her Ph.D. Following her Ph.D., Lucinda spent 14 years as a research scientist at UEA studying the impact of human activity on the oceans. As part of this research she worked throughout the world on ships and at land stations. She moved into science outreach as part of a EU funded project producing a web based climate encyclopaedia for school pupils and the public. After a short career break she joined Cambridge Association for Women in Science and Engineering and is very actively involved with the network. She joined STEM Team East in 2008.
Melanie DeSouza
Melanie is the Administrator for STEM Team East. Melanie graduated in India with a degree in Chemistry. After a period of working in the Middle East she moved to the UK. Melanie worked as a medical secretary in London and then at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, having moved here after her marriage. She took a career break on the birth of her daughter and completed a Diploma in Social Sciences through the Open University during this time. She also volunteered as a Magistrate for a short period before the family relocated to North Carolina for a couple of years for her husband’s job. Melanie has been with the charity since 2002. Melanie’s husband is a chemistry teacher in Cambridgeshire.
Diana Rule
Diana Rule joined STEM Team East in 2001 as resources administrator. Diana prepares and packs the resources used in STEM activities, for all the charity’s STEM events and school bookings. Diana qualified in graphic design at Cambridgeshire College of Arts and Technology. She served a three year apprenticeship at a general printers before moving to a local company publishing educational and careers materials. Her graphic and design skills benefit many students work for displays at STEM events.
Janet Harrod
Janet works as the Administrator for the STEM Ambassador scheme, responsible for contacting all of the 900+ Ambassadors in Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire to keep their CRB records and activity records up-to-date. Janet also keeps all communications with schools recorded and in order.