University of Manchester

The university selects a number of fellows from its postgraduate maths and science courses to spend one day a week for a year in local inner-city secondary schools assisting the teaching of maths and science, aiming to enthuse, encourage and engage more young people to study these subjects post 16. In addition Manchester University aims to establish more long-term links with particular schools, in order to nurture potential in particular students, enthuse and inform teachers and generally add value to the physics and mathematics curriculum. Overall the fellows have been very pleased with the scheme, and have said it has improved confidence and their communication and presentation skills, and given them an excellent insight into teaching as a profession. Details of past Ogden Teaching Fellows at Manchester can be found here.
 
2007/2008 Teaching Fellows 
 
Abdulsalami Sanni Kovo, St Peters High School
 
I am originally from Nigeria and am doing my PhD in the School of Chemical Engineering and Analytical Science at The University of Manchester.  I did my B.Eng and M.Eng in Chemical Engineering in Nigeria and was teaching in the university before coming to the UK for my PhD.  I am presently researching into the Development of Zeolite from Nigerian clay. 
 
I enjoy watching television a lot, so during my spare time I am occupied with watching news, documentaries and following English premier league football. 
 
I choose to become an Ogden Teaching Fellow because I believe in the idea of the programme: promoting science education for future generations. My participation will also improve my communication skills and allow me to know the UK a bit more.
 
Anthony Bakewell-Smith, King David High School
After my A-Levels, I participated in the ‘Year in Industry’ scheme with a company that designs and builds large industrial centrifuges.  Afterwards I did a BEng and an MSc at the University of Manchester. I then worked for a year at the Wolfson Molecular Imaging Centre before returning to UoM for a PhD in materials science.  My project examines Nuclear Reactor Pressure Vessel (RPV) steels.
 
I am passionate about music and was a bass player in a local band for 6 years.  I also enjoy video games, movies, books, website design, mountain biking, squash and world affairs.
 
I applied for an Ogden Fellowship to gain a new experience.  I already work with undergraduates and school children when they come to the university on outreach programmes.  Working with school children provides a whole new field of challenges and experiences, but also new rewards. 
 
Christopher Dearden, Derby High School
I graduated from Lancaster University in 2002 with an MPHYS degree in Physics and Cosmology. In January 2003 I started work at the Met Office in Exeter in the Climate Research department. During this time I became involved in developing numerical models for the purpose of global climate prediction. I started a career break from the Met Office in July 2007 to begin a PhD in atmospheric science at the University of Manchester.
           
Originally from St Helens, Merseyside, I like to participate in sporting activities, particularly football, and I enjoy cooking and music. I decided to apply for an Ogden Fellowship as I am considering the possibility of teaching as a career, and I see the Ogden scheme as an excellent means of obtaining some relevant experience.
 
Jonathan Chippendall, Various Secondary Schools
I am currently in the final year of a PhD with the Experimental Aerodynamics group at Manchester University and in my second year as an Ogden Fellow. My academic research looks at developing fluidic thrust vectoring to provide increased efficiency and manoeuvrability in unmanned aircraft.
 
During 2007 I was based at King David High School in north Manchester as an Ogden Fellow.  During that time, amongst other activities, I ran a science club at the school, gave presentations to supplement lesson content and arranged a visit to the University’s Engineering department.
 
In the final term of my Fellowship I developed and tested a course titled the 'Science of Sound', which aims to engage pupils in science and maths by teaching computer based music production skills. For 2008, my Fellowship is based around the delivery of this course to a number of Manchester Secondary Schools.
 
Zareen Mehboob, North Manchester High School for Girls
I am doing PhD in Electrical and Electronics Engineering and my first degree was in Software Engineering from Pakistan in 2005.  Currently, I am working on Information Theoretic Analysis of Neural Signals. 
 
I like reading, watching movies, visiting new places and dining out with my friends. I love to eat pizza and kebabs!
           
For me, a career in education has always been a source of inspiration.  To see a student’s improvement always gives me an utmost satisfaction and a feeling of pride.
 
Being an Ogden fellow will be exciting and challenging. This is an excellent opportunity to work with kids of years 10 and 11 and will improve my communication, management and teaching skills that could help me pursue a career in education after completing my degree.