Embedded Files
Outreach Leader
Outreach Leader
Dr Amy Gentry
Dr Amy Gentry
What is your job title?
Outreach Leader
What qualifications do you have?
A Levels in Physics, Mathematics, Philosophy and English Language and Literature; MPhys in Physics with Astrophysics from Leicester University, PhD in Mineral Physics from UCL.
What does an Outreach Leader do?
I am responsible for the UCL GeoBus. It's an outreach project run by the UCL Earth Sciences department in which we deliver workshops about Earth sciences topics (from volcanoes to fossils and everything in between) to schools across the UK. My job is very varied at times. I'm writing funding proposals and working at a desk, or I'm preparing for the next workshops or event, or I could be building lego seismometers, 3D printing fossils and colouring in large maps!
Have you had a career break or career change?
Yes! After my PhD, I was a post-doctoral researcher in the UCL Earth Sciences Department but decided to change my career and train as a teacher. Whilst I was a teacher, the opportunity to lead the GeoBus outreach project at UCL was advertised and I had to apply!
Apart from formal qualifications, what other skills or characteristics do you need in your role?
Excellent communication is key to my role. My job is to translate complex scientific ideas and make them accessible, engaging and exciting. To do that requires really good communication whether it is speaking, creating presentations or writing.
What sort of organisation do you work for?
I work for a university in central London, UCL.
Where else could you work as an Outreach Leader?
You'll find people working in outreach and public engagement throughout different organisations including museums, universities and societies such as the Geological Society of London.
"My job is to translate complex scientific ideas and make them accessible, engaging and exciting."
"My job is to translate complex scientific ideas and make them accessible, engaging and exciting."
If this wasn’t your first job after your studies, what did you do in-between?
After my PhD I worked for a short time as a researcher in the UCL Earth Sciences, then went into teacher training and onto running the UCL GeoBus.
Do you travel, either within the UK or overseas, in your role? How often?
I don't travel as often anymore, the UCL GeoBus used to present workshops in-person, so I was travelling all over London and the surrounding areas every day. It has changed since then and most workshops are run online, however I have given talks at different meetings and met with other outreach/public engagement professionals which sometimes requires travel to other parts of the UK.
Do you work a regular length day/week, or are shifts involved?
Yes, standard working week although sometimes events are held during the weekend so I will occasionally work during the weekend too.
What do you enjoy about your job?
Can I say almost everything? I am very lucky because I love my job. I get to work with incredible scientists across UCL Earth Sciences and translate their amazing science into workshops and exciting activities for schools across the UK. It's challenging and requires a lot of creativity and hard work but that's part of why I enjoy it so much and hopefully those that take part in the workshops enjoy it too!
What advice or extra information do you wish you’d had before starting this career?
Find the areas you enjoy and find out how to turn them into your career. As a researcher I realised that presenting and running outreach events were some of my favourite parts of my job, so I looked at ways of turning them into my job. That's why I went into teaching and eventually lead me to becoming an outreach leader, so now most of my job is doing exactly that, teaching and designing exciting outreach events!
What opportunities do you have for developing your skills in your current role?
UCL has lots of courses and training available, so I have lots of opportunity to develop my skills. At the moment I am studying to get a project management qualification as well as running new events with colleagues and learning from them.
What position would you like to hold in 5 years time?
I have big ambitions for the UCL GeoBus, in 5 years time I want to still be leading the project, but the project will have grown to a full team of people!
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse