IBMS Member Bob Bonwick voted STEM Ambassador of the Year

1 Aug 2012

Bob Bonwick, IBMS member and Specialist Practitioner in Cellular Pathology at Cheltenham General Hospital, has been named as STEM Ambassador of the Year for STEM’s Gloucestershire region. Bob was presented with his award at the Cheltenham Science Festival in June.

STEM is short for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. The STEM programme works with Ambassador like Bob, who go into schools, colleges and afters school clubs to promote their skills and discipline to young learners, actively encourage them to enjoy STEM subjects, and inform them about the career opportunities that are available to them.

Bob has been involved with STEM as an Ambassador for the last two years and is an enthusiastic advocate for the STEM programme "It’s so much more than just being part of an organisation, putting in the half day a year and being sure to give the facts. It’s about enthusiasm, education and enjoyment and I take the 3 E’s with me when I got into schools. I found that I could very easily relate and get across some of the trickier subjects to students and for me it was a great boon to my practice. As a STEM Ambassador I also feel I can promote the profession as well as increase the pupils’ understanding of the real life applications of class room science lessons."

Anne O’Loghlen, the STEM Manager for Gloucestershire praised Bob’s contribution to the programme: "Bob’s commitment to the STEM Ambassador scheme has been truly inspiring; engaging many young people and teachers with Life Science subjects including genetics and the stem cell research debate and offering an insight into NHS careers. Bob’s invaluable contributions also include encouraging and recruiting new Ambassadors to join the scheme. I have been extremely grateful for his support and he thoroughly deserves this award."

Get Involved! If you are interested in promoting the profession and inspiring young scientists through STEM please contact saraholman@ibms.org

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