Occupation: Director of Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre

Year born: 1962

Research Areas: Electrical Engineering, Renewable Energy, Public Engagement

"Science is a part of culture. They are not different. [They both] involve creativity, being good at a job, excited in things, interested and curious. There is a continuum across science and culture and arts and creativity and determination [which leads] to massive human endeavours."

Source: Bluedot Festival

Early Life

Teresa grew up as a hard-working and determined student. She gained a degree in physics and a masters in instrumentation and analytical science. In her class of 200, she was one of only six women studying physics. Her interests moved towards using science to overcome global challenges, especially  protecting the environment and sustainability. Teresa went on to do a PhD in electrical engineering. The focus of her research was hydro power in Nepal. She then worked for a charity using technology to tackle poverty in developing countries. Later, she worked on renewable energy and climate change policy. This work took her all over the globe; from the Himalayas to the South American rainforest.

Career Highlights

Teresa is the Director of the Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre. With a mission to “inspire the scientists of the future”, Teresa has developed engaging events, for example Bluedot. The Bluedot festival is a cultural music and science event. The name of the festival came from the famous 'pale blue dot' quote by Carl Sagan. The quote inspired the values of the festival, seeing the Earth’s fragility.

Teresa is an advocate for science being culturally important. She led the team that secured Jodrell Bank as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Legacy

Teresa was recognised for her services in astrophysics with an MBE in 2013. The same year, she was awarded the Institute of Physics Kelvin Prize for Public Engagement with Physics (with Tim O’Brien). She is Chair of the Daphne Jackson Trust - a charity to support scientists returning to work after career breaks.

Other Interests

Alongside her science degrees, Teresa has a degree in fine art. She is a keen gardener and likes re-purposing materials to create new things. She loves to grow her own fruit and veg.