Profile
Katie Sparks
Getting ready for all the questions ^.^
My CV
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Education:
Settle High School (1998 – 2001) – GCSEs
Giggleswick High School (2001 – 2003) – A level
University of Warwick (2003 – 2006) – Physics BSc
Brunel University (2011) – Aerospace Engineering MSc
University of York (2018) – Secondary Science Teacher Training -
Qualifications:
Lots!
Various GCSEs
A levels in Physics, Chemistry and Maths
BSc in Physics
MSc in Aerospace Engineering
Secondary Science Teacher TrainingAnd various music things too – I’m currently going for grade 8 in cello.
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Work History:
4 bars and pubs, Internship in Intellectual Property, lots of temporary contracts with NHS & my local council, Information Governance Officer for Social Care, Corporate Governance Manager for Housing, Spacecraft Engineer and now, STEM Ambassador Engagement Officer at the National Railway Museum
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Current Job:
STEM Ambassador Engagement Officer at the National Railway Museum
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About Me:
Tea drinking, piano and cello playing, ex-spacecraft engineer from Yorkshire, now working at the National Railway Museum in York (although from home right now).
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I live in Calderdale, near Halifax, I moved here to be with my now husband. Before that I was in Hitchin in Hertfordshire (nearish to London). I’m originally from the Yorkshire Dales (my family are still there) and I’ve also lived in Warwick. I’ve moved around a bit, but I think I’ve found somewhere I want to settle!
When I’m not in work I am probably: making something, playing an instrument, reading or exploring.
My home is very full of stuff: wool and fabric and paper and everything else for making things; books, I have 3 bookshelves and rapidly running out of room; my piano and cello. All buried amongst usual house things (sofa, bed, wardrobe etc.). My husband is also great at collecting things, he likes robots and gadgets. It can take forever to clean!
Music-wise, I play a lot of piano (living room soloist only though really) and even more cello. I was going to be taking my grade 8 in cello on 20th March, but that’s been postponed. It’s going to be challenging keeping the pieces at a standard I’m happy with, without getting really bored of them.
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My background is in physics and engineering (I used to design spacecraft) and now I support people to take their science and engineering knowledge into schools.
I look after the whole of North Yorkshire. I use a computer lots, to work out which schools are getting support, finding out where their nearest volunteer is and matching people up.I also help bring engineers and scientist into the museum. They come to join in with all sorts of things, from speed networking, gameshows and workshops.
When I was design spacecraft, I worked with lots of different people and was a volunteer myself. I use my experience of what it’s like to be a volunteer to help others work out what they could do. I also use that when I’m talking to teachers, getting them to link up what they teach with what different volunteers could do.
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My Typical Day:
My job is all about connecting people. I use a computer to see what is going on and also send and reply to lots of emails.
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My typical day could be arranging events for teachers, scientists and engineers to get together, or it could be using a computer to map where everyone is and what they are up to. I look for “gaps”, areas where there isn’t anything going on, to see if there is anything I can do to help get things going. I also look to see what is popular in an area or with a particular school, to see if I can get more variety of things going on.
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What I'd do with the prize money:
Help others having a go at things
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My Interview
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How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
Energetic, creative, chatty
What did you want to be after you left school?
I had no idea, if fact, I didn’t work out I wanted to work on spacecraft until 5 years after uni.
Were you ever in trouble at school?
I tried to hide my misbehaving, but it didn't always work...
What's your favourite food?
Cheese and onion crisps
If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!
Do my cello exam, have a baby, go on a trip to India
Tell us a joke.
Why did the scarecrow win a Nobel Prize? Because she was outstanding in her field!
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