Blog » Dr Geraldine Maccartney

Dr Geraldine Maccartney

13th October 2014

Role: Learning Officer

Company: The Ulster Museum

Track Record: ‘Maths Week encourages everyone to see that maths, like science, is not just for the classroom. Looking at maths from a different angle can help us understand and make sense of the world around us,’ says Geraldine.

What does your job entail?
As learning officer, my job is to develop stimulating and interesting learning opportunities for visitors exploring the science collection at the Ulster Muse-um. I develop and deliver lessons based on the science and nature collections and teach all ages and levels from early years to university students. The STEM subjects are a high priori-ty for us and we are so pleased to be hosting Maths in the City which will have lots of interactive activities for all ages on Saturday, October 18. When the Ulster Museum hosts special science exhibitions such as Elements, which launched earlier this year, or our hugely successful Age of the Dinosaur exhibition in 2012 my role is to develop the learning programmes and school workshops to go alongside these. We also encourage mums and dads to learn alongside the kids so I develop lots of fun activities such as family trails. As part of the redevelopment of the Ulster Museum I had the fantastic opportunity to plan and develop the Discover Nature zone.

Is it 9-5?
It’s meant to be but of course it’s not! I work some evenings and weekends are an important time at the Ulster Muse-um when families can explore and learn together. I’ll be on duty for Maths in the City and I’m really looking for-ward to it.

What’s involved in Maths in the City?
A large part of my job is delivering and managing special events for schools and the public and we’re very excited to be hosting Maths in the City, a star event in the 2014 Maths Week Ireland festival taking place across the island of Ireland from October 11 – 19. Co-ordinated by Calmast at Waterford Institute of Technology, Maths Week is run as a partnership among over 50 institutions and groups. The Ulster Museum is a partner organisation and visitors can look for-ward to having some fun with maths. Special guests will include Dr Maths and Bubblz the Clown along with a host of `mathemagicians’ who will intrigue, inform and entertain. The entertainers are all mathematicians who are passionate about promoting a positive image of maths. Maths Week encourages everyone to see that maths, like science, is not just for the classroom. Looking at maths from a different angle can help us understand and make sense of the world around us.

How did you get into this line of work?
I always wanted to work in a museum and as a science undergraduate I spent my summers working here in the Ulster Museum. Following graduation I built up my science CV by working in medical research and went on to teach biology. In 1996 a job came up in the education department here and I jumped at the chance — and now I have my dream job.

Outline your career path to date.
I graduated in zoology from Queen’s University Belfast, and did a two year stint at the University of Ulster at Jordanstown in medical research on cystic fibrosis. I went on to spend three years completing a PhD on parasitology. To move into education I completed a PGCE and spent five years teaching biology to A-level students. Since 1996 I have been part of the education team at the Ulster Museum.

Tell us about your qualifications/training.
On top of my academic qualifications I’ve undertaken a series of courses to enable me to meet new challenges in my job.
These include computer training to help me produce worksheets and book-lets for schools and families and management training to support my role as manager of our Discover Nature zone and the team of staff who work there. Child protection training is ongoing as I regularly lead school workshops and teaching sessions.

What qualities are required for your job — personal and professional?
Patience and the ability to prioritise! In any one week or even a day I can be working across all the age ranges from early years to post grads, and can be moving from an audience of teachers to family groups. It’s important to adjust quickly from one to another and to move swiftly from each task. It’s essential to be able to work with all abilities and all backgrounds and to make everyone feel welcome and comfortable — and to generate enthusiasm.

What are the biggest challenges and rewards of your work?
It’s wonderful to see people enjoy the exhibitions and collections I have developed and set up. I love watching visitors doing the science and nature trails I have produced or seeing their reaction to a new exhibition. It also gives me a great thrill to receive really positive visitor feedback forms. On the other hand it can be challenging working with such a wide variety of audiences and being able to identify exactly what they will enjoy and working out the best way to deliver that. Often I have to manage very special requests which can take time — but it’s a very enjoyable challenge.

What do you like to do in your spare time?
I love visiting historic houses — I’m a big National Trust fan. I also love going to auctions and travelling and seeing different cultures and landscapes.
I’ve visited Australia, New Zealand, USA, South East Asia and Europe. One of my favourite trips was to Brazil — I won a Millennium Award to join a university group carrying out research in the rainforest.

Who has inspired you most in your life?
Without doubt the broadcaster and naturalist Sir David Attenborough. As a child I watched his early television programmes and developed a huge love of nature which led me on to study zoology. I love his ease of presentation and his ability to make science simple and inspirational. And I hope I can ignite sparks of interest in all the pupils, students and visitors I meet.

 

 

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