Paul Roche - Project Director

Paul is Director of the Faulkes Telescopes Project, and is the longest-serving member of the team, having started in early 2000 whilst Head of Education at the National Space Centre, Leicester. He is also the UK National Schools' Astronomer (funded by PPARC), working all over the country with school groups, teachers, universities and amateur astronomers. Paul still dabbles in research, mainly working in the field of X-ray binaries and hot stars. He was previously a Lecturer in Astronomy at the Univ. of Sussex and a research fellow at Southampton Univ. (where he gained his PhD in 1992). In his spare time he teaches martial arts in the South Wales valleys and tries to keep up with his kids.

David Bowdley - Education Director

David is a qualified teacher of physics and is responsible for the day to day running of the FT education programme. Previously David has worked in the technical side of performing arts as well as teaching physics full-time for a number of years. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Physics (IoP) a Chartered Physicist, Chartered Scientist (CSci) and sits on the CSci assessment panel for the IoP. David is also a member of the editorial board of Physics Education. Previously a gifted and talented co-ordinator in a school was instrumental in running the astronomy and space online academic forum for the National Academy for Gifted and Talented Youth.

Edward Gomez - Educational Operations Manager

Edward took up this post with the Faulkes Telescope Project in September 2004 after a brief spell in the manufacturing industry. He has a PhD in astronomy and has been active in astronomy research for 5 years. As part of his role in the project, Edward handles most technical queries, and co-ordinates with LCOGT on all the technical aspects of the project. In addition to this he assists with support emails, account administration and also provides some educational materials.

Sarah Roberts - Education Support Manager

Sarah started work with the Faulkes Telescope project in January 2005 and has recently completed her PhD in Astronomy, which involved looking for dwarf galaxies in different parts of the Universe. Sarah's duties for Faulkes include writing the guided tours for the website, answering support enquiries and being a mentor for a number of schools in the South Wales area who are using the Faulkes Telescope as part of the CREST (Creativity in Science and Technology) Gold Award project.

Rachel Dodds - International Development Manager

Rachel started working part-time with the Faulkes Telescope Project in May 2006, and is helping to develop the project in Europe. She gained a PhD in bacterial genetics in 2003 before moving to work at Techniquest, where she managed projects bringing science to schools and the general public. Rachel currently also works for Cardiff University, where she is investigating the provision of central support for science communication activity. In her spare time, she studies for an MSc in Science Communication at the University of the West of England.

Alison Tripp - Project Administrator

Alison started work for the FT Project in November 2006 as the Project Administrator. However, Alison has been working with FT team members for much longer than that as she previously worked in the Physics & Astronomy School Office at Cardiff University where the project is based. Alison has also worked in the University Business School and has extensive experience working in educational environments having worked in schools as an assistant teacher and as a swimming instructor in a local Club. Alison is very pleased to be working for the FT Project where she hopes she can play an important role in managing a wide range of aspects of the project.

Jon Yardley - Multimedia and Project Developer

Jon has been involved with the project since 2004 and has been working full time with the team since January 2006. As well as developing many educational videos and multimedia productions for the FT website Jon is also involved in research and education and has worked on projects such as NASA's Deep Impact Mission. Jon is also a keen pianist and composer who also plays the double bass in his local youth orchestra.

Daniel Duggan - Multimedia and Project Developer

Daniel started working full-time for the FT Team in July 2006, but has been working part-time since January 2004. He is considering a career in astronomy and is grateful for all the support the FT has given him. Daniel has been involved with fantastic events including Deep Impact, and thoroughly enjoys the challenge. His work involves looking after a number of FT Projects and developing interesting new ways of teaching the key skills required for astronomy research and data analysis. Whilst working for the FT Project, Daniel is also studying for an Open University degree.

See his personal blog.

Haley Gomez - FT Research Fellow

Haley is currently a lecturer at Cardiff University, School of Physics and Astronomy. She obtained her PhD at Cardiff University in late 2004 and has carried on in her study of the origin of cosmic dust, particularly in supernovae remnants. She enjoys being involved with the public understanding of science as well as lecturing undergraduates.

Fraser Lewis - Support Astronomer

Fraser has been working with FT since December 2004, and has completed his degree in Physical Science with the Open University in 2005. He is now working full-time for FT, and studying for a PhD with Paul Roche and Simon Clark (at the OU). Before working at Faulkes, he was a lighting technician/designer and stage manager, working with a variety of bands and theatre groups at venues throughout UK and Europe. He has frequently been confused with the brother of the guitarist in Tears for Fears, and once accidentally stole Mick Hucknall's bike. Fraser has recently taken up playing ice hockey after a five year break, and relishes the opportunity to hit Vanessa with a stick whenever possible.

Vanessa Stroud - Support Astronomer

Vanessa is an OU PhD student (in Binary stars), with Paul Roche and Simon Clark as her supervisors. She completed her Astrophysics degree at Cardiff University in 2006; her 3rd and 4th year projects were on open clusters with the FT. She assists with the educational side of the project on teacher training courses. Vanessa comes from sunny South America, is an enthusiastic ice-hockey player and enjoys photography.