About

I am the public astronomer at the IoA, and an astrophysicist by training. I am in charge of public engagement activities at the IoA, which includes running our schools outreach programme, winter stargazing evenings, Cambridge Festival events, and more. I also support IoA researchers who want to engage the public with their research.

I am an experienced science communicator and science writer. I have published four popular astronomy books for both adults and children: Mastering the Multiverse (2026, DK), The Great Alien Hunt (2025, DK), Astrophysics for Supervillains (2024, DK), and The Invisible Universe: Why There’s More to Reality than Meets the Eye (2021, Oneworld). I give public lectures (past venues include the Royal Institution, New Scientist Live, the Royal Astronomical Society, and the British Astronomical Association), and my science writing has appeared in New Scientist, The Daily Beast, Aeon magazine, The Guardian, Writer's Digest, and more.

I currently teach the Part II (final year undergraduate) course 'Introduction to Astrophysics'.

  • 2021 - present Public Astronomer, University of Cambridge
  • 2018 - 2021 Outreach facilitator, University of Cambridge
  • 2017 - 2018 Outreach assistant, University of Cambridge
  • 2012 - 2017 Postdoctoral researcher, University of Cambridge
  • 2011 - 2012 Postdoctoral researcher,  University of Arizona
  • 2007 - 2011 STFC PhD Candidate, University of Cambridge