Sophie Allan
"There are lots of routes into a career in the space sector; Sophie studied Physics, Maths, Chemistry, History and Philosophy & Ethics at A-level. She then went on to complete a BSc in Physics with Astrophysics at the University of Leicester before training for a PGCE in Science. Fast forward to now and Sophie is Lead Physics Teacher with the National Space Academy!
Working with the National Space Academy has been amazing. The experience I have gained, teachers and students that I have encountered and taught, and the knowledge and experience of all of the Lead Educators enable me to continually develop my teaching, and share new ideas and methodologies with other teachers."
Sophie develops physics programmes for the National Space Academy and UK and international schools. She also helps to develop cross-curricular, careers, and skills focussed programmes.
Sophie is our lead developer of new classroom activities and teacher guides. She led on the creation of content for the Association of Science and Discovery Centre (ASDC) projects: Explore Your Universe (funded by Science and Technology Facilities Council, STFC) and Destination Space (funded by UK Space Agency), as well as European Space Agency schools activities and guides such as astronaut Thomas Pesquet's Proxima school experiments.
Sophie's latest project was the redevelopment of Borrow the Moonfor STFC; a project which has lent the NASA Moon rock discs and meteorites to thousands of schools, museums and outreach organisers.
Sophie teaches A-level Physics as part of our Space Engineering course.
In 2024, Sophie became a Sir Arthur Clarke award recipient, winning the 'Space Achievement - Education and Outreach Individual' category.
Lecturer and Team Leader at European Space Camp in Norway since 2007
Factual editor for Dorling Kindersley "The Space Race" book
Contributor to various space publications including Space UK and All About Space
"I founded a grass roots non-profit organisation, LE Solidarity, that works to support refugees and displaced people in the UK and Abroad. To date we have collected, sorted, delivered and distributed over 300 tons of aid from the UK across the World! In 2016 I was awarded the Leicester Hero Award for my work in this field."
We asked Sophie...
Given the chance, would you go to space?
Definitely!
What's the best thing about science?
It is the pure pursuit of the truth of our Universe.
What's the best thing about working at the National Space Academy?
getting to work with, and learn from some of the best teachers, scientists and science communicators in the world!
If you have a question for Sophie, email us at nsa@spacecentre.co.uk and we'll make sure she gets it!