Watch Support Search What's on Education Christmas Lectures Our history About Blog About → Organisation → Team → Schools and Christmas Lectures → Olympia Brown → Olympia Brown Science Learning Manager Credit: Royal Institution Role The Science Learning Manager is responsible for running the CHRISTMAS LECTURES working closely with the television production team in the selection of both the theme for the lectures and the Christmas lecturer themselves. She manages the process from start to finish; working with a large team of TV producers, script writers, demo designers and a whole host of others to create the 3-lecture series. In her role, Olympia deals with a wide range of scientists, including Nobel Prize winners, as well as lots of children and various animals, all while ensuring the lectures are delivered on time and within budget! The Science Learning Manager is also responsible for an ongoing programme of Science Shows for Schools and the Family Fun Days. She also the project manager for the online directory of all the STEM activities available for schools, the STEM Directories. About Olympia was born and bred in North London, and greatly enjoyed studying the History and Philosophy of Science at UCL. Her study covered subjects as diverse as the relationship between magic and science, discussing who the first scientists were and she completed her dissertation on Leonardo da Vinci's anatomical drawings. After graduating, her diverse jobs included working for the DNA bureau in Merseyside Police, a security firm in California and for the Cambridge Science Festival. Scientific inspiration Although I’ve been lucky enough to study historical scientists with amazing, quirky stories (like Francis Bacon dying from pneumonia after stuffing a chicken with snow to investigate freezing), and met plenty of inspirational people during my time at the Ri, I have to put a big part of my interest in science down to my Physics teacher Mr Tarling. He not only covered the science itself, but included stories of the people that made the discoveries we were learning about. I’m very pleased that since retiring we’ve been in touch and I’ve been able to help him with his history of science questions that came up while volunteering at his local National Trust property. I still can’t call him Ian though. Favourite demo As I said in my video for our first advent calendar, Mercury is really beautiful. Best thing about the Ri Although it's really fun, the chanting in response to our quiz before a schools show, from a theatre full of key stage 2 students, can border on the terrifying, so I’m going with our first edition copy of De humani corporis fabrica by Vesalius. Twitter Follow Oly on Twitter: @olydbrown Related content Christmas Lectures Find out more Andy and Oly - Beautiful Mercury Watch What makes the #xmaslectures? 21.11.2013 Find out more Science shows Find out more Learn Masterclasses L'Oréal Young Scientist Centre Events for the whole family Science shows Interactive games Christmas Lectures Visit News What's On Food & Drink The Faraday Museum Heritage tours Find us Support Donate to the Ri Join the Ri Renew your Membership Corporate Partnerships 14-10 Club Events Jobs Keep in touch Keep up to date with regular emails from the Ri © Royal Institution 2013 Facebook Twitter Youtube Venue Hire Press T&Cs Privacy Policy Accessibility Contact Us