Director of Education and Youth Engagement, WWF-UK
Dr Rosalind Mist has over 20 years experience in formal and informal STEM education, and focuses on building novel collaborations with leading organisations and influencers. She is passionate about using research, evidence and insight to inform policy and learning programmes that have the potential to affect young people’s ability to thrive in a changing world.
Rosalind previously led the Royal Society’s work in education policy. The Society’s education programme reflects its ambition that science and mathematics education should enable people to make informed choices, empower them to shape scientific and technological developments, and equip them to work in an advanced economy. Rosalind joined the Society in 2008 as the Science Community Representing Education (SCORE) Manager and between 2011 and 2014 was the Head of Secretariat for the Advisory Committee on Mathematics Education (ACME) which advises on 5 -19 mathematics education in England. During her time at the Society, she has overseen the production of a number of influential policy studies, including studies on computing education, practical science in schools and the participation of 16-18 year olds in mathematics.
Rosalind obtained a BSc (honours) in Physics from Imperial College, London and a PhD in space physics from Queen Mary’s, London in 1999. Her research focus was the Earth’s magnetosphere. She was also a post-doctoral researcher at Queen Mary’s and then UCL’s Mullard Space Science Laboratory from 1999 – 2001. During her academic career, Rosalind an active volunteer in schools and museums carrying out mentoring, running science outreach events and becoming a volunteer in the London Science Museum’s learning department.
In 2001, Rosalind joined Ecsite-uk (now the Association of Science and Discovery Centres). As a member of staff for this UK branch of the European network for hands-on science centres, Rosalind led many projects, particularly those with a dialogue and discussion element. Rosalind was also Girlguiding UK’s Lead volunteer for Heritage projects relating to Girlguiding UK’s centenary which was celebrated in 2010. She has written a small number of children’s science books.