NEWS &
COMMENT
NEWS

IRIS appoints STEM education leader,
Jo Foster as new director

May 2019

The Institute for Research in Schools (IRIS) is delighted to announce the appointment of Dr Jo Foster as the director of the charity. Currently a trustee of IRIS, Jo will be stepping down from the board to lead IRIS, joining in September. 

 

Jo is a formidable leader in the science community, working at Camborne Science and International Academy in Cornwall, where she is Vice Principal and Director of the Nexus STEM Programme and Cornwall School of Maths and Science, which is a specialist STEM centre for Post-16 education.

 

An exceptional classroom practitioner and educational leader, Jo is a Trustee of the Science Museum Group, and also a Member of the Royal Society’s Education Committee. Jo’s track record speaks for itself, and she was without question an outstanding candidate for the role of Director. IRIS’ Board of Trustees is very excited that she is taking up this post as the charity goes from strength to strength.

 

Professor Becky Parker will be stepping down as Director of IRIS in August and will be returning to teaching so that she can be closer to home following family health issues. Becky has been offered a post as the Head of Physics at Benenden School and will be taking up this post from the new academic year.


Becky achieved so much for IRIS, since setting up the charity in 2016. Her passion, enthusiasm and determination to help young people – and many adults – ‘see the light’ on science has been a driving force during IRIS’ first few years. Becky will continue to be part of the charity’s work and continue to be involved in various IRIS projects over this term.