The Big Bang Competition 2024/25 VIP Judges

Ainsley Carnarvon

With over a decade of experience, Ainsley is renowned for his adeptness in crafting STEM-focused programs. His extensive international background includes collaborations with the United Nations and the European Union, particularly in advancing STEM education and innovation across the Caribbean. Currently serving as the Digital Education Strategic Programme Manager at the Heart of Midlothian Innovation Centre, Ainsley spearheads the development of novel technology and Innovation programmes and initiatives for Edinburgh's youth, while simultaneously forging career pathways into the tech industry. Committed to inclusivity, Ainsley ensures accessibility for underrepresented groups in STEM, advocating for people of colour, girls, non-binary individuals, and those with additional support needs.

Alice Goodwin

Alice is a Department for Transport Aviation Ambassador and Aviation Project Engineer. As an aviation ambassador she works with the UK government to help deliver a skilled, diverse and sustainable aviation workforce fit to seize the opportunities of the future. She is also a One Young World Ambassador and holds a private pilot licence. Alice is an impassioned public speaker, who promotes science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and devotes much of her time to mentoring and encouraging young people wishing to enter the aviation industry, particularly women and people from backgrounds currently underrepresented in aviation.

Amber Shand

Amber Shand is an award-winning Software Engineer and the Founder of She Bytes Back. After navigating challenges in the tech industry such as lack of inclusion, barriers to progression, and persistent feelings of not being good enough, Amber was inspired to create a thriving community of over 2,700 members. Through She Bytes Back, she empowers the next generation of tech leaders to break barriers, amplify their voices, and own their careers with confidence. Collaborating with leading organisations like BrainStation, Depop and the British Computing Society, Amber has hosted impactful events designed to advance career development and confidence-building, making her a sought-after advocate for inclusion and empowerment in and beyond tech.

Andy Cowan

Andy Cowan is the current Head Judge for the Engineering project stream of the Big Bang Competition. As a student, Andy competed in the competition himself, winning the title of UK Young Engineer of the Year in 2011. He has since won numerous other prizes and awards in the field of engineering, including from the Royal Academy of Engineering and the publication Electronics Weekly. He was awarded a master's degree in Electronic Engineering from the University of Southampton, and currently works at Chelton Ltd as the Avionics Chief Engineer; developing cutting edge radio and navigation equipment for some of the world's highest performance aircraft.

Caoimhe Rooney

Caoimhe Rooney is an applied mathematician with an insatiable passion for space exploration and STEM outreach. Equipped with a PhD in applied mathematics from the University of Oxford, Caoimhe began her professional career at NASA Ames Research Center, working on mathematical models to study the atmospheres of distant exoplanets, before joining Astroscale as a Flight Dynamics Engineer, where she contributes to the design, development and operations of cutting-edge missions to remove space debris from orbit. Motivated to banish the stigma that maths is boring, and to encourage more girls to consider careers in STEM, Caoimhe co-founded Mathematigals, an outreach initiative to make maths fun and showcase its many applications.

Christina Hu

Christina Hu is a healthtech leader dedicated to improving the health and quality of life for millions. As Head of Digital Products at Bupa, Christina builds innovative digital healthcare experiences for millions of UK customers. Previously, she led the ZOE COVID & Health Study, the world’s largest real-world health science app, achieving global impact in health research and public policy. An award-winning Cambridge graduate and Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, Christina loves to inspire and mentor future innovators through her passion for technology, science, and problem-solving.

Ellie Hurer

Ellie is a scientist, educator, and all-around STEM advocate with a passion for breaking barriers in science. As a PhD student and lecturer at the University of Hertfordshire, she’s diving deep into pancreatic cancer research while championing inclusivity in STEM. Known for her Instagram account (@myphdexperience), where she shares her academic and personal journey with her followers, Ellie mixes science with real talk about mental health, equality, and representation. Her goal? To inspire the next generation to explore STEM, dream big, and shake things up in the world of science.

Faith Ida

Faith Ida is an award-winning software engineer and entrepreneur passionate about leveraging technology for social impact. She transitioned from a non-technical background into tech and has worked on blockchain, cloud, and telecommunications projects. Faith is the co-founder of Migraide, an AI-driven platform simplifying visa applications, and STEMAfrique, which organizes the Conrad Challenge in Nigeria to inspire young innovators. She is a dedicated mentor through Code First Girls, Black Girls in Tech, and Coding Black Females, supporting over 100 individuals in their tech careers. Recognized as one of Computer Weekly’s Most Influential Women in UK Tech and a TechWomen100 winner, Faith is committed to fostering diversity and inclusion in the industry.

George Rabin

George is a doctoral student on the Intelligent Earth programme at the University of Oxford, developing AI for the environment. Specifically, he will be researching bird collisions and navigation in a changing landscape. During his undergraduate, he worked on woodland bird social networks and seabird tracking. At the BigBang Fair 2017, he became GSK UK Young Scientist of the Year (alongside a school friend) with a project investigating garden birds’ responses to coloured feeders: the first of many avian projects! He also strongly believes in the value of science communication, having appeared on radio, TV and in print.

Helena Dodd

Dr Helena Dodd is the current Head Judge for the Science project stream, after being a South East regional winner in 2012 and a national finalist in 2013. She currently works as a scientific adviser for the UK Civil Service after receiving a PhD in Chemical Biology from Imperial College London in 2023, where she focussed on the design, synthesis and testing of novel nanomaterial-based cancer immunotherapies. Prior to this, she completed two master’s degrees and a gained a variety of research experience both across the public and private sector. Alongside her work, Helena enjoys outreach and science communication activities to support future generations in STEM. Having been involved in the Big Bang Competition for the past 13 years, Helena is constantly inspired by the standard of scientific work presented. Getting to learn about the projects and meet some of the competitors is one of her professional highlights every year.

James Dornor

James is an award-winning engineer and works as a Principal Systems Engineer at global security company Leonardo, where he is responsible for the integration of hardware and software for advanced Surveillance Radar technology that is used by Search and Rescue teams to rescue people at sea. James is the founder of a non-profit organisation called Driven By Us, which supports and empowers current and future generations of engineers to pursue roles in the automotive and motorsport industries, providing a sense of belonging in an authentic community with relatable role models to improve accessibility through dynamic STEM and Media Programmes. He was recognised with a ‘Point Of Light’ award in July 2023 presented by the Prime Minster, for outstanding individuals who are creating change in their community.

Jessica Gagen

Jessica is a dynamic graduate of aerospace engineering, an accomplished Miss England and the current Miss UK. Possessing a unique blend of technical expertise and public presence, Jessica has been able to leverage her skills and knowledge to break barriers and inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers through use of international media and TV. As an ambassador for the National Numeracy charity, Jessica passionately advocates for improving numeracy skills across the UK, recognising the critical role that mathematical proficiency plays in both personal and professional success. Her work with the charity has helped to raise awareness and drive initiatives that support numeracy education and empowerment.

Jon Chase

Jon Chase is a science communicator, author and rapper based in South Wales, who believes that knowledge should be made available in a way that allows as many people as possible the opportunity to access to it. He has presented science for BBC learning on TV and YouTube and also co-authored books on The Science of Star Wars, The Science of Harry Potter and The Science of Jurassic World. In 2017 he was awarded the Josh Award in Science Communication but is perhaps best known for his science raps, which he has produced for various organisations including NASA and the BBC.

Mark Wood

Mark has worked in the STEM arena for over 25 years, creating project content, in consultative and strategic roles and managing UK Government contracts linking schools and businesses around the skills agenda. He is an active STEM Ambassador and sits on strategic boards for OCR, The Inclusion Collective and EngineeringUK’s Business & Industry Panel. Mark chairs the Manufacturing Technologies Association’s Education and Development Committee, is also a Board Member of the NW3 Maths Hubs and sits on the Royal Society’s Partnership Grants Allocating Panel.

Ruth Amos

Ruth is an inventor, maker and YouTuber, She was Young Engineer for Britain in 2006 with her invention the StairSteady. Ruth is one half of the YouTube channel Kids Invent Stuff which brings to life kids invention ideas.