Profile
Maryam Sani
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About Me:
I live in the Midlands with my family but lived and worked in the Middle East for many years. I am a qualified chemist and worked as chemistry teacher for many years. Now, I support people with choosing their future STEM career and conduct STEM I enjoy travelling to different countries especially the Middle East and the Caribbean. When I am free I like to do puzzles like Sudoko, and play board games.
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I love all sciences but was first attracted to chemistry because of fluorescent colours. Cooking is one of my favourite hobbies, it is so much like chemistry and the results are usually great.
I worked as a laboratory technician before getting a degree in chemistry. I was concerned that there were very few girls studying chemistry at the time so I became a teacher.
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My Work:
I am interested to know what you like about science and how I can help you to know more about the different jobs you might like in the future. My experiences are wide and varied but all connect to STEM.
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The most enjoyable thing for me has always been to see the link between science and real life so I specialised in analytical chemistry. Much of my early work related to the chemistry of food and water. I analysed lemons, coffee and water. I absolutely love experiments and any hands-on activities, I think we all learn a lot by doing.
Chemistry is just one of the sciences and in recent years its connection with other subjects, STEM has been of greater interest to me. I have been involved in organising workshops and camps for engineering in the US, and space education.
Last year I was the Education lead for the AIM HIGHER GALA Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Apollo 16. That was really cool and I met 13 Astronauts. I asked them many questions and learnt a lot about Earth form what they said.
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My Typical Day:
My typical day starts just before sunrise with the early morning Islamic prayer – Fajr. I then read for about 30 minutes before getting ready for the school run.
I return home by 8:30am, have a light breakfast and then start working at 9am. I work from home most of the time but do go out for training, workshops, conferences and meetings as needed. I take a break around 1pm and then get back on with researching, reading, writing or meeting clients until about 3:30pm. Many of the people that are work with are in the USA and I have two evening meetings USA weekly because of the time difference.
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What I'd do with the prize money:
I would used it to run an in-person experience for children in my area where they could explore careers through a series of simulations and connect with other like-minded children. I would have people that I know contribute to their experience by speaking to them online or in-person and I show how they can apply their passions to any field as there is nothing better than enjoying what you are doing.
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Education:
I went to school in Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire. At the time I was the only girls taking A level chemistry. My chemistry teacher Mr Davies was amazing, he was an opera singer and was very encouraging. I remember that our class actually went to see him in an Opera. He also introduced me to computers which were very new back then, not like now.
I was a county netball player and used to train in Stoke on Trent so after taking a gap year to decide what I wanted to study i applied only to Staffordshire Polytechnic (now Staffordshire University) so that I could continue playing netball.
I studied a PGCE in secondary education (Chemistry and Math) at Leicester University and even did my final teaching practice in my school alongside Mr Davies.
During my first teaching job I started a Masters degree in Analytical Chemistry, it took three years part-time but it was worth it, I became a Chartered Chemist and in 2014 I became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry.
I gained a PhD in Education from Staffordshire University which was really exciting and hard work.
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Qualifications:
O Levels:
Math, Chemistry, Biology, Physics, English, Music, RE and German
AO level
Additional Maths and General Studies
A levels
Chemistry, Math and Biology
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Work History:
I had many roles while living in Saudi Arabia these are some:
Quality Assurance Evaluator: Making sure that courses were being taught well
International College Counselling Centre – Founding Director
International Program Director
Mentored students in preparation for the Chemistry Olympiad, First Lego, and ISEF
Resident expert in Gifted & Creative Education
Dar Al Fikr Girls’ School – Head of Chemistry & Physics Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Manarat Girls’ School – Head of Chemistry Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
My first teaching job was at King Edward VI High School in Stafford – Chemistry Teacher
My first full-time job was at R. Peach & Co (Maltsters) as a Laboratory Technician
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Current Job:
CEO ABS Educational Services Ltd
Education Lead for The Space Prize Foundation (A US-based Charity)
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Employer:
ABS Educational Services Ltd
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My Interview
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How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
A global STEM stats disrupter
What did you want to be after you left school?
At first I wanted to be a Pharmacist but I changed my mind and was unsure in Upper 6th form
Were you ever in trouble at school?
No
If you weren't doing this job, what would you choose instead?
A charity worker
Who is your favourite singer or band?
I don't have one
What's your favourite food?
Fish
If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!
To go back in time and meet my grandparents in Jamaica, I would like to have a open airline ticket to travel wherever I want to for the next 10 years and I wish that I could end poverty in the world
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