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Hi, I'm Luke. I was interested in science from a young age. In fact, my favourite books were all about science, maths or engineeering. As I learnt more about science and engineering, I became increasingly amazed at the wonders of the natural world and particularly the incredibly efficient engineering solutions found in nature.

My desire to understand how things worked led to my undergraduate and Masters degrees in aerospace engineering from the University of Sheffield, which led me to a PhD in Biomechanics at Southampton University, looking at the Hydrodynamics of Plesiosaurs.

You might think planes and plesiosaurs have little in common but once you realise that wings and flippers can function in very similar ways and they both move through a fluid (air/water), it doesn't take long to see that they have some important characteristics in common.

My research began with a detailed analysis of plesiosaur fossils and involved a combination of aerospace engineering, robotics, and palaeontology to discover the secrets of these prehistoric beasts. As we were primarily interested in how the plesiosaur used its flippers, we built a flipper system mounted on a gantry, without a head or tail.

I run interactive school sessions for students aged 10–18 that incorporate curriculum themes including evolution, physics, and engineering. They are ideal for any setting where you want to spark curiosity and bring science to life in a hands-on way such as enrichment days, STEM weeks, and summer school programmes.

The content can be tailored to suit the age and ability of the students, and the format can be adapted for a classroom or assembly setting.
I’ve shared my research at countless festivals and public events, and I’ve seen just how powerfully this work resonates with young people. I believe that’s because it blends biology, physics, and engineering into one exciting, real-world example of science in action.

If you’re interested or would like more details, I’d be happy to discuss how we can bring this unique experience to your school.