Kathryn is the LifeLab Programme Manager and one of the LifeLab Directors.
She is a Principal Research Fellow (Associate Professor - Research) in the Southampton Education School at the University of Southampton.
A successful research scientist with a PhD in Human Genetics, Kathryn retrained as a secondary school teacher, consolidating her interest in Science, Scientific education and Scientific literacy. As the programme manager for LifeLab, since 2009, she has helped to shape, from the beginning, the development of the education programmes, along with leading the randomized controlled trials to evaluate the effectiveness of the approach.
A key objective is to engage children and adolescents with understanding the science behind the health messages thereby empowering them to make healthier lifestyle choices; increasing scientific literacy to increase health literacy.
Kathryn ensures that children and young people are involved in the co-creation of the education modules and other engagement activities and led the work to set up the LifeLab Youth Panel.
Kathryn and Michelle (Artistic Director) have worked extensively together since 2021 on creative health and theatre projects exploring climate change, brain health and women's health.