Dr Grace Mackintosh Sim

Public Engagement Manager

Department: Professional Services

Since June 23 half my role is Community and Public Engagement; working with audiences across all ages on school outreach, farm visits, festivals and science events. I lead the annual science communication events September Showcase at Hawkshead, Night at the Vet College at Camden, and Open Farm Sunday at Boltons Park Farm.

The other half of my role is a Pre GCSE attainment project which meets RVC’s Office for Students’ Access and Participation Plan commitments. We work with two local secondary schools on sustained weekly term GCSE tutoring, which is complemented by an online GCSE tutoring programme open to all; Get Your Grades.

Qualifications:

  • Natural Sciences (Zoology) Pembroke College, Cambridge University, 2000-3
  • PGCE (Part-time) Primary Teaching – Arts specialism. UCL Institute of Education, 2004-5
  • Masters (Part-time) Museums and Galleries in Education. UCL Institute of Education, 2007-9
  • PhD (Part-time) Biodiversity Education, UCL Institute of Education, 2010-14
  • PGCert Veterinary Education including FHEA, (Completed part time whilst on 2nd maternity leave) RVC, 2021-2
  • UK Athletics Coaching licence 2004-current

I have worked with young people in formal and informal science education in a variety of roles: I started as a Primary Teacher, before moving to be an Education Manager on a boat - the West London Floating Classroom! This was part of Groundwork and a key aspect was community engagement. I was lucky enough to be Learning Programme Developer at the Natural History Museum for 4 years, before going next door to the Science Museum to work as Audience Research Manager. I subsequently did freelance work whilst completing my PhD; I wrote the BBC Live N Deadly Teacher's Pack, was external evaluator on the EU early years astronomy project 'Universe Awareness', as well as consulting on animal shows at Longleat Safari Park. I complemented these roles with primary supply teaching to refresh classroom teaching skills.

I have been at RVC since September 2013, and have previously devised and led the following:

  • Gateway Module ‘Science Development and Communication/Vet Careers and Communication’ plus summer revision sessions
  • Y10 Easter and Y11 Summer schools, Cornwell Nexus summer school. I managed the Sutton Trust summer schools from 2014- 2019.  
  • Live events ‘Chemistry Champions’ and ‘Biology Champions’
  • Junior and Teen Vet Club
  • Author- University of London Foundation Programme Biology Course for Level 3 students

I undertook research in Biodiversity and Education prior working at RVC: https://ioe.academia.edu/GraceSim

I am currently based within Professional Services.

I previously presented at conferences such as ECSITE (European network of science centres and museums, Toulouse- chaired a panel on Biodiversity), PCST (Public Communication in Science and Technology, Florence- brought together a panel on science outreach) and BERA (British Education Research Association, Sussex- science outreach) with the Natural History Museum/UCL institute of Education.

Previously with RVC I have presented at AAVMC (American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges, Washington- diversity presentation), AVTRW (Association of Veterinary Teaching and Research Work, Nottingham- pathology outreach), and NEON (National Educational Opportunities Network, Sussex- widening participation).

I most recently attended Public Communication in Science and Technology in Aberdeen (May 2025) to share current approaches to Anatomy and education activities for the public.

I have supervised Bioscience student research projects, and Veterinary Medicine RP2 projects which have themes of widening participation, access to animal handling experiences, science communication and formal education visits.

As part of Education Evaluation consultancy, I researched early years attitudes to astronomy developed as part of the International project ‘Universe Awareness’, focussing on pre schoolers in Scotland, Northern Ireland, Italy, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, South Africa and Germany; with project presentations in Leiden, Heidelberg and Florence. Co-authored Education Programme Guide

Sep 2018- Animal CSI- Veterinary Pathology and the Public. Association of Veterinary Teaching and Research Work, University of Nottingham

Jun 2018- Longitundinal Programming: Junior and Teen Vet Clubs: National Educational Opportunities Symposium, University of Sussex

Mar 2017- Prepare to Succeed- Widening Participation for BAME students at the Royal Veterinary College in London, AAVMC Iverson-Bell, Washington

Four of my degrees are in the field of education; I have qualifications focussing on primary formal and informal education, secondary informal education, and tertiary  formal veterinary education as well as public audiences.

I have taught a variety of different formats since 2002:

  • Childrens Holiday camps
  • Athletics coaching- led Serpentine Juniors 2014-19
  • NESTA funded animation project ‘Access Art’ for teens
  • Primary Teacher at West Lodge Middle school, including London based supply for Step Teachers whilst writing up PhD
  • Education Volunteer at London Zoo
  • Education Manager on the West London Floating classroom
  • Natural History Museum Formal Learning Programme Developer- devising live animal shows and training science educators, activity leader/overnight responsible adult for Dinosnores overnights- devising and leading activities for family audiences; leading content and logistics for Lyme Regis Fossil Festival for 3 years including scientist Public engagement training; devising, developing, resourcing, training staff for workshops such as Dino Scene Investigation and Earth Lab.
  • Identifying and making new RVC workshops focusing on vet skills, chemistry, biology according to teacher need. Leading teaching activities such as scince conference formats for summer schools; farm animal handling for school farm visits.
  • Undergraduate level teaching for the veterinary gateway course- making the new module Science Development and Communication and evolving it into Vet Careers and Communication based on feedback. Content closely linked to core modules (Genetics, Cells, Development, Physiology, Animal Husbandry) with activities giving a real context for revising and communicating new knowledge
  • Online teaching- NHM Videoconferencing programme (JISC award for Tech Innovation 2010), Biology Champions, Chemistry Champions, Get Your Grades. All programmes have capacity for around 1000 sign ups; at NHM this involved close work with technical team and studio
  • Education video production- e.g. pupil intro NHM film working with film team, RVC pupil panel

Examples of Science Communication Activities:

  • New Scientist Live! September, Excel Docklands. We have taken part since its inception in 2016
  • Royal Institution Animal CSI lates events
  • Night at the Vet College- taking place every six months, free lates events in Camden

See examples on https://www.rvc.ac.uk/study/rvc-is-open-for-all/visit-us

Top of page