Dee Davison

A qualified Marine Biologist, I was originally motivated to inspire people about the hidden undersea world, revealing the fascinating marine life in our coastal waters. Through a career in science communication, this passion expanded to encompass the importance of switching people onto all aspects of science (STEM) and academic research. During my varied career, I have developed expertise in all facets of science communication and a proven track record in business and project management. I have diverse experience of public engagement and event management, interpretation and exhibition design, marketing and fundraising, as well as delivering formal and informal education programmes and specialist consultancy services.

I started my career in visitor attractions and science centres (Dynamic Earth and Exploris - NI Aquarium), designing their exhibitions and interpretive content and creating and managing their Education Services. I set up my own consultancy business in 1995 and returned to consultancy work in 2007, after taking a career break in 2005 to care for my two daughters. In 2011, I created the award-winning community science festival Dunbar SciFest, and its spin-off, Dunbar Science Club, and continue to co-ordinate both initiatives annually. In September 2013, I took up a one-year post of Head of Creative and Programming with the Edinburgh International Science Festival and continue to work within the Scottish Science Festival Network.

Keen to work more closely with academics, I started working for the University of Edinburgh. Between January 2014 and September 2015, I was the Project Officer (Maternity Cover) for the Beltane Public Engagement Network, based in the Institute of Academic Development of the University of Edinburgh. From October 2016 and December 2016, I was the Special Project Manager for EuroStemCell, based in MRC CRM in the of the University of Edinburgh Little France campus, providing support to researchers across Europe and organising 2 annual 'Sharing Best Practice' Workshops. In January 2016, I joined MRC IGMM, Western General, as the Science Communications Manager (Maternity Cover), responsible for internal and external communications and public engagement for the Institute and its 3 component centres: Human Genetics Unit (HGU); Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine (CGEM) and Cancer Research UK – Edinburgh Centre (CRUK – EC).