Renée Watson (scientist)

Renée Watson is an Australian-born science communicator and entrepreneur. She is the founder of The Curiosity Box.

Background

Born in Queanbeyan, Australia, Watson attended the Australian National University, graduating in 2000 and moved to the UK during the same year.[1] In 2008, Watson founded a business called WATS.ON, an association development company which worked with scientific societies and associations, helping them become sustainable and increase outward looking, high-impact work.[1]

From 2008 to 2017, Watson managed the Oxfordshire Science Festival.[2]

The Curiosity Box

The Curiosity Box is an Oxfordshire-based company and the UK's first STEM subscription box, providing science-oriented activities for children aged 7 to 11. It began as a Kickstarter campaign in 2016.[3] Watson won the 2017 Women In Science England (WISE) Toy Award for the creation of The Curiosity box[4] and was awarded Let Toys Be Toys 'Toymark' Good Practice Award[5]

Talks and interviews

  • TEDxAthens: ‘Is curiosity the secret to a wonder-filled life?’[6]
  • Bustle Six Women in STEM to Watch Out for in 2018[7]
  • Top Hat: This Entrepreneur Is Making Kids Fall in Love With Science[1]
  • Humans in Business blogpost: Meningitis to Melinda: My 2018[8]
  • Goldieblox - STEM role model call: 10 inspiring women in STEM[9]
  • Adafruit celebrating the work of Renée Watson, scientist & educator on Ada Lovelace Day[10]
  • Stories from Science: Ep 8 – Destination Detonation: Renee Watson and her journey to The Curiosity Box[11]
  • Muddy Stilettos: Real Resolutions 2018[12]
  • Enterprising Oxford: Entrepreneurs Uncovered[13]
  • Critchleys Conversation: Local Business Heroes[14]

Awards

Watson has won numerous awards for her work, including Institute of Directors Director of the Year London & South Finalist Innovation 2019,[15] and 2018,[16] Inclusive Tech Alliance Diversity in Tech, Entrepreneur of the Year Winner 2019[17] Tech Alliance UK Entrepreneur award Nominated,[18] Blenheim Start Up Finalist 2018,[19] WISE Toy of the Year award winner 2017[4] Business Magazine Spotlight on Women in STEM finalist Sep 2017,[20] and WOBA Innovation Award winner 2017.[21]

References

  1. ^ a b c "This Entrepreneur Is Making Kids Fall in Love With Science". Top Hat. 22 March 2019.
  2. ^ "Quiz experts on ebola, dieting and dinosaurs". Oxford Mail. 28 February 2015.
  3. ^ "The Curiosity Box: Serious fun science subscription for kids". Kickstarter.
  4. ^ a b "WISE Awards 2017". Welcome to the WISE Campaign.
  5. ^ "Let Toys Be Toys - Good Practice Award Mark". Twitter.
  6. ^ "Renée Watson". TEDx Athens (in Greek).
  7. ^ Thorpe, J. R. "6 Women In STEM To Watch Out For 2018". Bustle.
  8. ^ "Humans in Business".
  9. ^ "STEM Role Model Call". GoldieBlox | Official Site. 8 November 2018.
  10. ^ "Renee Watson, Founder Of Curiosity Box #ALD18 @findingada". Adafruit Industries - Makers, hackers, artists, designers and engineers!. 9 October 2018.
  11. ^ "Ep 8 – Destination Detonation: Renee Watson and her journey to The Curiosity Box – Stories from Science Podcast".
  12. ^ "Start your Spring Resolutions!". Bucks & Oxon. 13 March 2018.
  13. ^ "Renee Watson, Founder of The Curiosity Box | Enterprising Oxford". eship.ox.ac.uk.
  14. ^ "Local Business Heroes: Renee Watson from The Curiosity Box". Critchleys.
  15. ^ "The London & South 2019 Finalists". Director of the Year 2018.
  16. ^ "The London & South 2018 Finalists". Director of the Year 2018.
  17. ^ "2019 Winners". Inclusive Tech Alliance Awards 2019.
  18. ^ Boards, Inclusive (3 April 2019). "Inclusive Tech Alliance Awards 2019 - Nominations Now Open!". Inclusive Boards.
  19. ^ "Blenheim reveal start-up winners". www.blenheim.org.
  20. ^ "Basingstoke: Women in Business Awards honour outstanding achievers". The Business Magazine. 22 September 2017.
  21. ^ "Huffkins named West Oxfordshire Business of the Year 2017 following global success". WOBA. 2 March 2017.