Profile
Lee Clift
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About Me:
I live with my Partner in Glasgow, Scotland; although I have lived in Birmingham, Yorkshire and Wales in the past!
By day, I teach Computer Science at universities and schools, and in my spare time, I read fantasy and Sci-Fi novels 🐉, and play video games – my current favourite is Marvel Rivals 🦹!
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As someone who was born in Birmingham but has travelled around a lot, I have learned many different things. I have learnt that sometimes my accent can be hard to understand, and I have also learnt new things myself! I have learnt basic Welsh (Shwmae!) and basic Scots Gaelic as well (Haló)!
As someone who is Dyslexic, it has been hard to learn these languages, but it was even harder for me to get back into reading. It sometimes takes me a long time to read things (I once spent over a year reading The Hobbit!), but it’s good fun once you get past the initial block!
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My pronouns are:
He/Him
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My Work:
I work as a university lecturer and researcher in computing education!
This means I teach people, but I also research how other people teach and learn too!
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During my job, I do three main things; so every day is different!
Sometimes, I teach at my university – this can be up to 300 people at a time, and can be about anything, from coding to making games, to robots!
Other times, I travel around the UK teaching in schools, about some of the fun things you can do with Computer Science – my favourite thing to do is to show how robots work!
Finally, I sometimes do research about different things. My current favourite topic is about how we can all use ChatGPT to help us learn different things – but not just to do our homework!
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My Typical Day:
My day typically begins with waking up and making a cup of coffee. I then walk to work, arriving at my office around 9 am. I eat breakfast (yoghurt and fruit), read my emails, and plan my lessons. Sometimes I will go to the lecture theatre and teach in the mornings, which is always fun! I will then have lunch with my friends, and then in the afternoon I go to a computer lab and either write or run lab sessions with my students. I go home at around 5pm, and spend the evening with my partner or friends!
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What I'd do with the prize money:
If I won £500, I would use the money to visit some of Scotland’s remotest schools and teach computer science.
There are schools all the way up in the Highlands and Islands, and they don’t get many visitors coming all that way.
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Education:
I started at Oldbury Academy in Birmingham, where I completed my GCSEs and A-levels, primarily in ICT and Business Studies. I went on to study Computer Science at the University of Wolverhampton, where I specialised in Game Development and Virtual Reality.
During my degree, I did well and put in lots of effort (more than I did in school!), and got offered a Master’s Degree at the University of Birmingham. Here, I discovered my love for Robotics after meeting a very inspiring lecturer, and I worked hard to try and get a place on a PhD scheme. I was offered a PhD at the University of Sheffield, specialising in Robotics and Aerospace Manufacturing.
During my PhD, I learnt how aeroplanes were made and how we could potentially use robots to help speed up the creation of certain parts.
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Qualifications:
I took GCSEs in History, Geography, Business, IT, as well as Maths, English, and Science.
I attempted to take A-Levels in Maths, Chemistry, Business, IT, and Media, but I only completed them (after three years and retaking a year) with Business, IT, and Media.
I have a BSc in Computer Science (Game Development) from the University of Wolverhampton.
I have an MSc in Advanced Computer Science from the University of Birmingham.
I have a PhD in Automated Aerospace Manufacruing from the University of Sheffield.
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Work History:
I have worked at several different places throughout my career. Firstly, I volunteered in a school for a long time, teaching computer science, since I thought I wanted to be a teacher. Then, I began working as a researcher during my PhD, focusing on robotics and aerospace.
Once I finished my PhD, I started teaching in South Wales as a lecturer, and travelled all around Wales teaching in schools as part of a project called Technocamps – I even learnt a bit of Welsh!
Now I teach in Glasgow as a lecturer, researching Computing Education, AI and Robotics.
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Current Job:
Currently I work as a Teaching Associate at the University of Strathclyde – that means I’m a lecturer who teaches a lot!
During my job, I do three main things; so every day is different!
Sometimes, I teach at my university – this can be up to 300 people at a time, and can be about anything, from coding to making games, to robots!
Other times, I travel around the UK teaching in schools, about some of the fun things you can do with Computer Science – my favourite thing to do is to show how robots work!
Finally, I sometimes do research about different things. My current favourite topic is about how we can all use ChatGPT to help us learn different things – but not just to do our homework!
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Employer:
I love my job at the University of Strathclyde, even though I’m new here; everyone is so lovely, and the job is really fun. I work with and teach people from all across the world!
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My Interview
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How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
Gaming Roboticist and Educator
What did you want to be after you left school?
I always wanted to be a school teacher
Were you ever in trouble at school?
I was, I always used to forget my homework!
If you weren't doing this job, what would you choose instead?
Working with big robots making aeroplanes
Who is your favourite singer or band?
Stan Rogers
What's your favourite food?
Burger and Chips
If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!
I wish I could cook better, I wish I could speak more clearly, and I wish I was better at staying active!
Tell us a joke.
What do you call a robot pirate? Arrrrr-tifial Intelligence!
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