Richard

I love science and sharing the delight that comes from understanding the natural world. My degree was in Natural Sciences, at Cambridge, followed by an MPhil in Engineering (silicon nanowires) and then I became Chief Digital Officer for a large UK company. I've successfully taught about 100 students over 20 years.

Tutoring Experience

I've taught extensively at Cambridge University, supervising undergraduates (i.e. lessons in groups of 2) for 15 years, both for Trinity College and Magdalene College. Professionally, I run a software team, and it's a key skill to be able to explain complex problems in simple (but not oversimplified) ways to customers and colleagues.

I can teach to younger students as well, and although my speciality is physics, I can cover Mathematics, Chemistry, Electronics, Computing, and some areas of Engineering and Materials Science.

Tutoring Approach

I believe physics is first about training the intuition, then we can use (and practice) the mathematical tools to get the proof and the numerical answer.

So I always start by demonstrating what's happening: I have a huge collection of physics demos, from gyroscopes to lasers, to a wimshurst machine, and I always draw out the connections (waves on a slinky vs. quantum tunnelling; refractive indices vs. amplifying your mobile phone speaker with a wine glass).

Then, there is the process of practice: how to break down complex problems, and how to train the routine for exams if needed.

Although it's intellectually rigorous, this is a wonderful subject: driven principally by curiosity, or as Feynman put it, "The pleasure of finding things out".

I prefer to meet in person (the learning experience is better and the experimental demonstrations are hands-on) but I can teach online if desired. I also have an excellent home-lab.