Celebration of Science & Sir Gareth Roberts Lecture 2024
The Science Council held its annual Celebration of Science event on 26th November 2024 at the Geological Society of London. This year, the event combined the Science Council’s annual prize-giving celebrations with their biennial Sir Gareth Roberts Lecture.
The event acknowledged the achievements of our fantastic science community and celebrated registrants, volunteers and apprentices. It also provided an opportunity to connect with registrants from across the science disciplines, as well as colleagues from the professional body community, industry, academia and government.
The winners were announced publicly on the night of the event. We are incredibly excited to announce the two winners of the CSci and RSci awards are the following IST registrants:
Michael Detyna RSci MIScT
Learning Technologist, King’s College London
What is it like being a CPD Award Winner?
I’m really pleased and grateful to the British Science Council to have received this award. Interacting with Nobel prize winning scientist Sir Paul Nurse is a highlight, as he has done such groundbreaking work in genetics, and his recent review of the science landscape (Nurse, 2023) should be heeded.
About the winner and their work
My work relates primarily to learner engagement, novel learning environments and immersive experiences in digital education. I have a passion for using science and technology both to help understand the world, and to help others. I have an academic interest in a number of fields, having degrees both in Physics and the humanities, and I’m a Senior Fellow of the HEA. I’m regularly asked to speak at a range of national and international conferences on virtual reality, hybrid teaching and active learning.
Top Tip
I think professional development can take a number of forms, not limited just to formal training, but also writing papers and taking time to digest and understand relevant literature, can all be forms of development. I also think there’s a clear parallel between exploring the world through travel and understanding the world through scientific experiment.
Mohamed El-Guindy CSci MIScT
Senior Cybercrime and Cybersecurity Expert, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
What is it like being a CPD Award Winner?
Winning the CPD Award is both an honor and a validation of my dedication to continuous learning and professional growth. This award serves as a reminder of the importance of staying engaged and committed to excellence through lifelong learning. I am incredibly grateful for this recognition and motivated to continue advancing my expertise to better serve my field and contribute to safer digital environments.
About the winner and their work
I am Mohamed El-Guindy, Senior Cybersecurity and Cybercrime Expert at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Cybercrime Program Director at the Faculty of Law, The British University in Egypt, and Digital Advisor to the Egyptian Public Prosecution Office. My work focuses on developing strategies and training programs to combat cybercrime and enhance digital security frameworks both nationally and internationally. With a deep commitment to advancing cybersecurity practices, I provide expert advice to policymakers, lead initiatives in cybercrime prevention, and contribute to capacity-building efforts in the field.
Top Tip
My top tip for outstanding CPD is to stay curious and continuously improve. In cybersecurity, regularly engage with new research, attend conferences, and participate in professional networks. Make learning a habit, and collaborate with peers—knowledge sharing often sparks new perspectives and innovative solutions. Never stop challenging yourself.