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Renée Watson (scientist)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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

Background

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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

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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

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  • 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

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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

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  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.
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