Biography
After graduating with a science degree majoring in Physics and Mathematics, Derek taught in a high school for three years. Since then, he has led the Unizulu Science Centre in Richards Bay, South Africa, for over 34 years.
Derek’s passion lies in presenting science to children in ways that spark curiosity and inspire further study. He has delivered science shows across the globe and represented Africa on the international stage, serving on the Global Committee of ASTC (the Association of Science and Technology Centres). He is a founding member and former President of the Southern African Association of Science and Technology Centres (SAASTEC), and he remains active in the South African Institute of Physics (SAIP), where he has overseen their outreach programme to schools in recent years. In 2024, SAIP recognised his efforts with the Physics Outreach Award.
In 2016, Derek completed a doctorate in Physics Education, based on research conducted at his science centre. In response to the COVID-19 crisis, he pioneered a unique suite of offline physics videos for matric learners, which are now used by over 120,000 pupils across South Africa.
Derek has received numerous accolades for his contributions to science, including the 1999 National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF) Award for the best individual contribution to science in South Africa. In 2023, he was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to collaborate with the Institute of Learning Innovation and Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon, USA.
He is married to Karen, and they have two grown-up daughters.