Peter McOwan

Professor Peter McOwan was a trailblazer in public engagement and academic outreach at Queen Mary University of London. He held the role of Vice-Principal for Public Engagement (2013–2020), leading the Centre for Public Engagement to achieve the UK’s first Engage Watermark Gold Award. His legacy includes transformative collaborations, such as relocating the London Chamber Orchestra’s office to Queen Mary in 2019 and co-founding the ‘Computer Science for Fun’ (CS4Fun) initiative. He was deeply involved in the Department of Computer Science and championed interdisciplinary projects, blending science with art, magic, and education.

Research Interests: McOwan pioneered the use of magic as a tool to demystify complex scientific concepts, particularly in AI and mathematics. His work emphasized accessibility and creativity, inspiring thousands of students globally through magazines, websites, and public exhibitions. He also advocated for curriculum reform in computing education and fostered diverse, inclusive initiatives to engage underrepresented groups in STEM.

Scientific Awards:

• Institution of Engineering and Technology Mountbatten Medal (2011)

Advising & Grants: McOwan actively mentored students and staff, involving them in high-impact projects like the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibitions (4 participations). He secured major grants, including a £2.5m EPSRC award for CS4Fun, supported by Google and Microsoft. His work with Richard Garriott and Tim Peake integrated space exploration with educational outreach, emphasizing maths and computing.

Labs & Teams: As a central figure in Queen Mary’s outreach ecosystem, he collaborated across disciplines—microbiology, engineering, bioengineering—and co-founded the Computing at School Group. His Centre for Public Engagement and the Festival of Communities remain landmarks of his vision, embedding the university in local and global communities through science, art, and education.