Classroom to construction – a teenager's journey

Dr Lota joined the Society of Chemical Industry in 1987 and has since been a member of the Construction Materials Group. He has held various offices in the Construction Materials Committee: he first became Group Secretary, Vice-Chairman, then progressed to Chairman and has served as Education Liaison Officer. He has organised visits to construction materials plants and historical buildings, the latter with an emphasis on the construction materials and techniques used.

Dr Lota received the Society of Chemical Industry, Distinguished Service Award by the Construction Materials Group in 2010, in gratitude for his work on behalf of the Group and his activities as liaison with the Institute of Materials, Minerals & Mining and the Royal Society of Chemistry. This was for recognition working with graduates and PhD students. As well as being the instigator of ordinary meetings, he has been an organiser of the series of Young Researchers' Forums and ultimately leading to the establishment of the Group's Joseph Bazalgette Award.

After graduating from the Polytechnic of North London in 1987 with BSc Honours in Applied Chemistry with an industrial year at The Building Research Establishment in Silicate Division. He completed his Materials Science doctorate in 1993 at Imperial College London in the Faculty of Engineering. There he worked on low-temperature oil well cement hydration chemistry, which involved innovative research work at the BP Research Centre. Afterwards, he went on to conduct post-doctoral research and supervision of PhD students at Dundee University then at the University of Keele.

Dr Lota has taught science at secondary school level after gaining his PGCE 2001 at the Institute of Education, University of London, to become a Secondary school teacher of Chemistry and Physics. He taught science, Chemistry and Physics from Years 7 to 13, KS3, GCSE and A’ Level at selective, grammar and state schools. He has been Head of Chemistry, where he organised and planned the chemistry curriculum and line managed technicians so that Chemistry was delivered to KS3, KS4 and KS5 successfully and effectively. He has successfully supervised and mentored several PGCE and trainee teachers so that they fulfil their course requirements and become valued members of the teaching profession. He is an enthusiastic teacher, whose innovative teaching style and scientific experiences are encouraging students to take an interest in science and engineering.

In appreciation of his STEM activities, above and beyond, his normal teaching load, the then headmaster and governors appointed him as ‘Head of STEM’ the first post of its kind in the UK. He has worked with the Engineering Development Trust for more than 15 years on their programmes to encourage young people to see the value in perusing careers in STEM related careers.

Dr Lota was nominated, by the Directors of STEMPOINT & STEMNET, to attend STEMNET Awards November 2014, House of Lords, and was one of three finalists from whole of UK for the “Most Dedicated Teacher Award in UK”. STEMNET were impressed by his “dedication and hard work and his outstanding contribution in inspiring young people in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics”. This award recognised those teachers who proactively engaged with the STEM Ambassadors & STEM Clubs. In 2016, the Royal Society of Chemistry chose him to represent one of the faces of the 175th Anniversary.

Presently, Dr Lota has partially retired and is engaged with enhancing STEM education at Primary School level.