Our Team

Mark Thornton

Mark Thornton is one of the founders of Mostly Books independent bookshop, on Stert Street in Abingdon. Originally a computer scientist, Mark’s journey to bookselling was via a PhD in passive solar building design, a web design company and trips to Borneo and Congo to track timber out of forests. As a result of a shared passion for books and storytelling with his wife, they founded Mostly Books and ran it for over ten years before moving on to work in consultancy. Mostly Books continues to be closely associated with ATOM Festival under its new owners and offers science and technology titles at many ATOM events.

Mark has brought together his twin passions for science and storytelling into Stories from Science, a podcast platform, and Firefly Cage, his science writing consultancy.

Dr. Jennifer Turner

Jen is the founder of Bright Sparks Science, a Community Interest Company based in Abingdon, with an objective to make science fun, inspiring, and accessible to all. After completing a PhD in Biomedical Science, she discovered her passion for science outreach and is determined to inspire the next generation of scientists to get hands-on, through school workshops and festivals like ATOM. Jen has been involved with ATOM since 2017 and along with Megan and Jeremy she organises the Family Science Fair.

Dr. Graeme Smith

Graeme has been the Head of Chemistry and Science Coordinator at St Helen and St Katharine school since 2017. Graeme is a passionate advocate of increased inclusivity in science and in increasing access so that all have the opportunity to engage with and be enthused by science.

Jutta Weber

Jutta Weber is a founding member of Oxfordshire's first Free school, Europa School UK, which specialises in both sciences and languages. As such she has a keen interest in science education and particularly in science outreach projects. She moved to Abingdon in 1999.

Alfons Weber

Alfons Weber, is a Professor of Physics holding a joint appointment with the University of Oxford and the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell. He is a committee member of the ATOM society and has been an Abingdon resident since 1999.

Jeremy Thomas

Jeremy Thomas is Co-ordinator of the Abingdon Science Partnership and a Physics teacher at Abingdon School with over twenty years experience in science education in various types of schools. He has a keen interest in promoting STEM subjects to young people as well as having been involved in organising events such as Portsmouth's Star City Festival and BBC South's local Stargazing Live activities.

David Pennington

Following a career in design and development of electronic systems, mainly for the Royal Navy, Dave retired as Chief Systems Engineer of Ultra Electronics Command and Control Systems. He has lived in Abingdon since 2011 and joined the ATOM Society on its formation and is now the Deputy Chairman.

Megan Milarski

Megan Milarski works as the Graduate Assistant for the Abingdon Science Partnership, alongside Jeremy Thpmas. Having completed a degreee in Biomedical Sciences and worked in science publishing, Megan is now having a brilliant time pursuing her interest in widening participation in science and education. She joined the ATOM Festival committee in 2018 and helps to organise the ATOM Student Ambassador team and various school events for the festival.

Iain Littlejohn

Iain Littlejohn is one of the founder members of the ATOM Festival of Science & Technology in 2014. He has run his own management consultancy business for the last ten years. Alongside this, Iain is engaged with various community activities. He is currently Chair of Governors at Larkmead School and a Director of HESA (Higher Educational Statistical Agency). He has lived in Abingdon for 20 years and is married with three children.

Kasia Lewis

Kasia Lewis is Director of Oxford International Biomedical Centre (OIBC) - a charity that organises Scientists in Schools - educational events aimed at enthusing more young people about science and encouraging them to choose further education in science subjects. Kasia has been a member of ATOM committee since 2014.

Sian Tedaldi

Sian Tedaldi is employed by the University of Oxford to provide activities for schools and public groups that stimulate interest in physics.

Professor Frank Close

Frank Close lives in Abingdon and is one of the founders of ATOM. He is Emeritus Professor of Physics at the University of Oxford and a former head of the theoretical physics division at Rutherford Appleton Laboratory. He is the author of bestselling books Antimatter, Neutrino, The Infinity Puzzle (the story behind the discovery of the Higgs Boson) and 'Half Life' (the true story of Harwell physicist Bruno Pontecorvo). This Summer sees the publication of 'Trinity: The treachery and Pursuit of the Most Dangerous Spy in History' about the life of Klaus Fuchs.
 
He has won the Association of British Science Writers award three times, was vice president of the British Association for Advancement of Science and won the Royal Society Michael Faraday Prize for Science Communication. He is also an experienced eclipse-chaser who has seen over a dozen eclipses - and in 2016 wrote 'Eclipse' published by Oxford University Press.”

Bryan Brown

Bryan Brown, chairman of The Friends of Abingdon Civic Society

James White

ATOM Society Honorary President

James White graduated in mathematics but spent his career in business. When he retired ten years ago he came to live in Abingdon. He was the first chairman of the Choose Abingdon Partnership and founded the ATOM Festival in 2013. He was chairman until mid 2018 and is now the Hon President.

Heather Brown

ATOM Festival Co-Ordinator

Heather Brown was Partnership Manager during the period when the ATOM Festival was first conceived and developed by the Choose Abingdon Partnership, subsequently working as Community Services Officer in Abingdon-on-Thames Town Council. In 2016 she established Mushroom Communications as a locally-rooted  marketing and business services agency specialising in helping community projects, and is now associated with the ATOM Festival once again, providing co-ordination, administration and marketing services.