Professor wins education award for project to make computer science fun

Professor Curzon leads the “Computer Science for Fun” project, which aims to engage students in computer science by presenting research in a fun and accessible way.

Commenting on his award, Professor Curzon, said: “It is a really nice and wonderful surprise to receive this award. I am only one of many people worldwide who have been contributing to the rebirth of Computer Science in schools, including many colleagues at Queen Mary and elsewhere, who have helped me in my work.

“I have always aimed to support teachers in making the subject fun as well as rigorous. What matters most is that we continue to inspire students about how exciting the subject of Computer Science can be. I hope I have contributed at least a little to that goal.”

As part of the ‘Computer Science for Fun project’, Professor Curzon produces content and delivers workshops to promote computer science to schoolchildren. He also provides workshops and resources for teachers through the associated “Teaching London Computing” project, which was named in the Edtech 50 as an exceptional coding-related project.

Professor Curzon has worked tirelessly to support computer science in schools personally developing many ‘unplugged’ activities used to teach computer science in schools worldwide, as well as writing for students through high-quality magazines and the “Computer Science for Fun” website.

The Taylor L. Booth Education Award commemorates individuals who have an outstanding record in computer science and engineering education. 

The award is judged based on the following criteria: achievement as a teacher of renown in a relevant and applicable course, writing an influential text, leading significant educational content during the creation of a curriculum in the field, and inspiring others to a career in computer science and engineering education.

It is named after Taylor L. Booth, a professor of computer science and engineering at the University of Connecticut who was instrumental in defining computer science and engineering curricula for program accreditation.