Stephen Ross

In 1990, Stephen obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Physics from the University of Birmingham in the UK, following which he moved straight to Japan to work as an R&D electronics engineer. Subsequently, his career has been spent half in engineering and half in education. Following his time in Japan, he moved to Hong Kong where he continued working as an engineer extensively in the semiconductor high-technology manufacturing industry and others.

He has been involved in education tutoring students primarily in Physics up to Advanced and IB Diploma Level, but also Mathematics and 13+ Science preparing entrants to top UK boarding schools and Hong Kong international schools here in HK for over 13 years.

On Becoming a Teacher:

I fell into education almost by accident following the fallout of the 2008 financial crisis after which I lost my engineering position due to corporate global downsizing at a time when most similar positions in Hong Kong had moved permanently into mainland China. A position for a Physics tutor became available at an old acquaintance’s tutorial school and I took it expecting it to be a short term appointment whilst I considered my engineering options. I fell in love with teaching and particularly enjoyed the one on one format of tutoring, and so 1 year became 2 and then more than a decade later I still enjoy this new line of work.

Making Physics and Science accessible and understandable to students, not only mentoring those students with an aptitude and desire to pursue Science as a career themselves, but also helping those students who would otherwise find Physics in particular extremely challenging by demystifying what can often be perceived as a difficult and complex subject. Bringing abstract theories to life relating to real world applications from my experience in engineering has proved a very successful and motivating educational tool.

Also, relating to my work as an educator, I have a very keen interest in the philosophy and historical development of Science in general and Physics in particular. This has also proved very useful in informing my lessons so that I don't only teach the mathematical formulas of Physics as though they just fell out of the sky, but can explain where they actually came from and why they are the way they are.

People I find inspirational and why:

When considering luminaries in Physics the name of the brilliant Albert Einstein almost always automatically springs to mind, however, as to whom I most admire in the subject I think I would have to say Sir Isaac Newton without whom Physics as it is perhaps wouldn't even exist. Fundamental concepts such as energy stand on foundations that Newton first laid out.

There are many people from various walks of life whom I find inspirational, but again returning to the subject of Physics, I find Max Planck very inspiring. Planck's Quantum Hypothesis which he himself was not so proud to confess was an act of sheer desperation rather than his own brilliant insight, paved the way for the whole of modern Physics. His willingness to defy convention, think outside the box, and run with a radical new idea to see where it would lead is very inspiring I find.

Top tip to younger self:

One is tempted to say "stick with finger painting, you really enjoy that!", however, such advice would lead to a very different person responding to the question. So, considering what advice I would give that would have helped a younger me the most on my path without radically changing it, I would have to say "switch to a vegetarian/pescatarian diet". This has helped me have the time and energy to do everything I love in teaching.