Gary Ayton
Science
EMAIL »
801.517.2114
EDUCATION
• B.S. University of British Columbia
• Ph.D. in Chemistry, University of British Columbia
• Post-doctoral Fellowship, Australian National University
• Assistant Research Professor, University of Utah
• Associate Research Professor, University of Utah
This is a new bio, which reflects the complicated nature of our current situation. I left Judge in July 2020, not because I wanted to, but because of a global pandemic. I had the opportunity to do high-level remote research in the department of physics at the University of Delaware as a research fellow in Prof. Edward Lyman’s research group. I took it.
The research was phenomenal; it was at the cutting edge of cellular biology, theoretical physics, and massive computation, using the most powerful supercomputers on the planet.
But, in the end, all I wanted was to return to Judge. This is where I need to be.
I have rejoined our science department in a new role. I am teaching physics. Which is awesome as I love physics.
My experience in Delaware was the most powerful professional development a science teacher could hope for. I did high-level research for three months, and that glimpse has changed how I view education in science.
When you are doing real science, every 10 minutes there is something you do not know how to do. You figure it out. You problem solve, and go onto the next.
When you are doing real science, you do not know the answer. That is why you are doing it. That is why it is exciting.
I want to bring this element of problem solving, along with a newfound excitement of discovery back into High School physics.
And I am so grateful to be back at Judge.
