By qualification Graham is a Teacher of Mathematics. He has more than 8 years experience of teaching Mathematics at Key Stage 3, GCSE and A Level. He currently teaches at Wymondham College, Norfolk, UK. Wymondham College is a state boarding school and one of the best achieving schools and Mathematics Departments in its county.

Graham's passion and specialism within Mathematics lies in using Space Science & Astronomy to engage, enthuse and extend students understanding of Mathematics. He believes that pupils learn best by doing and exploits the natural enthusiasm and interest that pupils show towards space by creating real life applications, resources and examples of Mathematics within this subject area.

The catalyst for this passion came in 2003 when Graham completed a teacher training course at NASA's Kennedy Space Centre, Florida. This involved tuition and guidance in many methods of utilising the medium of space exploration to enthuse & excite young people. It also involved astronaut lectures and VIP tours of many areas of the space centre that tourists aren't able to visit. By a quirk of fortunes Graham took part in a repeat visit to Kennedy Space Centre in 2005 where he gained further insight into NASA's manned space program from people who worked for NASA on Project Mercury and through to the Space Shuttle days. If you're a UK teacher and would like to find out more about how you could gain a place on this course, click here.

Graham amongst the rockets and Mars Exploration Rovers at Kenndy Space Centre, May 2003

The charity that runs these courses also host student visits to NASA space centres and Graham students have featured highly among competitions to win places on these visits. In 2004 one of his students gained first prize and in 2006 two students reached a national televised final.

Together with another colleague Graham has also worked with Astronomers and Scientists at the Space Telescope Science Institute, Baltimore - home of the Hubble Space Telescope - and Goddard Space Flight Centre, Washington DC - home of the SOHO satellite - to develop school level, online resources complimenting the work of these observatories. A collection of these resources, called 'Space Observatories in School' can be found here.

Amongst the hardware for the STEREO spacecraft during testing at the Goddard Space Centre, August 2004

The Transit of Venus took place in 2004 and saw Graham work with Motivate (videoconferences for schools) and the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics (DAMTP), Cambridge, to produce educational materials for this rare event. On the day itself Graham's students collaborated with those at Neatherd High School to witness the event.

In 2005, and again with another colleague, Graham took a group of ten A Level students to Cape Town & Sutherland, South Africa to encourage teaching of Space Science in township schools and to research the SALT telescope. Because of the nature of its primary goal and others too this trip was supported by many Astronomical Societies and was a fantastic success for everyone involved and again developed more online resources. There is much more detail about this project on the Colmanweb page here or on the project website here.

With Dr Helen Mason, South African learners and colleague Mike Cripps in Sutherland, South Africa August 2005

Graham has assisted and advised on many space education boards and working groups. These have included a study conducted by UEA, Norwich looking at 'Creative Use of ICT in Secondary Mathematics & Science' as well as advising on Education Steering Groups for the educational outreach department at the National Space Centre, Leicester. He is also a judge for 'Large Award' project proposals at the Science & Technologies Facilities Council (STFC).

Another aspect of Graham's Space Science and Astronomy outreach work involves talks and seminars to enable other teachers to use this medium to enhance the teaching of Mathematics. He has previously talked at the RAS National Astronomy Meeting, University of Birmingham 2005 and for the National Centre of Excellence in Teaching Mathematics (NCETM) 'Inspirational Maths Teachers' conference 2009.

Graham is currently a Mathematics & Computing Lead Practitioner for the Specialist Schools Academies Trust (SSAT) as well as an Ambassador for the NCETM. He is running seminars during the Autumn term of 2009 on 'Using Real Life Applications of Space & Astronomy to Engage, Excite and Extend Teaching of Mathematics'. If you'd like to attend one of these please see here, email Graham at grahamcolman@colmanweb.co.uk or see the SSAT Lead Practitioner website.

Graham presents to Mathematics teachers at an NCETM seminar, March 2009