Laura Akesson

Laura Akesson

Fellowship Placement: US Department of Energy (WDTS)
Hometown: Richmond, VA

Laura Akesson has taught Physics, Math, and Biomedical Engineering/Design for the past 22 years. Most recently, she was teaching AP and Honors Physics and Biomedical Design to students in grades 11 and 12 at The Steward School, in addition to serving as a Bryan Innovation Lab Liaison. Her past teaching experience involves public schools (7 years), Zurich International School (2 years), and adjunct faculty at Virginia Commonwealth University (2 years). Laura holds a MS in Applied Physics from VCU, a BS in Mathematics and BA in Physics from the University of Richmond.  Laura defines herself as a perpetual learner, continuously making space for new connections and ideas. Not only looking to experts, but to the great resource and potential that lies in students. In 2009, she founded Science Overdrive, a Virginia nonprofit aimed at inspiring, providing equipment for, and collaborating with Kindergarten - 8th grade Science teachers who in turn cultivate science enthusiasm for thousands of students. Laura also specializes in Systems and Design Thinking, sharing ideas that everything is connected: academic subjects, populations, societies, etc. Along these lines, she has been invited to the TEDx stage and to deliver talks about Science and Social Justice, at DisruptHR, among others.  Laura’s primary joy is teaching and working for the benefit of students young and old. To this end, she has served on committees developing county-wide physics curriculum standards, state-wide STEM teacher professional development, and nationwide STEM programs. She feels lucky to infuse not only technical expertise into her lessons and products, but an artful fun that should be present in student learning.