I retired from my position in the Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) on 31st August 2013. DIT is now the Technological University Dublin (TUD) and I still publish under the auspices of TUD as a Professor (Emeritus). I have carried out roles in Education since 1976 in schools, colleges and universities. Prior to joining education I was a Senior Stress Engineer and Gas Generator Performance Engineer for Rolls Royce. My predominant interests in education have been Mechanical and Materials Engineering and Pedagogy and my major research activity has focussed on the physical testing and characterisation of elastomers (approximately 150 publications out of about 170). I was originally employed by DIT as Faculty Research Fellow, Faculty of Engineering before becoming Head of Research, Development, Consultancy and Intellectual Property. This role was subsequently redefined as Head of Research and in my final four years in DIT I worked as the Director of the Centre for Elastomer Research (CER). For the last three years I have worked with asylum seekers as a volunteer for the Welsh Refugee Council.