Name: Santiago Vieito Covela
Age: 47
My Newton Room: Newton Galicia
Location: Aula Newton Galicia - Newton Room Galicia – San Cibrao das Viñas- Ourense, Galicia, Spain.
Has been a part of Newton since: 2021
Professional Background: Santiago has a degree in history and a PhD in archaeology, specialising in Ancient Construction Technologies. He worked for over 10 years as an archaeologist and part-time professor at the University of Vigo. In 2016, he joined the teaching team in the Outreach Department of the Galician Technology Park (Tecnópole), as well as the team of disseminators at Ceo Aberto, a company with enormous prestige in the field of scientific dissemination and non-formal education.
Life Outside of Work:
In his free time, he enjoys pursuing his two greatest passions: drawing and the maker world. He practices archery at a federated club and enjoys the tranquillity of living in a small town far from the hustle and bustle of the cities.
What sparked your interest in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) in the first place?
“Professionally, I come from a discipline that thrives on cross-disciplinary knowledge. The potential of teaching from this cross-disciplinary perspective has always seemed attractive and fascinating to me.”
What do you love most about working in a Newton Room?
“There are many factors that make me love working at Newton. From the design of the teaching spaces, which reflect what any teacher would consider the "ideal classroom," to the ability to interact with diverse groups of students from different schools and different parts of the country.”
Santiago hopes a visit to Newton Galicia gives students a different experience from their everyday school life.
Photo credit: Lena Repetskaya
What’s your favourite topic or module to teach, and why?
"Up in the air with numbers" for its magnificent way of integrating two fields as disparate in appeal to young people as mathematics (which is generally difficult at this age) with conventional aviation (a field that attracts and arouses curiosity in equal measure among the younger generations).”
What do you hope students and teachers take away from their visit to your Newton Room?
“I hope that students always take away a different experience from their everyday school life. I expect teachers to use engaging methodologies to teach different aspects of their subjects and to offer a unique space to carry out activities that complement their daily teaching.”
Can you share a fun or inspiring story that’s happened in your Newton Room?
“Over the years, there have been many fun and inspiring stories, but perhaps one of the most moving is that of a student who visited the Newton Room and whom I met years later while studying Aerospace Engineering. He told me that his interest in his current field of study was sparked by a visit to the Newton Room with his school.”
How can we best inspire children and young people to pursue STEM education and careers?
“I think we can do this, among other things, through spaces that encourage the channelling of their concerns in these areas, while also channelling them (Newton Room is a good example, as are science fairs and school competitions). But, in addition to providing spaces where they can realise their dreams, we must facilitate their access to the sources and information they need, while supporting them educationally and emotionally.
Santiago Vieito Covela has been Newton Teacher in Galicia since the room opened in 2021. Photo credit: Lena Repetskaya
If you could meet one famous scientist, past or present, who would it be and why?
“I would love to meet Hypatia of Alexandria to ask her not only about her view of Cosmos and how she arrived at it, but also to learn what it was like to be a female scientist, researcher, and teacher at that time. The difficulties it entailed for her and her strategies for overcoming the obstacles of a world conceived by and for men.”
What are three things on your bucket list? (private or professional)
“To be remembered as a good teacher by my students, to never stop enjoying my work, and to visit Beijing before I die.”
Newton Galicia
Newton Galicia is located in the Tecnopole Business Park, near Ourense, Galicia.
The Newton Room opened on October 19th, 2021, as part of a collaboration between FIRST Scandinavia, Boeing, Xunta de Galicia, and Tecnopole. Since then, it has attracted strong interest from schools across the region, with all available sessions consistently fully booked.
Newton Galicia employs two Newton Teachers and four Flight Simulator Instructors. All teaching staff associated with Aula Newton Galicia are part of the CeoAberto team, where they contribute their expertise to a wide range of science outreach and educational activities.
The Newton Room currently offers the Newton Module “Up in the Air with Numbers.”
