Profile
Dr Megan Venn-Wycherley is a researcher and lecturer specialising in the Educational, Historical, and Philosophical Foundations of Computer Science at Swansea University. Her research focuses on the intersection of computing education, social mobility, and the roles that universities and technologies can play in facilitating these processes.
Dr Venn-Wycherley earned her BSc (Hons) in Computing at Newcastle University, followed by a Master of Research in Digital Civics and a PhD in Infrastructuring School-University Partnerships for Computing Education with Open Lab, Newcastle University. During her PhD, she worked with partner schools, teaching and supporting learning in classrooms to understand the potential and limitations of school-university partnerships for computing education within disadvantaged communities.
Post-PhD, Dr Venn-Wycherley served as the Programme Manager for Altitude Foundation, a North East-based social mobility charity dedicated to helping under-resourced young people pursue careers and further education in digital and tech. Her role involved designing initiatives to bridge the social, cultural and financials gaps and empower young people to explore computing related opportunities.
Dr Venn-Wycherley is an advocated for inclusive and supportive computing education and social mobility and is committed to creating and supporting opportunities for those interested in exploring computing.
Dr Megan Venn-Wycherley, Swansea UniversityWales has a word for something my research keeps coming back to "cynefin" ,that sense of place and belonging that tells you where you fit. My work looks at the opportunities Wales offers, its computing heritage, its communities, and a national programme like Technocamps reaching learners in every part of the country and uses them to build digital confidence and belonging among people who have too often been told technology isn't for them. Bringing events to this region means showing the world that world-class computing research and education grow here, and joining the Ambassador Wales network lets me champion a place ready to host the next conversations about technology's future.
