AcademicsDepartments

Natural Science

The Natural Science Department at IEGS has a tradition of success and has established an excellent relationship with some of Sweden’s top university science departments.

The science department represents a variety of international science backgrounds and expertise that enriches students’ science education.

The students studying the Natural Science Programme at IEGS have been specifically selected by the Karolinska Summer Research Program to participate in their summer school. No other Swedish school has placed more than 1 or 2 students each year.

The courses taught in the department encourage students to develop the following:

An ability to think in a manner which is logical, critical, creative and independent
An ability to observe natural phenomena objectively and draw conclusions from these observations
An understanding of the process of science and its use as a tool to help solve personal and societal problems
An understanding and appreciation of our limited natural environment and a concern for its protection and future
A realisation that science is not only a body of knowledge and understanding but is also a search for knowledge
An ability to integrate science, technology, and society
An understanding of the interdependence of natural sciences with mathematics and the humanities
The realisation that in order to become life-long learners and make meaningful contributions to society, we must not only learn and understand science but also must do science

In short, IEGS science students are informed citizens, prepared by their education to deal responsibly with science-related social issues, aware of the nature and scope of a wide variety of science and technology-related careers.

Teachers

For students who aspire to scientific careers, the department provides the knowledge appropriate to their needs, preparing them to study science in higher education.

Mr. Davis

Chemistry and Physics Teacher

Mr. Davis has BSc with majors in Environmental Science (Environmental Physics and Toxicology) from Lincoln University and a Post Graduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning from Christchurch College of Education. Mr. Davis moved to Stockholm in late 2014 from South Otago in New Zealand. He has taught Physics, Chemistry and Agriculture in Nelson, South Otago and the Far North of Queensland in Australia.

Dr. Elmfors

Science Teacher and Head of Russell House

Dr. Elmfors is originally from California. She has a Bachelor's degree in Microbiology from UCLA, and a PhD in Molecular Genetics from Harvard University. She started working for Engelska Skolan in 1999. She has taught at IES in Enskede, Järfälla and Skärholmen (Högstadiet), as well as at IEGS. She has recently returned to IEGS, after 11 years in California (teaching at Santa Barbara City College).

Mr. Flessert

Science Teacher

Mr. Flessert has a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Education from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. After beginning a teaching career in Minnesota, he moved to Sweden in 2017. He teaches science within both the national programme and IB. Prior to IEGS, he worked in IES Länna and IES Skärholmen.

Mr. Nilsson

Physical Education Teacher and Science Teacher

Originally from Stockholm, Mr. Nilsson studied sport and health science at Gymnastik & idrottshögskolan and biology at Stockholm university. Finishing his teachers degree in 2023 he is now teaching Physical education and Science at IEGS.

Dr. Pratt

Chemistry and Biology Teacher

Dr. Pratt holds a PhD from the University of Sussex. He has previously worked at Växjö University, Stockholm University and has been a Marie Curie Research Fellow in France. He is a qualified teacher.

Ms. Raja

Natural Science, Chemistry, Physics and Head of the Natural Science Department

Ms. Raja is a qualified teacher who has moved to Stockholm from Manchester, England. She has a Bachelors degree in Biomaterials (BMedSci) from the University of Birmingham. She taught in England for several years before moving to Stockholm in 2013.

Mr. Richardson

Maths and Physics Teacher

After initially teaching Physics in the UK, Mr. Richardson worked for three years in the nuclear power industry, then spent 30 years in Germany and the US working for Hewlett-Packard in various marketing and management roles in the IT industry before returning to the UK in 2010 to teach Physics, Electronics and Astrophysics to pre-University students. Since moving to Sweden in 2013, he has been active in the Stockholm Astronomy community and as a presenter of popular Astronomy, he has a Swedish radio callsign (SA0KJI) and holds a BSc in Physics and Astrophysics from the University of London.

Dr. Young

Biology Teacher

Dr. Young is from the United States and is a qualified teacher in Biology, Chemistry and Natural Science. He holds a Bachelor of Science from University of Nevada Medical School in Biochemistry, a Bachelor of Science in Upper Secondary Education from Stockholm University, and a PhD from Oregon State University. He holds a docent qualification. He has lectured at Stockholm University and has also worked as a principle investigator at Stockholm University and a senior researcher at Karolinska Institutet.