ScienceScope

David was educated at Rugby, Bristol, and Cambridge. His degree is in Physics followed by three years of research into the Physics of Liquid Crystals at high pressures. After three years with a small software house he moved to PA’s, Technology division where he was responsible for managing a number of major projects. As an example he organised the development of an image scanner which combined mechanical, optical, ergonomic and electronics design.
From October 1982 onwards David has run his own business with his wife Hilary (Abington Partners). He acted as Technical Director of Bytex International Ltd (a subsidiary of the Granada Group plc) for two years, where he was able to bring to bear his wide ranging experience of product development and project management to resolve the companies difficulties in developing and introducing a new products.
To strengthen his management and business skills further he joined Cifer plc as Technical and Marketing Director in May 1987. After joining Cifer the company was successfully refinanced and subsequently made a number of strategic acquisitions in the computing and communications industry.
In 1992 David rescued Halco Engineering Ltd. He took a controlling stake in the business in 1992 and subsequently sold the business in early 1994 to Bassaire Ltd after having increased the order book by £200,000 and implemented a new management structure to enhance profitability.
Since 1994 Abington Partners have specialised in providing state of the art ICT products for Science Education. Abington originated data-logging software for schools, achieving market leadership with the Datadisc product range and the VisiLog Videologging products. Up until 2002 Abington provided all the R&D services for Philip Harris plc in the field of datalogging for science education. During this period David was responsible for implementing a turnkey ICT facility in 110 science teaching centres throughout Ghana. A project worth over £20M.
In 2002 David launched the ScienceScope brand of dataloggers. Over a period of 3 years ScienceScope has developed one of the most comprehensive ranges of datalogging products in the market. A number of new sensors have been designed to enhance the science learning process including a novel volume sensor, a low cost electronic balance and many more. ScienceScope became the first company to introduce a wireless datalogging system in January 2005.
David is passionate about improving science education in schools and sees the development of ScienceScope technology as an important plank in ensuring that the next generation of school students are in a position to develop the technology of the future.
The company has won three SMART awards from the Department of Trade and Industry. The first to develop a novel Oxygen sensing system and more recently for a project with Oxford University to develop a new technology for measuring anaesthetic gas concentrations. More recently Abington developed a new patented distance sensor technology for use in science education.
David has travelled extensively both in Europe and North America. He has been responsible for commissioning of equipment in Europe and more recently has carried out a number of due diligence evaluations of prospective businesses for acquisition.
David lives with his wife and four children in Bath. He is 51.