TEACHING STAFF
The Science Department aims to cater for the unique scientific needs of each Saint Maur student. Whether the ultimate aim of students is to gain entrance to study the Sciences at top level Universities or simply to be able to make informed choices on the scientific issues that affect their lives, the Science staff provides them with the tools that they need to be successful. With experience teaching at Elementary through to University level, staff use a variety of teaching styles to make classes accessible to all students. Biology, Chemistry and Physics are taught by teachers who are specialists in their field in superbly equipped purpose built laboratories.
Born in the United Kingdom, Dr. Suzuki obtained a B.A. in Natural Science (Chemistry) and PGCE from Oxford University. After several years teaching in the United Kingdom, she returned to academia and obtained a Ph.D. in Chemistry from St. Andrews University. She moved to Japan in order to continue her research in the field of polymer electrolytes at the National Institute for Materials and Chemical Research at Tsukuba and subsequently as an associate professor in the Department of Materials Science at Shizuoka University. She came to realize that it was the teaching of students that gave her the greatest satisfaction and made the move back into secondary education in the U.K. She joined Saint Maur International School as a chemistry teacher in 2004 and became the Head of Science in 2005.
Dr. Suzuki was initially attracted to Japan by her interest in Judo. She represented Great Britain at the World Student Judo Championships in 1984.
Teaching allocations:
- Grade 8 - Combined Sciences (Chemistry)
- Grade 9 - IGCSE Combined Sciences (Chemistry)
- Grade 10 IGCSE Combined Sciences (Chemistry)
- Grade 11 - IB Chemistry SL/HL
- Grade 12 - IB Chemistry SL/HL
Dr Erard has been teaching at Saint Maur International School since 2010. He holds a BSc in Applied Microbiology (Hons) from Nottingham Trent University (United Kingdom), a MSc in Education Science from University of Rouen Normandy (France), and a PhD in Molecular Biology from University College Dublin (Ireland). While a researcher, Dr Erard characterized a previously unknown evolutionary-restricted wheat gene, which led to the establishment of a patent.
Dr Erard has a particular interest for the communication and public understanding of Science. He and his students have produced a large number of lecture and tutorial videos, some of which having reached several tens of thousands of views on YouTube. He created the websites of the school and of the Science department.
Teaching allocations:
- Grade 8 - Combined Sciences (Biology)
- Grade 9 - IGCSE Combined Sciences (Biology)
- Grade 10 - IGCSE Combined Sciences (Biology)
- Grade 11 - IB Biology (HL)
- Grade 12 - IB Biology (HL)
Ms. Kawamura started teaching at Saint Maur International School in 2023. Her love for all things science was fully established when she was in high school and thus she obtained her Bachelors of Applied Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Waterloo (Canada). She found that teaching was one way to instill the same curiosity and wonderment of Science as she felt growing up to high school students, and decided on a career in education. She has been teaching Science and Math for the past 20 years and in a variety of places, including Papua New Guinea, Vietnam and the Canadian Arctic. She is excited to add Japan to the list and wants to establish a connection with her family roots in Japan.
Teaching allocations:
- Grade 8 - Combined Sciences (Physics)
- Grade 9 - IGCSE Combined Sciences (Physics)
- Grade 10 - IGCSE Combined Sciences (Physics)
- Grade 11 - IB Physics SL/HL
- Grade 12 - IB Physics SL/HL
Ms Novick has been teaching at Saint Maur International School since 2013. She is a former Saint Maur graduate (class of 2008). She attended Japanese school prior to Saint Maur and is fluent in Japanese. She has a BA in Sociology (minor in Psychology) from Harvard University. During her undergraduate career she worked closely with faculty in Cognitive Neuroscience and Evolutionary Psychology. She completed the Undergraduate Teacher Education programe at the Harvard Graduate School of Education during her senior year at the college and obtained a Massachusetts Educator Licensure in Biology in 2013.
Teaching allocations:
- Grade 7 - Science
- Grade 11 - IB Biology (SL)
- Grade 12 - IB Biology (SL)
Mr. Tan is excited to have started teaching at Saint Maur this year (2025-26), getting to experience the ES, MS and HS! He has a Bachelor of Applied Science specializing in Electrical Engineering and a Bachelor of Education, both from the University of Toronto. He has been teaching Math, Computers, Physics and Design in both Middle and High School for over 20 years at schools in Canada, China and Japan. Mr. Tan believes that now is an exciting time to study these subjects as the world develops new technologies which will improve how we live into the future.
Mr. Tan has many interests, spanning from science and math to music and photography. He enjoys combining all of these skills to design and make practical life solutions with a minimalist aesthetic.
Teaching allocations:
- Grade 12 - IB DP Year 2 Physics SL/HL
- Grades 6 to 8 - French
- Grades 1 to 5 - Makerspace
Mr. Chau has been involved in education since 2009 and has taught in both Canada and Japan. He holds a BSc in Biology, B.Ed in Secondary Education, and an M.Ed in TESL. He has experience teaching in the IB Middle Years Programme and Diploma Programme and was a curriculum coordinator.
Mr. Chau is interested in both science and history and is quite fond of documentaries. His hobbies include playing badminton, trying new board games, and traveling.
- Grade 6 - Science
- Grade 7 - Mathematics
- Grade 8 - Mathematics
- Grade 11 - Contemporary Science