Tom Gardner

Some of my earliest memories of falling in love with history come from tracing the roots of conflicts, ideologies, and ideas that shaped the world we live in today. Much of that interest stemmed from having excellent and engaged tutors. Cognisant of this privilege, that sense of wonder hasn’t gone away—and it is exactly what I try to instil in my students.

I hold a First-Class MA in History from the University of Edinburgh, where I specialised in the geopolitical and cultural history of the Cold War with a focus on strategic defense. Since then, my academic and professional path has taken a more interdisciplinary turn—I have recently completed my MPhil at the University of Oslo that bridges history, environment, and development studies for a more rounded examination of human activity of outer space. I have also built up extensive experience as a lecturer, editor, and mentor, most recently delivering an eight-week public lecture series on space history and politics in the Maldives.

What sets me apart as a tutor is my ability to connect the dots—between empires and economies, between textbooks and lived experiences. My day-to-day job working in the space sector constantly benefits from understanding historical context. So whether it is helping students grasp the causes of the French Revolution or the logics of imperialism and free enterprise, I prioritise storytelling, critical questioning, and confidence-building so students do not just rope-learn but are equipped with flexible knowledge. My years directing CRXSS Magazine, a student platform fusing arts and sciences across 50 subjects, 35 universities, and more than 15 countries, helped me craft educational content that’s both journalistically rigorous and imaginative. I have also facilitated public sessions and workshops for students on everything from Cold War disarmament to disaster risk history—skills that sharpened my sensitivity to diverse learning needs and cultural perspectives.

Remote work is my norm. I have led international teams, managed virtual classrooms, and liaised with government and academic partners online. I take pride in maintaining momentum and building rapport even when teaching across time zones and bring energy and drive to my student lessons.