'Professor of Lego' to be hired by Cambridge University
One of the world's most prestigious universities is seeking applicants for its new Lego professorship
In news that should come as a boon to any kid who doesn't quite know how to answer the question "What do you want to be when you grow up?," The University of Cambridge is about to hire its first Lego professor.
A report in the esteemed British school's journal of record last week revealed that Cambridge officials are currently seeking someone to head up its brand new Research Centre on Play in Education, Development and Learning (PEDaL).
Inside the University of Cambridge's new primary school: <a href="http://t.co/UKyOXdZTeM">http://t.co/UKyOXdZTeM</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ideaconf15?src=hash">#ideaconf15</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/learningthroughplay?src=hash">#learningthroughplay</a>
—@LEGOfoundationThe centre, which will belong to the University's Faculty of Education, is being created "to advance research in the role of play in education, development, and learning especially in early childhood."
So where does Lego come in?
According to Cambridge, we won't exactly know until October, when the details of the position (and the lucky academic who gets hired for it) are revealed.
All that's known for certain is that the job title has the word Lego in it thanks to a roughly $7.6 million research grant from the Danish toy company's Lego Foundation, which "aims to build a future where learning through play empowers children to become creative, engaged, life-long learners."
While the university is officially hiring for a "Lego Professorship of Play in Education, Development," it does refer its eventual hire as "the Lego professor" at least once.
This doesn't mean the job consists exclusively of building things with Lego bricks, however. To be considered as a candidate one must, at the very least, already be working "within the general field" of education, development, and learning.