For students taking IB Chemistry and Chemistry Honors this year, it sure has been one heck of a rollercoaster, full of twists, turns and drops you can hardly imagine. However, they seem to have finally reached the end of the ride. Yes, a new chemistry teacher has at last arrived: meet Myles Hammond.
Hammond has a rich background in science, getting his Bachelors in Science from majoring in marine science-biology at the University of Tampa, and there he conducted research on fruit flies. It was during his time at UT that he realized what was truly calling to him.
“I always wanted to work with sharks growing up,” Hammond said. “And so in college I was like, I’m gonna work with sharks. And then I fell in love with genetics even more.”
After earning his Bachelors Degree, he enrolled in UC Davis and earned his Masters Degree in genetics. At UC Davis, he engaged in the 100 Horse Health Project, a program that conducted various research on horses. In 2024, he began working at the University South Florida as a research scientist, studying zebrafish, where he continues to work today. And now, a quarter into the 2025-2026 school year, he has become the newest edition to the Robinson High School teaching staff. And he could not be more excited.
“I love it [teaching] when people have the ‘a-ha’ moment in science,” Hammond said. “When you realize something clicks. Especially how it all relates and how it applies in life; especially in chemistry. It’s very important to everyday life. Just realizing, ‘Oh, that’s how this works.'”
Although he is overall excited to have began teaching, Hammond recognizes that some of his classes are very behind due to various setbacks and complications throughout the year, specifically Pre-IB Chemistry.
“I’m going to be kind of speeding through some stuff. We’re going to be going over pretty much everything, but at a much quicker pace. I do believe that IB students can handle it. I trust them,” Hammond said.
So far, students have expressed their content over finally having a stable situation.
“When we had to self teach the topics, I kind of had a surface level understanding,” chemistry student Farrah Murray (’28) said. “But now I really feel like I know the reasons behind why things happen in chemistry.”
Although the wild and winding rollercoaster is coming to an end for chemistry students, the year is just getting started. And so is Mr. Hammond.
“I want to come in and try and get everyone to a point where they feel like they’re succeeding in learning chemistry,” Hammond said. “Chemistry has a lot to offer. Always be curious about chemistry.”
