Andrew was born in a small mining village in the North East of England. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Physics from the University of Oxford where he specialized in Nuclear Physics and Optics. He earned his doctorate at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland, where he studied Fiber Optics and the Physics of Ultrashort Laser Pulses. He did postdoctoral work on optical communication systems and fiber optic sensors before moving to San Diego in 1999 to work in manufacturing.

Since 2004 Andrew has taught Physics, Engineering, and Mathematics at High Tech High. He has worked on many inter-discipline projects, ranging from making bridges & bent-wood furniture, artworks inspired by calculus and graphic novels that teach nuclear physics and special relativity.