Spending time in-person with someone who works in STEM can be a fantastic way of engaging children and young people with that person’s field.
It’s a chance to ask questions, see live demonstrations and take part in hands-on activities.
Don’t forget, however, that opportunities to get volunteers and presenters to engage with students online are still very valuable and can allow connect with STEM professionals around the UK or even internationally.
STEM Ambassadors are volunteers who offer their time and enthusiasm to help bring STEM subjects to life. It is now possible to request both in-person and remote STEM Ambassador support, meaning that Ambassadors from across the UK can inspire young people wherever they are.
Find out more and make a request for STEM Ambassador support here: www.stem.org.uk/stem-ambassadors/find-a-stem-ambassador.
You can ask parents/carers or other members of the school community if they work in STEM-related jobs to describe what they do in more detail.
You could also try some of the following things.
- Schedule two or three different guests for careers talks during the Week, if possible. Publishing the schedule will give students events to look forward to. These sorts of experiences can inspire students to think about careers they might want to pursue in the future. Remember, they are never too young to explore their options!
- Where available, choose volunteers/Ambassadors who challenge stereotypes the students might have absorbed, and promote a positive, inclusive attitude towards science – female engineers for example.
- Let the volunteers/Ambassadors share how their job is making a difference in the world, or an anecdote of a science activity they enjoyed as a child.
- Encourage your volunteers to plan an interactive part of their session (if in-person) to ensure students have the opportunity to get involved.
- Book your visitors early as many speakers get booked up during British Science Week. Have a clear idea of what you want them to do and communicate this with them ahead of time.
Volunteers come from a range of careers and experiences, from engineers, designers and architects to scientists and technicians, so get students looking forward to inspirational career talks which broaden their choices and develop their job interests!
Visit the Inspiring the Future website (www.inspiringthefuture.org) for some helpful ideas for using volunteers.