Do you want to increase your cohort of STEM Ambassadors? Get in touch with us – we can help!
We were recently invited to the offices of engineering firm, Baker Hicks, by one of their brilliant STEM Ambassadors (Aleks) to introduce her colleagues to the programme and sign up some more expert volunteers. Aleks organised the meeting as a lunch and learn for her colleagues as part of their company’s plan to grow their outreach.
We asked them all to consider two key questions and their discussion produced a fantastic range of responses.
What will you bring to the STEM Ambassador programme?
“[I’ve] been in positions where I was discouraged from going into STEM (engineering), so I bring understanding.”
“Diverse experience and I know how to present to different audiences.”
“I hope to bring transparency on the journey to STEM.”
Why are you volunteering?
“I was told multiple times that I couldn’t go into STEM because of my gender and race therefore I want to encourage others.”
“To give a real-life perception of STEM (Engineering) for young women.”
“I had people give talks in my school which is why I am in this job in London. If they hadn’t, I highly doubt I would have carried on in education.”
In order to provide a small taster of what it is like being a STEM Ambassador, we then asked them to imagine their partner was 8 years old and try to describe their job to them in a way they would understand. This is trickier than it sounds! However, with a few top tips from us (e.g., no acronyms, no jargon…), they did a great job.
We were excited to be able to share the programme with Baker Hicks employees and see their enthusiasm for inspiring the next generation.
If you would like support in developing a network of STEM Ambassadors in your organisation, please don’t hesitate to get in touch: employersupport@stem.org.uk
