Are you working in science? Enthusiastic about it? Willing to help other people learn about your area of science? Then you might be a great Science Ambassador.
It would take very little of your time, but could make a huge difference to young people considering a science career.
Discover Science & Engineering is searching for new additions to its Science Ambassadors programme. This is an informal community of people, made up of the newly qualified and the well established, who work in science, love their work and want to help others learn about their areas of science.
What do Science Ambassadors do?
The most basic level of involvement is to share your experience and career knowledge. This could be by being profiled on the My Science Career Science Ambassador pages or in other Discover Science & Engineering sites or publications.
There may also be opportunities for some Science Ambassadors to participate in a series of video profiles, talking directly about their experiences.
In addition, if you have time, you might be given the opportunity to join in other Discover Science & Engineering projects, such as:
- Participating in events like those during Science Week
- Attending or joining in other DSE events
- Contributing to DSE publications
Will it take a lot of my time?
No. You could make a useful contribution just by completing a profile questionnaire and sending us a photo. Those who have the time (and many employers support Science Ambassadors’ work by providing time for it) may be able to do a lot more.
What’s in it for the Ambassadors?
The main reason to become a Science Ambassador is to share your enthusiasm about your area of science and to provide some insight into choosing a career in this area to someone that could benefit from hearing about your experience.
DSE may offer personal and professional development opportunities to the Science Ambassadors, such as media training days, where a media trainer helps you to improve your media skills.
Science Ambassadors also get a certain amount of publicity and public profile. This often helps them to stand out and come to the attention of employers, colleagues and professional peers.
The biggest benefit is knowing that you are helping to inform and foster the next generation of Irish scientists.
How do I get started?
If you would like to be considered for the programme then the first step is to send a brief email to Donna McCabe with “Science Ambassador” in the subject line and a brief note stating:
- Your current job and title
- What courses you have taken/qualifications you have
- Why you would like to be a Science Ambassador
All emails will be answered. DSE will base the selection process on building a diverse panel of Ambassadors which is balanced in terms of gender, age and experience.
About Discover Science & Engineering
To learn more about the Discover Science & Engineering national science awareness programme, see its programme website.
