On Wednesday September 18, In2science held a highly-anticipated and exclusive professional development event to help our mentors expand their networks and gain tips on entering the workforce after university. Our STEM Career Speed-Networking Event, hosted at the RMIT Media Portal, was attended by over 30 In2science student mentors from all five of our partner universities. Attendees met with invited STEM Professionals from a range of disciplines to discuss employment pathways and career advice in a relaxed and fun setting.
The afternoon began with a welcome from In2science Program Director Dr Gabby Goldberg, followed by an uplifting keynote speech from Dr Catriona Nguyen-Robertson. Catriona is a researcher, writer, educator and presenter – she wears many hats but above all her passion is science communication and making science accessible to everyone, which often includes singing about it! Catriona described the non-linear path that took her to where she is today, which included many semesters volunteering as an In2science mentor. She shared beneficial advice about putting yourself out there, giving things a go, and finding a support group to help you along the way. Her speech was truly inspirational and the perfect motivation for the activity to follow.
During the Speed-Networking, our mentors were lucky enough to meet with enthusiastic professionals from a variety of disciplines. We were honoured to host researchers from the La Trobe Institute for Sustainable Agriculture and Food, WEHI, and NACE, and experts from various industries, including automotive (Toyota), biotechnology (Thermo Fisher Scientific), technology (HPE, Tettra), and education (Teach For Australia, Pascoe Vale Girls College). Along with Catriona (Museums Victoria), we also had science communicators joining us from Parks Victoria, Movember, and even In2science! Four of our guests were past In2science volunteer mentors, and it was fantastic for our current mentors to hear their stories and learn about the paths they followed. “The speed-networking night was a great opportunity to connect with professionals and learn more about different career pathways. I personally gained a lot of insight into how I can combine my wide range of interests for a rewarding role in the future”, said Arlo, Swinburne University of Technology In2science Mentor. Thilanka Morawakage, Project Officer at NACE, commented that “While sharing my academic and career experiences with the In2science mentors, I found it was also a valuable opportunity for me to reflect on my own journey and recognise the progress I’ve made to date.”
The event concluded with refreshments and informal networking time, where the conversations continued to flow. In2science is proud to reward our hard-working mentors with professional development opportunities like this, and is honoured that so many amazing people jumped at the chance to speak at this event. We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone that attended, and we hope to see you all at our next event!
