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With Semester 1 officially wrapped up, In2science is already buzzing with energy as we welcome a fresh cohort of mentors for Semester 2. The training sessions are always a highlight at for the In2science team. Meeting brand‑new mentors, watching their confidence grow, and seeing that spark of excitement as they prepare to inspire their mentees never gets old.

This semester, In2science delivered four in‑person and six online training sessions, with four of those designed exclusively for our eMentors. The turnout was fantastic: 67 mentors completed their in‑class training, and 20 went the extra mile by attending an additional session to sharpen their eMentoring skills. Together, they represent over 50 different fields of study, with life and biomedical sciences, and psychology and behavioural science leading the pack.

Tordy Rowe, Program Coordinator at Deakin University, said “The enthusiasm and engagement at training was infectious – I can’t wait to hear about the difference our mentors will be make in the classrooms. From Lego classes to EnviroSTEM to physics to maths and everything in between, Semester 2 is going to be fun!” New mentor Krishna, a Master of Construction Management student at Deakin, said “My biggest takeaway: STEM isn’t just a collection of subjects. It’s curiosity, creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills that show up in more places than we often realise. I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to be part of a program that inspires the next generation to see STEM differently.”

Now, our Coordinators are deep in the joyful chaos of matching mentors to placements across our partner schools. The mentors are eager, prepared, and ready to jump in. Semester 2 is shaping up beautifully and we are looking forward to hearing inspiring stories from the mentors, mentees, and teachers.

If you would like to a mentor to share their passion for STEM with your students, contact us today!

With the winter school holidays just beginning, Semester 1 placements have wrapped up at In2science. Across Victoria, mentors stepped into classrooms or logged on to online sessions with enthusiasm, courage, and a genuine desire to make STEM feel achievable for every student they met. With an incredible 92 placements across 39 schools, it has been a very successful start to mentoring in 2026.

We asked some of our amazing mentors to look back on their time with In2science and share their thoughts.

For Kane from The University of Melbourne, the experience was transformative from the very first day. “As a non-native English speaker, stepping into the classroom took a lot of courage, but the immense warmth and respect I felt from day one made me feel truly welcome. Two moments will stay with me forever: being called ‘Sir’ for the very first time, and hearing a collective ‘Noooo!’ from the students when the teacher announced it was my final session. That reaction was the greatest reward I could have asked for. In the end, I believe I gained just as much from this incredible journey as the students did.”

For Hyo from La Trobe University, the learning flowed both ways. “I originally joined to help inspire the kids in STEM, but I feel like I’m the one who walked away inspired and having learned so much.”

eMentor Stephanie from Deakin University found meaning in becoming the kind of guide she once needed. “Being part of In2science this semester was a really meaningful experience. Over the six weeks, mentoring gave me the chance to be the person I wish I had in high school, someone who could help make university, subject choices and career pathways feel less overwhelming, and remind students that their future is something they can actively shape.”

From RMIT University, Nireeksha’s highlight was a spark of shared passion. “In terms of wins, one that really stood out was connecting with a student who was genuinely passionate about coding. She would come up to me after sessions to ask about career pathways and even gave me lovely feedback on my presentations. One thing I’m really proud of is making sure every student felt seen. I made it a point to visit each student individually, check in on their understanding, and encourage them along the way – especially one student who was finding the concepts harder to grasp. Seeing the whole group respond positively and stay engaged made it all worthwhile.”

Reflecting on his first semester as In2science Director, Dr Cory Smith shared his gratitude for the community that makes all of this possible. “Hearing the stories that mentors have brought back from their placements this semester has been wonderful. A huge thank you to the teachers who welcomed us into their classrooms, to the students who connected with us online through eMentoring, and to our mentors for the care and commitment they brought every week. We’re looking forward to doing it all again in Semester 2!”

If you are keen to get involved with In2science, reach out to us today!

Quantum Victoria was buzzing with curiosity and possibility during the inaugural STEM Careers Day, held on Tuesday May 12. Housed on the campus of Charles La Trobe College, this Centre of Excellence in STEM hosts a variety of events and programs for both primary and secondary students. Year 10-12 students from Charles La Trobe College, Bundoora Secondary College, Glenroy College, Mount Ridley P-12 College and Y Community School were welcomed at the event. In2science mentors joined the action, supporting hands‑on activities and sharing their own journeys into STEM. The participants rotated through five interesting and engaging activities throughout the day, including two delivered by La Trobe University students. Experts in dentistry, architecture, and engineering delivered sessions, allowing the students the opportunity to ask questions and explore these diverse career pathways. Exhibitors from organisations including RMIT University, Melbourne Polytechnic, and Australian Signals Directorate were also available during the day, offering advice and sparking conversations about future pathways.

One of the standout sessions was an energetic workshop on exercise science, led by La Trobe students Jamie‑Lee, Hayley and Bree, alongside In2science mentor Sneha. The room quickly transformed into a mini physiotherapy clinic as students tested their mobility with lunges and squats while their peers assessed technique. This gave the students a glimpse into the real-life experience of a career in sports science. Sneha, studying a Master of Cybersecurity at Deakin University, said, “I enjoyed volunteering for careers day at Quantum!! The team conducted a mobility test among students; it was great to see all the students participate actively and their curiosity to learn about fitness. The workshop ended in a ‘plank challenge’, which was a fun competition. The longest plank was about 3 minutes!! It’s amazing to learn how our body works!”

The second La Trobe-led session, “Pesky Pathogens”, took students into the microscopic world of infectious disease. STEM students Gihansa, Hayley, Lenna, and In2science mentors Mei and Emma, guided the students through a simulation of how easily disease is spread and what we can do to prevent this. A mix‑and‑match activity helped students link common diseases to the organisms that cause them. The presenters shared their own pathways into university and their study interests, and discussed how an interest in pathogens can lead to a variety of careers. Emma, a Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science student at La Trobe University, said, “The students participated in a fun activity, simulating transmission rates of infective diseases. It was amazing to see so many students engaged with the session over the course of the day, and getting to answer their STEM questions.”

In2science would like to thank Quantum for hosting this incredible event, and Belinda D’Angelo from Widening Participation and Outreach at La Trobe for inviting our mentors to be part of it. We look forward to working together in the future to continue to spark curiosity and build confidence with STEM learning.

On March 25th, two of our fabulous In2science mentors assisted Casey Tech School with their innovative Enterprise program. Enterprise is designed for students in year 9 and 10, and challenges them to solve real-world problems in the fields of Community and Youth Engagement, Health and Human Performance, and Clean Energy. The students work in small groups, focussing on a current issue and collaborating to develop a prototype solution, which the team then presents at an expo. Sahiti, a La Trobe University student studying a PhD in food science, and Annam, a Deakin University student studying a Bachelor of Science, attended an online session where they acted as ‘critical friends’. Their role was to listen to the students present their projects and ask them probing questions, inspiring them to critique their work and think a little deeper about their proposals. Sahiti enjoyed the experience, saying, “The students delivered five-minute pitches, exploring topics ranging from renewable energy and artificial intelligence to the challenges of growing plants in space. It was awesome to see their enthusiasm and openness to feedback. Excited to see where their journeys take them next!”

Feedback from the participating students was overwhelmingly positive. One student stated, “It helped us by giving us feedback on how to improve to make our final project the best we can. They also gave us new ideas to add to our project.” Another said, “It made us think of some of the issues or difficulties we might face and helped us to go into detail with our project.” In2science would like to thank Kim Bruce, Interim Director at Casey Tech School, for inviting us to be part of the day, as well as Sahiti and Annam for their enthusiasm and insightful questions. If you are interested in collaborating with In2science, contact us today!