News

The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown measures have dramatically impacted our education sector, limiting opportunities for schools to provide extra-curricular STEM experiences for their students. Despite this, due to the hard work of the In2science eMentoring team and our valued partnership with KBR, who have enthusiastically supported program during these challenging times, we have been thrilled to be able to continue to offer our Meet an Engineer program this term.

Our Meet An Engineer with In2science x KBR was piloted in 2019 to great success and provided secondary school students an opportunity to connect with young STEM professionals. Regional schools are significantly disadvantaged by distance and a lack of role models and resources. Coupled with the lack of excursions and incursions due to COVID-19 restrictions, this initiative was vital to enrich their experience with In2science.

Six enthusiastic engineers joined our eMentoring sessions to share stories and experiences about their STEM journeys. These conversations specifically explored career pathways in engineering, the importance of engineering and its contribution to society, our environment and technology, and how STEM skills set students up for a rewarding future.

The feedback from these sessions were overwhelmingly positive. Mentor Daniel said that his student loved speaking to KBR engineer Shannon, saying, “The session was fantastic! (My eMentee) loved it and learnt a lot. It is the kind of job she may be interested in one day”. Engineer Ben made such a great impression with his eMentoring group that the eMentee requested he attended another session because he had so many questions!

One school student expressed to her mentor she was unsure of what to do when finishing high school. When this eMentee finally met with engineer Dev, some of her concerns eased when Dev shared her story of being in the same position at aged 15. From an eMentor’s perspective, Vishnu said the experience “was really great. I had an opportunity to learn more about real-world experience. Thank you for giving us this wonderful opportunity”. That session was rich with conversations about what subjects to do for VCE and pathways to higher education. Interactions like this are so important because it illustrates that it is okay to not have all the answers or a solid plan when in school. Feeling lost or being unsure does not prevent you from having an rewarding STEM career, and Dev was proof of that for this student.

The magic that these KBR engineers provide for these students are that their stories are useful, and most importantly, relatable. Students could speak with professionals doing what they love. This is extremely meaningful for female students who were matched to female engineers, showing that engineering is an attainable, relevant and desirable career choice.

If you are interested in becoming an industry partner with In2science, email In2science Director Dr Alison Every ([email protected])

If you are interested in joining the In2science eMentoring program, Click here!

Term 2 began in front of a computer screen at home for most school students in Victoria. In2science partner schools recognize the importance of university mentors and teachers have been incredibly proactive to include them in their virtual classrooms.

One of these teachers is Carolyn Drenen, teacher of Chemistry, Science and Mathematics from Lalor North College who invited her mentors Karina Rice and Maree Patsouras to join her classes using WebEx. When asked about her experience with our mentors, Carolyn said,

“Both Karina and Maree have been enthusiastic, professional helpers when they were on our school campus (before the COVID -19 school closures) and during my remote classes, as we have all had to adjust pretty quickly to these new learning environments. I am very lucky to have their expertise and support during this time.”

Before the first class, Carolyn sent briefings to Karina and Maree. Carolyn explained the structure of the lesson and how to best use their expertise to enrich the learning experience of her students. Karina, who is studying Bachelor of Science in Biomedicine at La Trobe University, was asked to share her experience in how scientific models are used at university to illustrate concepts. The theme in Maree’s lesson were the uses and major discoveries using electromagnetic waves. Maree, an honours student in Bachelor of Psychology at La Trobe University, was asked to share her knowledge on how electromagnetic waves contributed to breakthroughs in psychological testing and research.

In the first week of online mentoring, Karina sat and observed the lesson which helped her arrange something interactive for the next lesson. After two weeks of online mentoring, Maree gave students practical examples of how the topic is applied in psychology, noting that giving real life examples worked well to engage the students. Later, Maree said, “I had a really productive lesson and felt like I really contributed. It was an adjustment to online classes for me, but I am feeling more confident about my role in the classroom”.

Overall, Carolyn is thrilled with how her classes are progressing, despite the dramatic shift in teaching and learning from the classroom to online over the last month. Carolyn praised our mentors, saying, “I am extremely lucky to have two enthusiastic In2Science mentors (in Karina and Maree) and they are both doing a fantastic job in this challenging on-line learning environment”.

This is just one example of how In2science is assisting school students so they can maintain their enthusiasm for studies through this unprecedented time. If you’d like to know more about our tailored online mentoring options during remote learning, click here.

When the COVID-19 pandemic forced all Victorian schools continue classes at home, In2science spurred into action. As teachers were preparing the mammoth task of delivering all classes remotely, In2science Coordinators from The University of Melbourne, La Trobe University, RMIT and Swinburne University of Technology were upskilling their mentors to facilitate quality mentoring online.

In2science mentors support students from low socioeconomic backgrounds who face significant educational disadvantage. Normally, mentors would join science and maths classes at these schools and work with teachers to help students relate schoolwork to real-world examples, share their STEM experiences and motivations for studying at university. With the inability to interact with kids in person, In2science faced the challenge of virtually connecting with disadvantaged groups of students—who are traditionally underrepresented in STEM—in a way that would maintain students’ engagement in STEM subjects during significant disruptions to their educational and family lives.

In2science already has an online mentoring stream (eMentoring) for regional and rural secondary students. Leveraging our expertise in online mentoring and training techniques, In2science built a framework to upskill in-class mentors for diverse online learning environments. Ninety-four mentors were trained to facilitate quality conversations online, maintain safety and professional boundaries, and how to approach and share mental health resources should the conversation arise.

Current and past eMentors, Stephanie Lynch (La Trobe University), Zach Wingrave (RMIT), Poojan Agrawal (Swinburne University of Technology) and Vivek Gupta (Swinburne University of Technology) attended to share their eMentoring experience and wisdom on how to successfully engage young people over an online platform.

The feedback was overwhelmingly positive. University of Melbourne Coordinator Hayden Dalton said, “I’m buzzing! I found it really fun and it was great to see all the smiling faces again”. When asked what they were most looking forward to, La Trobe University mentors said, “demystifying science together” and “to see the students!”. University of Melbourne mentors were thrilled that they could do more to help with many saying they were excited to begin.

Each school will deliver the curriculum in unique ways and In2science mentors are now trained to work flexibly with each school’s preferred online collaboration platform. In2science has since prepared tailored online mentoring options for teachers to best support the individual needs of each cohort. These include one-on-one or small group online mentoring, a mentor joining a scheduled online class, and a weekly mentor call or text over a safe platform for vulnerable students. Teachers are already requesting our university peer-mentors join them remotely, and placements are set to recommence imminently.

The importance of keeping young people engaged in education and STEM subjects cannot be overstated. In2science remains committed to supporting these students and their teachers during this challenging time. Read more about our tailored online mentoring options here.

As schools, teachers, students and their families navigate the new world of remote learning, we are reflecting on the impact that In2science mentors have on students’ confidence and attitudes towards science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). At In2science, we are leveraging the knowledge and lessons learned in over 15 years of mentoring to support students as they continue their education through remote learning.

In 2019, In2science continued to expand its reach and 5,882 Victorian high school students studying STEM at 58 schools reaped the benefits of interacting with In2science mentors. In2science recruited 318 mentors from our partner universities – La Trobe University, The University of Melbourne, RMIT University, Swinburne University of Technology and Monash University. These mentors connected with students over a total of 20 weeks to help build students’ enthusiasm for STEM and encourage them to consider studying science and maths into VCE and beyond.

The In2science peer mentoring model remains a powerful mechanism for improving students’ attitudes towards STEM study. The most dramatic improvement in attitudes occurred when students had regular and direct interactions with their mentor over the 10-week placement period.

The impact of In2science mentoring on girls is particularly empowering. Girls who regularly interacted with their mentor were significantly more likely to report that they would like to go to university. Moreover, girls who did not regularly interact with their mentor were significantly less likely to report positive attitudes towards STEM study and careers than boys with minimal interaction. However, not only did attitudes significantly improve when boys and girls regularly interacted with their mentor, any difference in attitudes between the genders disappeared. This feedback confirms the effectiveness of In2science peer mentoring for increasing participation for groups traditionally underrepresented in STEM.

As we prepare to support In2science partner schools and their students’ online, it is also timely to reflect on the outstanding outcomes of eMentoring for regional and rural students. The regular interactions with their eMentor via weekly online meetings has a particularly profound impact on students from regional and rural areas. More than 91% of eMentees agreed that after regular interactions with their mentor, they:

(i) have more confidence doing science;

(ii) feel that studying science or maths in VCE in achievable;

(iii) have a better understanding of how many jobs rely on science; and

(iv) would like to go to university.

The topics regional and rural students liked to discuss with their mentors also reflects their curiosity and excitement about pathways leading to higher education.  All eMentees report that they enjoy talking about life at university and 90% enjoy discussions about future studies after school.

Teachers also report outstanding outcomes for their students: 86% notice that certain students engage more in the lesson with a mentor present, with 95% agreeing that the mentor is a good role model for students. Importantly, when teachers are asked if they would recommend In2science to their colleagues they are enormously enthusiastic. This feedback is reflected in a net promoter score of 72.9. This places In2science firmly in the world-class category and is testament to the enthusiasm and commitment of mentors and the support they receive from the program.

Importantly, our outstanding mentors, while having an impressive  impact on Victorian school students, also experience numerous benefits by volunteering with In2science, with 94% agreeing that participation in In2science developed skills they will use in the future. Moreover, 92% of mentors felt they had a positive impact during their placement.

Evidently, the connections the mentors forge with their mentees can have an important positive impact on students’ attitudes towards STEM and STEM careers. In2science remains committed to supporting schools and students as they navigate this new world of remote learning, building upon the knowledge gained over 15 years of mentoring.

Find out more about our response to COVID-19 and how to host a mentor.

The In2science team is keen to reassure all our partner schools, mentors, mentees and other stakeholders that we remain committed to delivering high quality mentoring to encourage secondary school students to study STEM and pursue STEM careers. The health, safety and well-being of teachers, students and mentors remains our top priority and in some instances, mentors will be unable to attend class in person.
To enable In2science mentors to maintain connections with their mentees, we are working with schools to arrange alternative mentoring models, including offering the program online.

Plans are well underway to provide additional training for our mentors, which will enable them to facilitate conversations online in a safe and effective manner. We are incredibly proud of these passionate and committed young people who all volunteer their time to help lift STEM educational outcomes. That commitment remains as strong as ever!

For more information about In2science and its response to COVID-19, please contact In2science Program Director, Dr Alison Every.

eMentoring Coordinator Dr Audrey Bester presenting the In2science partner school certificate to Maffra Secondary College link teacher Kristen Raine, Assistant Principal Nathan Wallace and some past and present eMentees.

The first quarter of the year is a busy time for In2science. Regional visits to our partner schools are sometimes scheduled before mentoring placements begin. This year, eMentoring Coordinator Dr Audrey Bester travelled east to Gippsland to catch up with the teachers at Traralgon College and Maffra Secondary College, to ensure that the support we are providing is optimally tailored for our regional schools.  

Traralgon College was first on the list. It was a good time to reacquaint ourselves with old and new teachers. We had the privilege of sitting in on a science faculty meeting, where we discussed the needs of different cohorts within the school. An advantage of the In2science eMentoring model is that mentoring occurs via video conferencing with small groups of students. This means teachers can provide us with specific information about the students’ interests, so eMentors can tailor their support.

The next day we visited Maffra Secondary College. In2science was welcomed by a group of students comprising past and current eMentees, a definite highlight of the entire trip! Photos were taken and stories were shared. Some eMentoring groups had already begun placements by the time we arrived, and it was great to hear from the students themselves that the mentoring sessions were off to a good start . Maffra Secondary College was one of the first eMentoring partner schools of In2science and took part in the pilot of the online mentoring model when it debuted in 2016. We were treated to a tour of the school and a delicious lunch with the staff before having to take the trip back to Melbourne.

eMentoring Coordinator Dr Audrey Bester presenting the In2science partner school certificate to the Science Faculty of Traralgon College, Traralgon.

In2science would like to thank Maffra Secondary College and Traralgon College for such warm hospitality from the staff and students. It is a privilege for us to support these schools and students. The dedication from these teachers to provide their students with the best STEM education was clear as soon as we met. We hope to visit East Gippsland again soon!

For more information about the In2science program Click Here.

If you would like to host a mentor as a regional school, Click Here or contact Dr Audrey Bester, eMentoring Coordinator.

In2science team members Will, Audrey and Shobie visit the RMIT University Flight Training School

By Dr Audrey Bester

Each year In2science coordinators travel all around Victoria to deliver STEM roadshows and other outreach activities with our partner universities, including Science Delivery from The University of Melbourne and The RMIT Regional Roadshow. For my first road trip with In2science, I travelled to Bendigo with La Trobe University (LTU) Coordinator, Shobie Dorai Singam, and RMIT University Coordinator, Dr Will Sullivan, to visit LTU’s Bendigo campus, tour RMIT’s flight training school and visit Eaglehawk Secondary College. Here’s how the day unfolded…

6:30am: The sun finally started to rise. It was an early start for me. Before leaving to meet Shobie, I checked our itinerary, replied to some last-minute emails and made sure I had packed everything we needed. Of course, priority was given to road trip snacks and organising a robust, energizing playlist for Shobie and I to drink our morning coffee to as we zoomed up the Calder Freeway.

8:00am: Finally, on the road! The smell of burnt coffee from a drive-through is nostalgic for me and I bury the flavour with sugar. We spend approximately 45 minutes trying to get out of the chaos that is Melbourne rush hour.

10:20am: We arrive at La Trobe University’s Bendigo campus. First on our agenda is a meeting with Dr Rodrigo Rico Bini, a Lecturer in Exercise Physiology at the La Trobe Rural Health School. He’s enthusiastic about the program and believes that several physiology students may be interested in volunteering.

11:00am: We meet with Lecturer, Dr Sabine Wilkens, and Senior Coordinator, Ms. Siobhan Downing. Dr Sabine has been promoting In2science at LTU Bendigo to her Pharmacy students for several years and we discussed the logistics of providing training on site at LTU’s regional campuses, something In2science would love to do. Siobhan expressed that Bachelor of Biomedical Science students are keen to apply to be mentors. We are thrilled to hear this and welcome applications from all students studying STEM and to provide in-class mentors from regional campuses to local schools!

12:00pm: After saying goodbye to the LTU Bendigo Campus, we drove to the RMIT Flight Centre to meet with In2science’s RMIT University Coordinator, Dr Will Sullivan. He introduces us to aviation engagement coordinator, Dr Patrick (Pat) Griffiths who takes Shobie and I on a tour of the new flight school. RMIT’s Bendigo Flight Training site is brand new and has been in operation since mid-2019. It is an impressive facility!

We spent some time in the hangar and observed planes landing and taking off. Then, we made our way to a room with enormous screens and seating to simulate a cockpit. The simulation allows students to practise flying from any airport in the world. I resist the urge to ask Pat for a demonstration but make a mental note to do it next time. Pat informs us that In2science mentors and mentees are always welcome to organise an excursion to the flight centre for a tour, and possibly get into the air for a ride!

1:00pm: Will, Shobie and I take a short break for lunch, but we had to be quick. Students were gathering back at LTU Bendigo Campus for a pre-orientation session at which we were speaking!

1:20pm: We speak with students at the Early Connections Course Welcome event at LTU Bendigo. This event is a pre-orientation for students starting a degree at the College of Science, Health and Engineering. Most of them are starting their university journeys so are interested in applying as a mentor for In2science next year. However, there are some Honours students keen to support high school STEM students, locally, in 2020.

3:00pm: We are joined by Will and Pat Griffiths again and visit Eaglehawk Secondary College, a valued partner school and long-term supporter of In2science. The Maths Faculty were gathering for a meeting, and we joined them for an icebreaker game of Spot It! We present the In2science partner school certificate to teacher, Michelle Nevins, and her colleagues, Casey, Rebecca and Jason, who have hosted many In2science mentors over the years. One of these mentors now works at Eaglehawk SC!

The In2science team presents partnership certificate to Eaglehawk Secondary College’s, Michelle Nevins and colleagues.

Eaglehawk SC is unique because it qualifies as a regional school but is also near the LTU Bendigo campus. Consequently, they can request eMentors to support their students online and host in-class mentors to join their STEM classrooms.

4:00pm: We say our goodbyes to the teachers and Eaglehawk with promises to return and commence the drive back home to Melbourne in Olwen the Toyota Yaris.

6:30pm: Melbourne rush hour strikes again! We finally arrive back at La Trobe University, Melbourne campus. Despite the long day Shobie and I enjoyed it immensely and are feeling energised about the year ahead. It was a real privilege to meet and engage with some of the people who help facilitate, and experience benefit from, the In2science program. This certainly won’t be my last regional visit for the year, but it was a great one to start with. Spirits are high as we begin training new In2science mentor applicants in preparation for placement with secondary school students all over the state.

For more information about the In2science program Click Here.

If you would like to host a mentor as a regional school, Click Here or contact Dr Audrey Bester, eMentoring Coordinator.

In recognition of In2science’s positive contribution and commitment in supporting underrepresented groups at university, The Department of Education and Training (DET) has awarded the peer-mentoring program with additional funding to support Victorian regional and rural students until 2023. As part of the Regional and Rural School Reform package, funding will ensure the continued development, enhancement and expansion of the In2science eMentoring program for regional and rural government schools across Victoria.

Since its inception in 2016, eMentoring has positively impacted 202 secondary school students at 23 schools in regional and rural Victoria. eMentoring fosters students’ enthusiasm for science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) and encourages them to pursue higher education. In2science’s online mentoring model directly addresses many of the challenges experienced by regional and rural students like increasing awareness of, and access to, STEM educational opportunities as they engage with passionate and enthusiastic STEM university students.

This funding builds the capacity of In2science, an award-winning and innovative program, to work more effectively with regional and rural government school students, particularly groups that are underrepresented in STEM. This includes girls, indigenous students and students from low SES backgrounds, thereby reducing the impact of disadvantage on student outcomes and equipping them with the attributes, knowledge and skills they need to succeed.

If you are part of a regional or rural school and would like to Host an eMentor at your school, click here or contact Dr Audrey Bester, In2science eMentoring Coordinator.