Nicole Butler

Building on an incredible 2025, In2science has launched into Semester 1, 2026 with fresh momentum and a growing community. This year, we’re thrilled to welcome three new partner schools and an enthusiastic cohort of mentors from across our four partner universities. Each mentor brings their own lived experience, passion for STEM, and commitment to helping students see what’s possible. To capture the excitement of these first few weeks, we asked some of our newest mentors how their early sessions have been—and their reflections say it all.

Jian, from The University of Melbourne, shared, “I joined In2science because I wanted to help make STEM pathways feel more accessible to students who might not otherwise see them as a possibility. I really enjoyed my first session! I had the chance to speak with most of the students, and many of them were more open than I had expected. It was also really interesting to experience a school environment different from my own, and I’m excited to keep learning more as the program progresses!”

For Damion from La Trobe University, the joy comes from sparking curiosity: “I joined in2science because I’m super passionate about sharing science with others, and I believe that there’s something interesting for everyone. I wanted to be able to help students realise that science isn’t as scary as it looks, if I can even help one student realise that then I’ve done my job well. My first few sessions have been really successful, I’ve been able to relate to students and explain things in ways that suit them/relate to their interests, it was a bit scary at first but now going to each session is really exciting.”

Norman, from Deakin University, is embracing the challenge of stepping into a new environment: “I joined In2science because it would be a great opportunity to explore new skills for me that will be valuable to me in my career, and to provide my own knowledge and experience I already have to younger people! I’ve found my first few sessions lovely, traditional classroom environments are not ones I am used to, so it has been a good experience for me in practicing my adaptability and application of soft skills in an unfamiliar setting. I understand how vital it is to be able to communicate information to a variety of audiences, and already in these couple of sessions I have had, I feel like I will come out of the program with better communication skills and that the students will have at least been exposed to the idea of university and further study, in STEM or not.”

And RMIT University student Kylie shared, “I joined In2science to give back to the STEM community. I attribute much of my passion and success in this field to my mentors, including mentors from In2science. Growing up, it was the enthusiasm of my STEM teachers that made me want to become a scientist. However, without the chance encounter that occurred back when I was in high school with In2science I would most likely not be where I am today. The mentors from In2science provided encouragement and pathway programs that lead to opportunities that got me into the field where the people I admire most are.  I am now studying a Bachelor of Science. Like anything new, my first session started off nerve-racking and slow. I initially struggled with self doubt in my abilities to be useful in the classroom and questioned whether or not I was making the most of my time with the teachers and students. Honestly, I think this sort of feeling and thinking lasted for one session as I believe I didn’t get here without picking up some skills along the way from my degree and the support of mentors from In2science. With each passing session bringing me closer to my supervising teacher and students my confidence grew. I now find that my sessions fly by too quickly.” 

With mentors like these stepping into classrooms, Semester 1 is already shaping up to be something special. The enthusiasm, openness, and willingness of the mentors to grow alongside their students sets the tone for another inspiring year of connection, curiosity, and STEM discovery. If you want to get your school involved with In2science, contact us today!

In2science recently featured in the Wangaratta Chronicle in a story all about the achievements of our fabulous mentor Aleeta Carmody. Click here to read the article!

In2science is proud to announce that it has been awarded funding through the Victorian Department of Education’s Strategic Partnerships Program (SPP) through to the end of 2027 to help deliver the program, continuing a successful relationship with the SPP that began in 2018. This renewed support reflects the program’s ongoing impact and achievements in fostering STEM engagement across Victoria.

The funding was awarded after a highly competitive funding round, underscoring the success and value of In2science’s work in connecting university STEM mentors with secondary school students. Since its inception in 2004, In2science has been helping to inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers, and innovators by placing over 4000 mentors into over 200 schools, mentoring more than 85,000 students.

Dr Cory Smith, In2science Program Director, said, “This SPP funding reaffirms the program’s role as a trusted partner in delivering STEM outreach to the communities that need it most, and we’re excited to work towards a future where all Victorian students have the opportunity to see themselves in STEM.”

This investment will enable In2science to continue supporting schools throughout Victoria through our in-class mentoring and eMentoring initiatives. By maintaining and expanding these programs, we can reach the students who need us most – those who may not otherwise have access to STEM role models – and help them discover the opportunities that STEM can create in their lives.

For more information about the Strategic Partnerships Program, visit Partnerships: Department of Education.

In2science was thrilled to once again be invited to attend the annual Science Expo at partner school Hume Central Secondary College. Held over two days at two campuses, the expo showcases science projects from the year 9 students. Our mentors, as well as special guests from CSL and Farmwall, were invited to judge the Most Scientific and Best Communication awards, and to share their own experience of working in STEM.

Organiser Chris Egan, Science and STEAM leader at Hume Central Secondary College, had this to say about the event:

“Our Year 9 students became the teachers recently, showcasing their impressive science experiments to an audience of younger students from year 7 and year 5/6 students from Broadmeadows Primary and real-world scientists. What started as a classroom project transformed into an exciting day of discovery and inspiration.

The professional scientists weren’t just polite observers – they were genuinely impressed! The visiting scientists were thrilled to see the depth of scientific thinking and genuine curiosity our students displayed. Our students turned the tables asking thoughtful questions about how they became scientists, what drives their research, and what advice they’d give to young people interested in science careers.

Days like these do more than just showcase academic achievement. They build confidence, spark career aspirations, and show students that science isn’t just about textbooks – it’s about curiosity, discovery, and making a real difference in the world. The enthusiasm was contagious, and we couldn’t be prouder of how our year 9 scientists represented themselves and our school community!”

The participants from In2science had some extremely positive feedback to share about their experience.

Himanya (left), a Bachelor of Biomedical Science student from Deakin University, said, “It was inspiring to see how confidently the students explained their projects and how well they engaged with us while sharing their ideas. Their creativity, teamwork, and ability to communicate science in simple but powerful ways really stood out. I also enjoyed sharing my university journey with the students and encouraging them to keep pursuing their curiosity.”

The University of Melbourne Masters of Environmental Science student Laura said, “The science expo demonstrated that passionate teachers create passionate students that are capable of scientific pursuits! The year 9 students understood and presented their science projects with confidence and knowledge. I was amazed at the variety of projects and in awe of the staff who are so supportive and inspiring to the students. The culture of the school was really highlighted, with students (both primary and secondary) being engaged and interested in science!”

Kaynie (right), studying a Bachelor of Science/Master of Teaching at Deakin University, said, “It was an amazing experience for me. It encouraged students and their passion as well as let everyone see the significance of STEM industry around us. The power of education will contribute to empower the future of STEM.”

Finally, Ahalya, also studying a Bachelor of Biomedical Science at Deakin University, said, “The science expo was fantastic, demonstrating year 9 students’ technical skill and excitement for discovery through models and analogies that provided a real-world example of how science plays an important role in everyday life. The event gave an opportunity for both students and student volunteers to learn, teach, and develop. I hope that these students’ interest leads them down STEM pathways, as they may become future researchers, mentors, educators, and changemakers. As a STEM student, I was proud to share my academic knowledge and learn from this incredible journey.”

Sounds like a fantastic two days engaging with STEM! In2science would like to thank organiser Chris Egan for inviting us to be part of the expo, and The University of Melbourne for supporting our mentors attending. We look forward to joining again next year!

If you would like your school to be part of In2science, reach out to us today!

By Rachel Ella

Every year, secondary schools around the country hold Open Days or Nights, showcasing what each school has to offer prospective students and their families. There are interactive science displays, musical performances, cooking demonstrations, 3D printing, woodworking, robotics, and so much more to explore and discover.

Once again, In2science were lucky enough to be invited to participate in Bundoora Secondary College’s Open Night. Bundoora SC have been an In2science partner school since 2007, and last year their teachers and students were winners and nominees at our annual awards night. It was lovely to see these certificates proudly on display at Open Night!

Three of our mentors currently placed at Bundoora Secondary College joined me on the night to talk about In2science and what it had to offer students in STEM classrooms. We were excited to have our table set up in the College’s brand-new science building! The teachers and students had worked tirelessly in the week leading up to Open Night to set all the equipment and furniture back up in its new home.

Jayanti, currently studying her Masters of Laboratory Medicine at RMIT University, joined me on the night. She has been working with year 8-10 students in the STEM Club and has assisted them in putting together a periodic table of The Diverse History of STEM. This amazing piece of science art was on display at Open Night (pictured below). It depicts many of the scientists credited with STEM discoveries over the centuries. It’s very impressive, don’t you think?

Over the course of the evening, Jayanti, Lakshan, Nishadini, and I spoke to many prospective parents about the In2science program and the exciting prospect of having a university student mentor in one of their child’s STEM classes. We also spoke to many of the students, finding out it they liked science and maths and what they enjoyed about it. You can imagine the fun answers and conversations we had with them! I cannot confirm or deny if Mentos were used in any bribery!

If you are interested in having an In2science mentor in your classroom, please reach out to our Program Manager at [email protected]. We are currently recruiting, interviewing and training a fabulous cohort of mentors ready for semester 2, so email us today!

By Thisanja Cooray, Masters of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics student at La Trobe University and current In2science eMentor.

Last month, the La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science (LIMS) and the Australian and New Zealand Society for Immunology Inc. (ASI) hosted a Discovery Tour of infection and immunity at La Trobe University. This was a great opportunity to show my In2science mentee, Rhiannon, a peek into how scientists work to find better solutions to fight new diseases. Rhiannon is a curious student – we had amazing In2science sessions, delving into the different realms of science, from cell biology to viruses, during our meetings.

I remember my school days during science field trips, I would be thrilled to find out there was some hands-on experience and interesting science to hear about. Now looking back on it, I can see how this has inspired me to consider taking science at university. So, when the opportunity came about, I immediately contacted my coordinator Dr Tahnee Saunders and put the message out in hopes that my mentee would join in me in an adventure.

Stepping into La Trobe’s Labs

We first sat down to hear Dr Emma Grant’s interesting talk on her work about the Bird Flu. It was a fantastic opportunity for Rhiannon to hear from a great scientist! I was particularly very excited when I found out there was some hands-on activities in the labs as this would help to show real-life lab techniques and foster confidence in STEM.

Everyone was sorted to different groups; our group leader was Professor Begoña Heras, another amazing scientist who guided us through all the sections of the labs. Our first stop was the world of Microbiology, where we went through bacterial and fungi plates that originated from a variety of places, all the way from rivers to someone’s shoe – some of them glowing like the sunset! They were fascinating species, some beneficial to the world, such as those used in insulin production, and others less so.

Then we headed into another lab, geared up in lab coats and gloves, where we got to see cells through a microscope, protein gels, and protein crystallization. Then for the more exciting part – loading an actual protein gel! See what Rhiannon has to say about this experience:

“My favourite part of the day was going into the PC2 lab wearing a lab coat and gloves for the first time. There were a few hands-on activities for me and the rest of the group to participate in. We got to ask the scientists about kidney cancer cells under a microscope. We moved on to the next exciting thing, gel electrophoresis! I got to load a gel to identify what type of protein it was. For that task I used a pipette and a vial containing the different proteins. I was successful at loading the protein into the well in the gel.”

In fact, Rhiannon loaded the protein accurately for the first time!

We also delved into microscopy, from light microscopes to confocal where we observed zebrafish:

“I was taken back by the beating of the zebrafish’s heart, and by the absurdly small size of the creature. I found it fascinating how the zebrafish were transparent for a few weeks. I was also surprised at the size of the labs and university. It had a large range of subjects and was a store of enormous knowledge.”

Why Days Like This Matter

Overall, it was a fun and enlightening experience for not only my mentee but myself as it strengthens my own understanding of science and gives me more appreciation of the research project that I am currently doing for my final year of Masters at La Trobe.

I think it is important for young learners to explore the different sides of science, learn how research has made it into the real world and spark curiosity. Through programs like In2science, this can be achieved. I thank the organisers of the event and my In2science Coordinator Dr Tahnee Saunders for giving me this wonderful opportunity to inspire my mentee.

Stay curious!