Our hard-working volunteer mentors are the heart of In2science, and finding ways to thank them for their commitment to the program is incredibly important to us. We decided we wanted to give something meaningful back. The result? A brand‑new, free online webinar series created especially for them.
Once a month, mentors will have the chance to hear from an inspiring guest speaker—leaders from STEM industries, academics from our four partner universities, and experts offering professional development workshops. There’s even space for our postgraduate mentors to step into the spotlight and share their own research with their peers.
We launched the series on Thursday June 18 with a lively first session titled “Get to Know In2science!” Mentors from across our partner universities learnt all about the story of In2science—from its beginnings in 2004 to the dynamic, state-wide program it is today. Each team member introduced themselves, sharing their career paths, quirks, and passions beyond the office. The In2science team are an eclectic bunch—Deakin University Coordinator Tordy taught maths in Dubai for two years, and The University of Melbourne’s Marie is a bit of a thrill seeker, spending her weekends windsurfing. La Trobe University Coordinator Rachel is a devoted Pink fan (and a somewhat devoted Essendon Football Club fan), while Rany from RMIT University originally trained as a journalist, hoping to become a travel writer. And in true In2science fashion, pets featured prominently in the presentation, with eMentoring Coordinator Rhonda’s cat Dash making a special appearance!
Reflecting on the new initiative, In2science Program Manager Dr Nicole Butler said, “We recognise the massive contribution that our volunteers make, sharing their passion for STEM with their high school student mentees. Hosting a free webinar series is a small way that we can give back to them. It provides the mentors an opportunity to meet people working in industry and academia, and to upskill with professional development workshops.”
With such an enthusiastic start, this webinar series is shaping up to be an insightful new way for mentors to learn, connect, and feel celebrated. We’re excited to share our incredible line-up of speakers with mentors in the months ahead.
