Who are STEM Ambassadors?
STEM Ambassadors are volunteers from a wide range of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (‘STEM’) related jobs and disciplines across the UK. They offer their time and enthusiasm to help bring STEM subjects to life and demonstrate the value of them in life and careers.
What do they do?
They volunteer their time, enthusiasm and experiences to encourage and inspire young people to progress further in STEM subjects. There are over 30,000 STEM Ambassadors from more than 2,500 different employers in the UK.
Through a range of activities, including presentations, mentoring and careers talks, STEM Ambassadors play an essential role in inspiring the next generation with the world of STEM subjects and careers. Their support isn’t just limited to the classroom – STEM ambassador can attend STEM Clubs, events with employers, or youth and community groups.
Here are some activities STEM Ambassadors can participate in: https://www.stem.org.uk/stem-ambassadors/inspiration/activities
How can I get involved?
Being a STEM Ambassador is about engaging and enthusing young people with science, technology, engineering and mathematics. You will help encourage students to consider further study of STEM subjects and progression into related careers, inspiring the next generation of STEM professionals. Anyone can become a STEM ambassador!
It offers the chance to give something back to education and the wider community, whilst giving you the chance to develop your own skills and improve yourself.
Here is a link to the STEM Learning UK page: https://www.stem.org.uk/stem-ambassadors/join-stem-ambassador-programme
This is how you register: https://www.stem.org.uk/user/register?type=ambassador
STEM Ambassador Hubs
There are 19 STEM Ambassador hubs across the UK that coordinate volunteering opportunities across the country.
Contact your local STEM Ambassador Hub today: https://www.stem.org.uk/stem-ambassadors/local-stem-ambassador-hubs
Current Radiotherapy UK Ambassadors who are also STEM Ambassadors are:
- Naman Julka-Anderson
- Shannon Johnson
- Zoe Grant – z.grant3@uos.ac.uk
- Joanna McNamara – Joanna.McNamara@shu.ac.uk
What do my employer and I gain?
STEM Ambassadors help to raise the profile of the profession within the local community to school children. They also help to increase work experience and apprentice opportunities.
You could be inspiring the next generation of health care professionals to work in the NHS and more importantly into a career in Radiotherapy!
“Being a STEM ambassador in Radiotherapy provides a brilliant platform to raise the profile of Radiotherapy in the local community. We enjoy sharing the different roles of Therapeutic Radiographers can have with children and young adults as it helps inspire and open their eyes to vital position we hold in the treatment of cancer.” Naman Julka-Anderson, Senior Therapeutic Radiographer
“Since becoming a STEM ambassador I feel that it has been a brilliant opportunity to work on your presentation skills and be innovative when trying to engage children and adults of all ages. It’s as rewarding as treating patients in our day job! Knowing that you may have inspired or educated someone about radiotherapy is invaluable.” Shannon Johnson, Therapeutic Radiographer
“Inspiring the next generation of therapeutic radiographers is important and engaging children from primary school age upwards, increases their awareness of STEM careers within the NHS. Cancer is often considered as a scary word but showing them how we use science and technology to hopefully cure cancers, will make it less scary.” Zoe Grant, Course Leader in Radiotherapy and Oncology, University of Suffolk
“I walk into a school armed with pieces of immobilisation equipment, mobile VERT, anatomical models and a presentation filled with images of radiotherapy and oncology. I stand nervously, in front of a class of rowdy 14 year olds, until the teacher introduces me and the room falls silent. 30 pairs of eyes staring at me expectantly and then the wave of satisfaction and pride I get when they listen intently, ask questions and share their own experiences. An hour is never long enough, but enough time to hopefully inspire students to consider how they could use STEM to further a career in radiotherapy or oncology, promote the role radiotherapy plays in the cancer pathway and dispel myths and stereotypes. I’d highly recommend joining the STEM team and yourself providing future generations with knowledge and maybe even empowering them to consider further education and training in the field.” Jo McNamara, Senior Lecturer in Radiotherapy and Oncology, Sheffield Hallam University
The Radiotherapy Department, Beacon Centre, Musgrove Park Hospital won the joint number one Inspirational STEM Employer in the UK at the STEM Learning UK wards at The House of Lords in 2019.
