Introductions

Your turn!

•Introduce yourself (give 4 points about your career to-date).

•Do you have previous experience of visiting a

school/volunteering?

•What do you hope to get from this session today?

•Why did you choose science as a career? What is the best

thing about your job?

Smart Futures

• Smart Futures is a Government initiative working with industry,

research and education partners to promote science, technology,

engineering and maths (STEM) careers to post-primary students in

Ireland.

• Main aim is to improve the coordination of outreach resources

and encourage students to consider/retain STEM subjects at post-

primary and third level.

• Objective is to grow awareness of what scientists do and what

skills they use/require.

Smart Futures

• Co-ordinated by the SFI Discover Programme partnering with the

Engineer’s Ireland STEPS programme as well as PharmaChem

Ireland, Royal Society of Chemistry and Institute of Physics.

What do we know?

• 9 of the top 10 global pharma-chemical companies are located in

Ireland.

• Ireland is the largest net exporter of pharmaceuticals in the

world.

• 7 of the top 10 selling medicines are produced here.

• 52k+ people employed in Irish and multinational Life Sciences

companies (in areas like Pharmaceuticals, Biotech, Medical Devices,

Diagnostics, BioPharma, Food).

What do we know?

• Approx. 120 overseas companies have plants in Ireland.

• BioPharma: move towards personalised medicine and niche

products / converging products (i.e. IT and medical devices).

• 86k people employed in physics-based jobs and approx. 80 jobs per

week announced in ICT sector.

• Starting salaries for science, tech and engineering

graduates are between €24k- €31k (CSO show that pharma

workers earn almost 30% more than national average).

Why now?

Higher + Ordinary 2013

Maths 50,856

Biology 31,500

Chemistry 8,155

Agri Science 7,414

Physics 6,448

Engineering 4,881

Applied Maths 1,599

Technology 1,075

Challenges

Benefits of Volunteering?

Communication: consider your audience

How would you present to a student group?

• How to present to a primary school audience?

• How to present to a post-primary school audience?

• How is science or technology relevant to the group in

question?

• What questions would you expect from the group?

Great public speaking is…?

• Use humour, personal stories and conversational language – don’t

patronise!

• Practice with a timer and allow time for questions.

• Project your voice, don’t mumble - be heard!

• Be personable, ask students direct questions, use first names.

• Connect with teacher pre-visit to agree content, pitch, age group

etc.

• Use ice-breakers and transform nervous energy into enthusiasm.

• Experience builds confidence, which is the key to effective speaking.

Reflect Reflect Be yourself Be yourself Connect

with teacher before visit

Connect with teacher before visit

Consider your clothes, body language, and

tone

Consider your clothes, body language, and

tone Buddy up

Buddy up

Bring/Use Props

Bring/Use Props Enjoy!Enjoy!

Praise, praise, praise Every idea is a

good idea!

Praise, praise, praise Every idea is a

good idea!

Keep it informal and avoid acronyms/

jargon!

Keep it informal and avoid acronyms/

jargon!

Volunteer Tips for Success

And now for your

actual presentation…!

Your name hereType of Scientist

Company

WHAT DOES A SCIENTIST DO?

Scientists help us produce safe food

Food Science Agriculture Microbiology Meteorology Ecology Technology Manufacturing

Scientists help us look good and keep us healthy

Health Nutrition Pharmaceuticals Cosmetics Genetics Chemistry Microbiology Nanotechnology

Scientists help us get there

Materials Manufacturing Physics Maths Chemistry Energy

Scientists keep us connected

Computer Science Applied Maths Technology Data Analysis

Scientists help us win!

Sports Science Biochemistry Physics Maths Biology Data Analysis

WHERE DOSCIENTISTS WORK?

Scientists work in hospitals and clinics

Scientists work with engineers to develop new devices, technologies and processes to improve health

Scientists work in the field

Scientists work on renewable fuels and energy sources to create a cleaner environment

Scientists work in the developing world

Scientists work to create better living conditions for people - e.g. clean water, fuel, food and medicines

Scientists work in laboratories

Analytical Chemistry Microbiology Crystallography Applied Physics

Scientists work in all kinds of environments

Marine Biology Oceanography Ecology Sensors Astronomy Research

Scientists work in the world of finance and cybersecurity

Data analytics Physics Applied Maths Statistics Cryptography Programming

WHAT SKILLS DOSCIENTISTS NEED?

Problem solving and critical thinking

Teamwork and communication

Investigative skills

Scientists search for evidence to back up their findings.

Creativity, Innovation, Curiosity

Develop good observation skills – be inquisitive, open-minded and question everything!

MY STORY

Your Name HereType of scientist

Studied science atScience subjects

WHY I CHOOSE SCIENCE

My typical working day…

Benefits to working in science

Travel the world Further training Teach others Publish your research

QUESTIONS?

OPTIONAL ACTIVITY

End of your presentation!

Dos and Don’ts

Information on Child protection and other issues

•Read and sign Smart Futures child protection sheet

•Teacher must stay in the room at all times!

What’s next?

• Smart Futures takes requests for visits

from schools

• Indicate your availability and where you

can travel to on sign up sheet

• Smart Futures contacts you to arrange

visits at a time that suits

• Visits are evaluated by teacher and

volunteer