About DeadlyScience
Written by Junming He
DeadlyScience is an organisation that is committed to creating STEM equity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander learners. DeadlyScience is delivering fun and captivating activities through the Deadly Learners program, which are online workshops that connect Indigenous learners with STEM professionals from across the country. Founder and CEO of DeadlyScience, Corey Tutt, believes that science is for everyone and it is really important to encourage early learners to enjoy and participate in science-based activities as well as learning about science.
CIPPS PhD student, Adele Gonsalvez, became aware of DeadlyScience during her undergraduate Honours research year, but thought she was not qualified to partake at the time. She soon realized that the program was opened for all levels of STEM professionals, even honours student. Motivated by Dr Kate Farquharson, she reached out to the program and got involved. “That was a couple of years ago and I continue to volunteer for Deadly Learners as a PhD student to this day” says Adele.
As a ‘STEM Legend’ (that’s you), you will co-host a one-hour virtual session with a team member from DeadlyScience. They will discuss the program, introduce you, and facilitate the session as well. Your mission is to talk a little about your work as a scientist and answer some general questions. For Adele, this could range from cool animal facts to her true motivations for pursuing a career in science. “Answering fun questions about science or life in general is always a blast for everyone involved – I’ve been asked for my coolest animal fact, shown countless class pets, and faced the question, ‘did you go into science for money or because you love it?’
Volunteering and community service play a pivotal role in the growth of our interpersonal skills, such as leadership, communication, empathy, and teamwork, which enhance the quality of our professional and social relationships.
The demands of a typical 9-to-5 job often drain our social energy. As a result, not everyone has the time, energy, motivation, or flexibility to volunteer. There are also other reasons why people don’t volunteer, such as finding most volunteering roles uninteresting or not meaningful, or simply not being aware of these opportunities. All of these reasons are valid!
This is how DeadlyScience overcome these barriers. The Deadly Learners program is designed to be flexible to your schedule. You will have the opportunity to decide on the time and pick the group to match what works best for you. The program is relevant to the CIPPS community because it will help you hone your skills in science communication. This skill is important not only for professional settings, but also for everyday life, such as explaining complex scientific concepts to friends and family.
Drawing on her own experience with volunteering, Adele shares why she enjoys it: “I have had so much fun volunteering with Deadly Learners over the past few years. It is extremely rewarding to show young students the diverse career paths available in STEM, and to demonstrate that scientists are just like them, making a career in science a real possibility for their future. Discussing my research with a group of inquisitive students is a joy, and it helps refine my science communication skills.”
The Deadly Learners program does not require much time out of your day. When you first sign up to volunteer, they host a one-hour virtual onboarding session to cover the basics of the program and learn a bit about you. Apart from that, everything is hosted online, with sessions occurring only a few times per year, at times specifically chosen by you to fit your schedule. “All in all, volunteering with Deadly Learners only takes three to four hours per YEAR, which is really no time at all.” says Adele.
You can help CIPPS make this a reality through volunteering in DeadlyScience.
- To register as a STEM Legend, register at https://deadlyscience.org.au/deadlylearners/deadlylearners-stem-legend-registration/
- A Working with Children Check or Working with Vulnerable Peoples Check is required, which is free to obtain for volunteers (for more information see https://www.australiannationalcharactercheck.com.au/working-with-children-checks.html).
- Check out other cool outreach programs from DeadlyScience at https://deadlyscience.org.au/
