NYSF Speed-Meet, Sydney, Tuesday 17 January, 2023

Did you study a Science, Technology, Engineering or Maths, (STEM) degree and are using those skills in the workplace?  Are you working in a different area, or applying your studies in an unusual or non-traditional way? Whether you work in research, a science-related field, or are using your STEM skills in a completely different area - we want you to talk to students about your career pathway and how you got to where you are.

The National Youth Science Forum (NYSF) is a not-for-profit charity that encourages young people in their passion for STEM. Each January, approximately 600 Year 12 students from across the country participate in our NYSF Year 12 Program.

A key part of the NYSF Year 12 Program is exposing students to the range of career paths available to those interested in STEM. As a part of this experience, we provide opportunities for students to connect with professionals and researchers in an informal "Speed-Meet" format.

During this event, you will talk to a small group of students about your career path. The students might ask you questions about your study, fields of research, current role, how you got to where you are today, and where you might be heading. The focus will be on informal discussions where students feel comfortable asking questions. Students will rotate, so you'll have 7-8 conversations lasting 5-7 minutes (the exact split will depend on the number of participants). There will be several breaks in the session, during which you will have an opportunity for informal conversations.

Our Sydney event will be held at UNSW Tyree Energy Technology Building, Kensington on Tuesday 17 January 2023 from 5 pm - 6 pm. The final details of the location will be shared with you closer to the event. We ask that you register your interest so that we are aware of the numbers we are expecting and can plan accordingly.

COVID Safety

All NYSF events are planned with COVID safety in mind and will comply with relevant state health directives as well as any requirements of the venue hosting the event. Further information on the steps NYSF takes to keep you safe, and our expectations of your COVID-safe behaviour can be found in our COVID-19 Policy and Procedures - In-person events. Please note that at this time, vaccination is not required to participate in this event, however, we will contact all registered attendees should this change.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to prepare anything beforehand?

No, there's no need to write a speech or similar; this is an informal event with a Q&A format, where students will be encouraged to ask you about your work and career choices. If you'd like to jot down some ideas, here are some examples of possible questions the students might ask:

• What did you do after Year 12? Why did you choose that pathway?
• If I wanted to do what you do, what should I do after Year 12?
• What's the best part of your job? What's exciting about your research?

If you have any examples of your work or research please do bring them along - when we've run events like this in the past we've found that having something to "show and tell" can help break the ice and get students even more engaged.

Where should I park on campus?

The Tyree Energy Technology Building is located on the lower part of the UNSW Kensington Campus and is easily accessible from the UNSW Anzac Parade light rail stop.

For parking on campus, please see https://www.estate.unsw.edu.au/getting-here/parking-campus for further information on visitor parking at UNSW.

Unfortunately, the NYSF is not able to reimburse participants for parking or transport costs.

Can I update my registration information?

You can easily update the information you provide when you register through the Eventbrite system: 

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/support/articles/en_US/How_To/how-to-update-your-ticket-registration-information?lg=en_AU 

Can I invite my colleagues to participate as well?

Yes! If you have colleagues or friends who you think would be great to speak to these students, please send them the link to the registration page. All we ask is that all participants are currently working in the STEM field or studied STEM in the past, and are enthusiastic about sharing their experiences with young people. 

We are particularly keen to get early career researchers and recent graduates involved in the sessions.

To help with organising and understanding how many people we need to accommodate, we do ask that everyone who attends registers beforehand online.

Any other questions?

Contact the National Youth Science Forum at programs@nysf.edu.au, or (02) 6125 2777.