I have been mentoring students about science careers for a number of years, and Science Sophie requested an interview about my experiences and some advice for students starting out in science
What made you become a science mentor?
Several years ago I was asked to give advice to a friend’s
daughter who was doing her A-levels and wanted to discuss potential careers in
science. Since then I have been approached several times to advise about
science careers and how I became a scientist, and so I began actively seeking
out opportunities to mentor students, as it was clear that there was a demand
for mentoring. Since then there has been a huge increase in the support
available, through organisations like www.skypeascientist.com,
stemettes.org and
the government initiative STEM Ambassadors www.stem.org.uk
Did you have any mentors when you were a student?
No, unfortunately I never had any mentors growing up, and so
knew very little about science careers other than what you see on TV. None of
my family went to university and I didn’t know anyone who worked in science, so
I honestly had no-one I could ask about science careers or even how to apply to
university. I asked my science teacher about careers but they couldn’t really
help, as they went straight from university into teaching. At times I felt
pretty lost, and I think a mentor could have really helped me, as there was
lots of thing I had not considered and opportunities I didn’t know about that I
missed out on.
What do you think are the benefits of having a mentor?
I think having a mentor can be really valuable, as you can
ask them for expert advice about the sector or industry you are interested in, this
means you can avoid some of the common mistakes and pitfalls when applying.
Mentors are also beneficial because they are someone outside of your circle of
family and friends, and so they can provide impartial advice and you can have
an honest discussions about careers which you might not be able to with your
parents for example. Mentors can also give advice on where you can apply for
work experience and summer placements, as well as suggest prospective shadowing
opportunities. I think mentoring is particularly useful to women, because we
can sometimes be more risk-adverse, and so it can really help to have someone
supporting and advising you, giving you the confidence and ambition to apply
for your desired course or role.
Do you think mentoring will help equalise the current gender imbalance in
some STEM subjects?
I think mentoring can contribute towards increasing both diversity
and gender equality within STEM. The issue of the gender imbalance is a complex
problem with multiple factors, but I do think mentoring
and support mechanisms will meaningfully contribute towards change, but it
needs to be part of multiple initiatives and interventions if we are to achieve
complete equality.
How can students find their own mentor?
I would recommend that you think about what you are looking
for, is it just support for one thing, like writing your personal statement or
deciding which course to study or are you looking for ongoing weekly mentoring?
Are you looking for a scientist you can meet and shadow just for one day or
just email and find out what their job is like? Do you want to speak with
someone with a specific role, such as a medical doctor, or would someone
working in any field of science be able to help you? Also, how do you want to
meet with the person? By phone, email, Skype or in person? These types of
questions will help identify suitable mentors, because if you want in-person
weekly meetings you need to consider the mentor’s location and availability.
Once you have thought about what you are looking for, you
can then find relevant mentors in a variety of ways, including asking your
teachers, contacting STEM ambassadors, Skype a Scientist, Stemettes, or your
local university. Also, don’t be afraid to look for another mentor if you are
not finding the support you need, because every mentor will have different
strengths and can help you in different ways.
What advice do you have for someone trying to deciding what A-levels to
take?
Firstly, think about the subjects you enjoy at school and
what career you might like, you can then look at the university courses which
would lead to your desired career and the common A-level subjects they require
and the minimum grades you will need. This will help you chose the right
A-levels to ensure you can be accepted to the university course you want.
What advice do you have for someone studying A-levels and thinking about
university?
If you are considering going to university but don’t know
where to begin, there are a few things which can help. I would recommend
visiting a few university campuses and meet the staff, this will give you an
idea of what university life is like, as it is very different from school. If
you have a talent or sport you play then consider universities which excel in
this, as this will add to your university experience and many universities will
offer scholarships in sports (my university offered a golf scholarship!). It is
also important to consider if you want to be close to home so you can visit
family or if you want to live in a big city or study abroad.
If you are applying to a very competitive course or
university then think about relevant volunteering or shadowing experience which
might make you stand out in your personal statement. This is especially
relevant if you are considering studying medicine, as universities want to see
a long-term dedication and passion for science, so volunteering with St John’s
Ambulance for example would make you stand out. Summer independent research
projects are also a great way to stand out and would be a great topic to
discuss in university entrance interviews.
What other ways can students get career advice?
Luckily there is lots of ways you can get career advice,
including from you teachers, career advisors, and your school librarian. The
best career advice recourses can probably be found online, because they collate
a huge range of expert advice and career options in one place, and so I would
recommend checking out good websites like https://www.prospects.ac.uk/
What have you learnt since becoming a mentor?
I feel I’m always learning, but particularly when I’m
mentoring I find I keep learning a lot about myself. I try and focus on giving
my mentee options to think about and questions to prompt them, rather than
telling them what they should do. My role is to help guide and support the
person, and let them make their own informed decisions. Sometimes this is hard,
particularly when they are having a challenging time or struggling with exams
or life, but I always remind myself that my job is to help them learn and grow
and not to solve their problems for them. As with a lot of volunteering, I find
that when I give my time I receive so much in return. With mentoring it is
especially true, because you feel part of the person’s success and can
celebrate their achievements.
