Speakers
A talk from a visiting speaker can provide a rich experince. They form the link between your STEM club and the world of STEM beyond the classroom. A visting speaker can also be a great way of convincing someone of the value of a career in STEM.
Where to look for speakers
- Ask your STEMNET contract holder about the STEM Ambassadors scheme
- Search the supplier & services database
- Local universities or research institutions
- Industry
- Government agencies
Points to consider
- A good speaker can get booked up far in advance, so plan ahead.
- What do you want your visiting speaker to talk about? Make this clear from the outset.
- Brief your speaker about the club: interests, ages, abilities, etc.
- Brief the club members in advance of the speaker’s visit.
- Be strict about your timings to avoid restlessness (or worse, boredom).
- Have a question and answer session, and consider having someone to act as chairperson to drive discussion.
- Formally thank the speaker at the end of the session.
- Even if your visitor is not charging a fee, it is good practice to offer to cover transport costs (possibly accommodation costs too if they are travelling some distance).