How young scientists benefit from mentoring

As the In2science mentoring program prepares for its 16th year, alumni and current students have been celebrated at the In2science awards for their engagement in maths and science through mentoring under-represented secondary students.

In2science is an award-winning, innovative and proven multi-university, schools partnership program, that increases engagement in science and maths. It involves volunteer STEM university students, who mentor secondary students from under-represented groups (low socio-economic status, regional or remote schools).

Above (from left): Maylin Evanochko, John Brumby and Teresa Eva.

This year’s participants were recognised and celebrated at the In2science Awards, which focused on the outstanding achievements and STEM engagement through the In2science STEM Peer Mentoring Program.

In 2018, In2science placed 291 university student mentors in secondary classrooms across 53 Victorian high schools, reaching over 4500 secondary school students. Since it began in 2004, In2science has mentored over 63,360 students.

Bachelor of Science student Lachlan Doyle won the Mentor Dedication Award for his year-long mentoring of year 8 students at his old high school, Footscray City College. Lachie gave mini lessons to students on his university journey including a presentation on geology with rock samples he collected during a field trip.

Hume Central Secondary College were awarded the School Engagement Award. The school hosted 10 In2science mentors in 2018 across their three campuses. This was made possible through the superb coordination, passion and leadership of Science Coordinator Maylin Evanochko (Master of Teaching – Secondary, 2010) and a dedicated team of science teachers that also included alum Teresa Eva (Master of Education (2013), Postgraduate certificate in Mathematics and Mathematics Education (2010), Graduate Diploma in Education (2006)).

Jason Hobson, a Bachelor of Science student and In2science mentor at Hume Central, said Maylin was a fantastic host teacher and as much a mentor to him as he was to the students.

“I would ask her for advice on things that were happening at university and also talk to her about career pathways,” he said.

“We often talked about the difficulty that students from low socio-economic status areas have in engaging with schoolwork, but we saw that as more motivation to think of new ways to assist them. She was always very thankful to have me around and always had the students’ best interests in mind.”

In2science has been an important part of the University’s outreach program since 2004, and works in partnership with La Trobe University, RMIT University, Swinburne University of Technology and Monash University.