The Abstract: October 2020
Welcome to The Abstract - your monthly round up of all the latest news from Youth STEM Matters, our youth-led scientific journal.
This month, we’ve got an exciting executive appointment, some new team members to introduce, and 2 of our Youth STEM Matters Volunteer Team were part of a panel for Digital Leaders Week!
Head of Science Communication Appointed
Following a competitive application process, we are pleased to announce that Megan Ardis has been appointed as Youth STEM Matters’ first ever Head of Science Communication! The role - which will see Megan join the Executive Team for the journal - has been introduced to further develop the quality of our Science Communication style articles, and make STEM more accessible. Science Communication is an integral part of using STEM to create a better world, and this has been particularly highlighted in the current pandemic.
On Megan’s new role, Editor-In-Chief Adam Khan-Qureshi said: “I am excited to work with Meg in her new role as the Head of Science Communication and am anticipating some changes to be made to the team which will have positive outcomes for the young people we work with!”
Here’s what Megan said about taking on her new role and what you can expect from the Science Communication Team in the coming months…
How do you feel to be taking on this new role, and what are you looking forward to about it?
“I'm excited to be taking on the new role of Head of Science Communication! I've loved working with the Science Communication Editors & wider Youth STEM Matters team over the past few months, and I've got some good ideas and plans to help us grow - I'm looking forward to implementing those, working with everyone, and watching our team evolve!”
Why is it important that science communication has a place and is prominent in the journal?
“Young people are at the heart of Youth STEM Matters. We're built on submissions from young people, a team of hard-working young people run all the ins-and-outs of the journal, and it's important that we're accessible to young people too. STEM is cool! It's exciting and interesting, and it's not beyond anyone's reach. Good Science Communication makes science inclusive - it makes sure that your age, level of education, economic background, or any other factor, doesn't stop you from learning, understanding, and enjoying science!”
What are your aims in the role of Head of Science Communication and what do you want to see the Science Communication Team achieve?
“I have a lot of plans, ideas, and aims for the Science Communication Team at Youth STEM Matters, but they all boil down to one thing: making sure that everyone - readers, authors, and editors - can get the most out of Youth STEM Matters. That means making sure our articles are accessible to everyone, that they have strong links to STEM and the SDGs, that authors and editors have the opportunity to build on their Science Communication skills, and that everyone who contributes in any way has a good experience!”
“Young people are at the heart of Youth STEM Matters. We’re built on submissions from young people, a team of hard-working young people run all the ins-and-outs of the journal, and it’s important that we’re accessible to young people too.”
Meet our new Senior Science Communication Editor!
With Megan moving to Head of Science Communication, her former role of Senior Science Communication Editor (previously known as Lead Science Communication Editor) became available. We’re delighted to announce that Éimear Stephenson, a 20 year old from Ireland, will be joining the Youth STEM Matters Volunteer Team in this role!
Éimear started her journey with Youth STEM Matters by submitting a Science Communication article, and is now looking forward to her new role: “When I first heard I would be joining Youth STEM Matters, I was over the moon! The work Youth STEM Matters does is truly astonishing, and I am so ecstatic to be a part of an organisation that allows youth to be represented in a way they haven’t really been before”.
When asked about what she wanted to see the Science Communication Team achieve, Éimear said: “My goal as Senior Science Communication Editor is to help provide a creative, helpful and innovative environment for STEM editors to thrive. I look forward to seeing the SciComm team produce STEM articles they’re passionate about, aid authors in creating wonderful works of writing, and finally to have fun! I hope to see the brilliant team grow as young individuals and editors, to constantly learn new things and to be proud of the work they do at Youth STEM Matters”.
“The work Youth STEM Matters does is truly astonishing, and I am so ecstatic to be a part of an organisation that allows youth to be represented in a way they haven’t really been before.”
Introducing our new Reviewers
From 54 applicants, based in 19 countries around the world, we’re pleased to be welcoming 6 new Reviewers to the Youth STEM Matters Volunteer Team! Thank you so much to everyone who applied, and congratulations to:
Aayush Shrestha, 20, England
Adriane Thompson, 18, USA
Guillaume Troadec, 19, Australia
Gwyneth MacDonough, 17, USA
Kavina Uthamakuyaran, 18, Canada
Viva Voong, 16, USA
Check out their profiles over on our Meet the Volunteer Team page!
Youth STEM Matters Volunteers Feature in Digital Leaders Week
Volunteer Team members Connie Siu and Laura Maisvoreva had the opportunity to be part of Youth STEM 2030’s panel session “Youth at the Forefront of Tech” in Digital Leaders Week. Our full article (and a recording of the session) is here, but Connie shared her experience of taking part with The Abstract…
“The panel discussion enabled me to meet brilliant youths across the globe with the same aspiration as me – to utilise tech to make a sustainable and better world. It was thought-provoking for me to learn about their ‘adventures’ in tech, and surprising as well to realise how much our encounters in tech resemble each other. This increased my motivation to achieve more as a youth in tech.”
Connie said: “There has been a rise in youth at the forefront of tech, but it is still a long way from being globally recognised and encouraged; the panel discussion enabled me to meet brilliant youths across the globe with the same aspiration as me – to utilise tech to make a sustainable and better world. It was thought-provoking for me to learn about their ‘adventures’ in tech, and surprising as well to realise how much our encounters in tech resemble each other. This increased my motivation to achieve more as a youth in tech despite the obstacles, since I now know that there are youths facing similar situations as me, and together hand-in-hand, we could overcome any challenge that we would face.”
On why it’s important to give young people a seat at the table, she continued: “Including us youths in discussions with a regional or international outreach would also be an eye-opening experience for everyone, because it is important to realise that we are not just the future leaders of tech, we are already the tech leaders, and we will continue to strive for the better and make our voices heard.”
