By Dora Kitching
Fife-based Development Officer Dora Kitching reflects on In2scienceUK’s journey into Scotland so far, celebrating key milestones and collaborations that have boosted awareness and engagement – and invites further support as our programmes continue to grow across the country.
In2scienceUK is on a mission to empower young people from low socioeconomic backgrounds and under-resourced groups to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM). Through our three core programmes – In2STEM, In2research, and In2careers – we have created meaningful opportunities for aspiring STEM professionals.
What began as a London-based initiative has since expanded across much of the UK, and most recently, we have set our sights on bringing our programmes to Scotland.
A promising start
In2scienceUK’s journey into Scotland began in 2022 with the expansion of our In2STEM programme into Edinburgh, offering in-person summer placements and online employability, skills and career workshops to young people in S5 and S6.
To our delight, we were met with enthusiasm by six volunteer hosts from several prestigious institutions, successfully supporting nine Scotland-based In2STEM participants – an encouraging achievement for its first year in the region!
Professor Tara Spires-Jones from the University of Edinburgh was among the first volunteers, stating that “it was incredibly rewarding to meet such an enthusiastic, intelligent, curious person [her In2STEM participant] and introduce them to Neuroscience” (2022 Annual Impact Report).
Tara has continued to host In2STEM placements every year since, inspiring and mentoring the next generation of STEM innovators – including 2024 In2STEM participants Grace and Sasha. Through hands-on experiments and exposure to the wide range of careers in Neuroscience, Tara is helping to widen participation and spark interest among young people who may one day contribute to vital fields such as dementia research.
We are excited to strengthen our relationships with dedicated repeat volunteers like Tara and build new connections in different locations, with the aim of supporting the largest number of Scottish In2STEM participants in 2025.
In2STEM is not the only programme that has been embraced by Scotland. In 2024, we introduced our In2research programme in Glasgow – a year-long initiative designed to break down barriers to postgraduate research and career opportunities.
Thanks to support from the CRUK Scotland Institute, this pilot will open new doors for people from low socioeconomic backgrounds and underrepresented groups, offering valuable experience through an eight-week research placement, mentoring, in-person professional development days, and online skills workshops.
In2research has a strong track record in developing future researchers, with 45% of participants being offered research-related opportunities by the end of the programme (In2research 2023/4 data evaluation by The Brilliant Club). In2research’s ongoing presence in this new region will therefore be instrumental in fostering a diverse talent pipeline to support the growth of Scotland’s thriving research sector.
Engaging the Scottish STEM community
As part of our commitment to supporting Scottish students, In2scienceUK is deepening its collaboration with Scotland’s STEM community by enhancing their participation in online careers panels and developing Scotland-specific workshops.
This summer, the In2STEM programme will showcase fresh voices from major players in Scotland’s STEM sector. Among them is Jack Gilmore, Senior Platform Engineer at NHS Education for Scotland, who will join the “Engineering Careers Panel” to offer attendees a rare opportunity to go behind the scenes of his inspiring career journey.
Sarah Hunt from Skills Development Scotland will also lead In2scienceUK’s first-ever “Scottish Apprenticeships” workshop, championing apprenticeships as valuable and viable alternatives to university and featuring real-life insights from apprentices.
Scottish perspectives are also making an impact on In2careers, our online platform and community delivering year-round career development support. Recently, In2careers hosted a virtual panel “Careers in Data and Engineering: Empowering Women to Succeed” featuring speakers from leading Scottish industry and academia.
This session was presented by Dr Gule Saman, Associate Professor at Heriot-Watt University; Carly Officer, Junior Support Engineer at Edinburgh-based accounting software company FreeAgent; and Katarina Svistseva, founder of Glasgow-based data and AI talent partner, The Data Gals. Together, they shared their personal experiences as women in these traditionally male-dominated fields and contributed meaningful, first-hand perspectives through a Q&A session with attendees.
Highlighting Scottish perspectives is essential for increasing representation and showcasing career opportunities that align with In2scienceUK’s expanding community of participants in Scotland. These young people have limited exposure to STEM careers and role models, so connecting them with leading experts provides direct access to industry insights and guidance that will shape participant futures.
Careers fairs, conferences and ceilidhs!
In2scienceUK has established strong relationships with organisations across Scotland who have supported our mission by inviting us to take part in in-person events, generating valuable opportunities to connect with new audiences and drive engagement.
As part of Scottish Careers Week 2024, In2scienceUK exhibited at the Life and Chemical Sciences Careers Event. This event played a vital role in spreading the word about our programmes, inspiring over 220 students from 14 schools across Scotland to explore the opportunities we offer.
Beyond connecting with future participants, I have also had the privilege of introducing In2scienceUK to new STEM networks. In January, I delivered a call to action for volunteers at the Dundee Data Meetup, where I spoke to data professionals from different industries and received encouraging interest, especially regarding mentoring and workshops.
Similarly, I presented volunteer opportunities to attendees of the Scottish Microscopy Society’s (SMS) 50th Anniversary Symposium. This event was especially valuable as the SMS also made a significant contribution by selling a charity calendar, generously donating all proceeds to In2scienceUK and helping to ensure our programmes remain free and accessible for all.
In-person events like conferences not only provide valuable opportunities for us to promote our initiatives and fundraise, but they also offer the rare opportunity for In2scienceUK beneficiaries to form industry connections and explore careers paths.
The Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre (IBioIC) in particular has been a key supporter of our mission. Led by Skills Programme Manager Dr. Mary Doherty, IBioIC has played an important role in connecting us with leading organisations in the Scottish STEM sector:
“The In2scienceUK programme is a much-needed resource in ensuring that we are able to support all of our young people attain their academic potential. There are numerous STEM-sectors that require an influx of new talent and it is vital that these opportunities are available to young people, irrespective of their background. In2scienceUK provides participants with the academic and social capital to progress on a more equal footing with their peers. IBioIC are delighted to partner with them to provide academic and industry-relevant engagement.”
Last month, IBioIC invited In2scienceUK and our participants to their Annual Student Symposium, featuring project presentations from their PhD students, talks from PhD alumni who have launched their own companies, a networking session, and a ceilidh dinner dance. Keith Robertson, an In2research alumnus based in Glasgow, attended the symposium and shared his experience:
“My visit to the IBiolC student symposium was an exhilarating experience. Listening to the research being undertaken by PhD students was very insightful on an array of topics from antibody therapy for chronic diseases to sustainable whisky production. It was also fascinating to hear about RESILIENCE who get people experience of a laboratory environment through virtual reality. They have created a critical platform which will allow communities access to training opportunities which are otherwise hard to come by.
I appreciated the invitation to attend the symposium through my involvement with In2scienceUK’s In2research programme. Being based in Scotland, it can be difficult to attend such events, so I am glad I had the opportunity to learn from and network with everybody involved with running the IBiolC programme. I will certainly keep up to date with IBiolC and look forward to future collaborations with other STEM organisations.”.
Opportunities like this help bridge the gap between education and employment by creating industry connections for individuals who may not otherwise have access to such networks. Partners like IBioIC have therefore been at the heart of In2scienceUK’s growth in Scotland, opening doors for the next generation of STEM professionals across the country.
How you can shape the future of STEM in Scotland
Our mission to support individuals living in Scotland’s lowest-income areas is a long-term commitment. I have been genuinely inspired by the incredible response In2scienceUK has received, not only from prospective students but also from across the Scottish STEM sector. There’s a clear and growing interest in the opportunities and impact our initiatives offer.
We are dedicated to increasing social mobility and inclusion across all of Scotland but we can’t do it alone! We are looking for STEM professionals from all disciplines and regions to get involved.
Whether you are interested in hosting a summer placement, supporting a specific programme through fundraising, or contributing to a workshop, we would love to hear from you! Please contact our development team at [email protected] to explore how you can get involved. Join us in making a difference!