Ambitious expansion for Science & Engineering Ambassadors announced

Ambitious expansion for Science & Engineering Ambassadors announced

LONDON, May 21, 2008/3mnewswire.org/ -- The number of ambassadors working to get young people excited about careers in engineering and science is to rise to 27,000 over the next three years, Science Minister Ian Pearson announced today.

It is hoped the Government's Science and Engineering Ambassador scheme will be expanded to all schools and colleges with an increase in numbers from the current 18,000 achieved by 2011. The Government will increase funding for the ambassador scheme by almost £2m to £7.4m.

Mr Pearson made the announcement at the STEM Partnership Conference today (May 21 2008) in London.

The target of 27,000 ambassadors is part of a wider drive to improve the quality and diversity of the scheme, with all STEM disciplines to be represented, as well ensuring ambassadors are drawn from wider society.

Mr Pearson said:

"The Science and Engineering Ambassadors programme - now more than 18,000 strong - is the epitome of effective partnership working, with businesses of all sizes contributing enthusiastic and expert volunteers to serve as role models in schools.

"Given its success, I'm pleased to announce today that we are significantly increasing our investment in this programme, and have set a new target of 27,000 ambassadors by 2011."

Science and Engineering Ambassadors are based across the UK. They represent a broad range of STEM disciplines from apprentices and technicians through to PhDs working in corporate, academic and government organisations.

They work with students in several ways, including supporting school science and engineering clubs, assisting with school science competitions or offering advice and mentoring to students.

Ewere Odaro joined the SEA scheme last year. As a graduate process engineer with MW Kellogg Ltd, she is just one of many ambassadors at the company who enjoys the support and flexibility offered by her employer to visit schools and science clubs.

Her ambassador activities have so far included talking to students about engineering as a career, leading students in playing engineering-related games and demonstrating science experiments to an after school science club.

Ms Odaro said:

"I decided to become an ambassador because I remembered what I had to go through on my own at school in deciding what to study. I spoke to a lot of my older sister's friends about engineering and I found it was really helpful hearing from someone who was already studying in the area."

"It doesn't take much of my time to be an ambassador and if I can provide any sort of clarity or advice to young people who are deciding what to study then I feel like I've done my job."

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