Volunteer Opportunity 

Enhance your science communication skills while inspiring the next generation

Are you a graduate student or early-career scientist (recent graduate or < 5 yrs since graduation) looking to build your science communication and outreach skills? This volunteer opportunity will give you real-world experience engaging with youth while sharing your passion for science.

This Guest Lecturer opportunity is part of our Youth Education program. Classe are held at our classroom in Rincon on Monday and Wednesday afternoons (3:30-5:30pm) during the academic school year. Your participation would help enhance the instruction of our particular learning topic for that week. You would serve as the local expert on your research focus, sharing with the students in a dynamic and engaging way. In this role, you would be provided with instruction from our Director on the best ways to prepare your presentation or activity for the age groups involved. No previous experience necessary!

What We’re Looking For:

Interest in developing communication and outreach skills

Enthusiasm for science engagement
Interest in practicing the skills explaining complex ideas in a simple and engaging way

Interest in public speaking to a small group (10-15 people)

Interest in practicing science communication with or without the help of visual presentation aids

Bilingual (Spanish/English) preferred, but not required

Ocean and marine science related STEM fields

Timeline:

Applications are open year-round but classes are held during the academic calendar of September to December (Fall) and February to May (Spring). 

Participation Structure:

Give graduate students and early career scientists opportunities to strengthen their outreach and science communication skills, share their research, and inspire younger audiences by participating in Isla Mar youth education program. 

Each session will allow you to engage with young scientists-in-training by participating in our curriculum as a guest lecturer. You will share about your research, help our educators instruct on key marine science or earth science topics, participate or lead fish or invertebrate dissections, showcase and introduce your field survey methodologies, and more! 

How to Apply:

Please send your inquiries to Leslie at youth@islamar.org with the following information: Name, Field of Research or Study, Current or past institution, any experience in educating youth. We check for applications and reply often!