What value does STEM outreach bring to an individual? How does it change someone's attitude/behaviour/disposition around STEM? And how do you quantify such probing questions? These are the types of queries I'm answering in my Senior Evaluation Officer role at Australia's National Science and Technology Centre - Questacon. Since June 2022, I have been innovating how Questacon measures the impact of its various STEM experiences. How might you ask? Well, you'll just have see our talk to find out!
My previous background is in Planetary Astrophysics, detecting and characterising planets beyond our Solar System. During my PhD, in which I was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship for, I assisted in NASA's planet-finding mission, TESS. My PhD work showed that nearly half of the rocky worlds TESS is likely to find, will be unlike anything we have seen within our own planetary system. During this time, I assisted in the discovery of numerous exoplanets, some even featuring in their own NASA-curated posters!
As a first-generation university student from a low-socioeconomic background, I am also a huge advocate for underrepresented minority groups in the STEM sector. I have been involved with creating and invoking engaging experiences and mentorship for students from such minority groups.