Aspiring scientists from under-represented groups attend Royal Society—In2ScienceUK research career mentoring event

The Royal Society hosted more than 60 young people from backgrounds underrepresented in STEM on Tuesday 5 November as part of a meeting to open doors to postgraduate research careers.

As part of its long-standing partnership with In2scienceUK, the event welcomed alumni of the In2Research and In2STEM programmes for aspiring scientists from low socio-economic backgrounds and under-represented groups.

The afternoon included networking opportunities, science communication training, and poster presentations alongside more than 40 inspirational scientists funded by the Royal Society.

It coincides with the launch of the Royal Society’s STEM Research Career Roadmap, a powerful new online platform designed to guide students and early-career researchers through the complex landscape of STEM academic research careers.

The STEM Research Career Roadmap provides students with a comprehensive summary of the diverse career opportunities in STEM research and the tools needed to make informed decisions about their career paths. The platform allows users to:

• Explore STEM career pathways and discover roles and opportunities to transition between different career stages and sectors;
• Connect with the real-world stories of individuals currently shaping fields from medical genomics to particle physics; and
• Gain insight into role expectations, qualifications and skills required for specific roles.

A key feature of the website is its focus on supporting underrepresented groups, empowering students from to overcome barriers and find success in postgraduate research whatever their background.

Dr Liz Sockett FRS, Professor of Bacterial Genetics at the University of Nottingham and a member of the Royal Society’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee, said:

"It is vital that we support young people from all backgrounds in their pursuit of careers in STEM research. Events like this, and the launch of the STEM Research Career Roadmap, are critical steps toward creating a more inclusive and accessible scientific community. By breaking down barriers to postgraduate research careers for people from underrepresented groups we can advance future science with their talents."

Danielle Knight, In2careers Manager at In2ScienceUK, said:

“We’re excited to open up opportunities for students to meet, share ideas and learn from their peers and leading scientists through our partnership with the Royal Society. Events like this can open their eyes to the possibilities of scientific careers, and alongside the STEM Research Career Roadmap give them the tools to understand the academic landscape and map out their own journey.

About the Royal Society

The Royal Society is a self-governing Fellowship of many of the world’s most distinguished scientists drawn from all areas of science, engineering, and medicine. The Society’s fundamental purpose, as it has been since its foundation in 1660, is to recognise, promote, and support excellence in science and to encourage the development and use of science for the benefit of humanity.

About In2scienceUK

In2scienceUK empowers young people from low socioeconomic backgrounds to achieve their full potential and access careers in STEM. Through mentoring, work placements, and skills training, In2scienceUK is committed to creating opportunities for underrepresented groups in science and engineering. The Royal Society funds all three programme streams at In2scienceUK.