SET Conference
Come and help WISEST deliver the SET (Science, Engineering, and Technology) Conference! This fun and interactive day shows young women and gender-diverse students in grades 10-12 that there is more to science than medicine, more to engineering than building bridges, and more to technology than sitting behind a computer screen.
When? Saturday, November 25th, 2023
Where? University of Alberta, North Campus
Please see our volunteer roles below and sign up for those that you're interested in. All roles are in-person.
All volunteers are invited to join us at the SET Conference for a complimentary lunch!
Roles
Lab Activity Volunteers
Lab Activity Volunteers help to deliver hands-on lab activities for SET participants! All Lab Activity Volunteers are expected to complete Online Safety Training prior to the SET Conference and WISEST expects all Lab Activity groups to do a test run of their lab prior to the Conference.
Lab Activity Leaders
Lab Activity Leaders organize and deliver a hands-on lab activity for Conference participants! Lab Activity Leaders are responsible for reviewing their lab procedure, requesting any required materials from WISEST, and leading the activity during both sessions. Each Lab Activity Leader will have a few Assistants to help them.
Who should sign up: Undergraduate, Graduate, Ph.D. Students, researchers, faculty members, lab assistants, lab coordinators, STEM outreach organizations/leaders, or professionals working in STEM fields.
Time commitment: Volunteers can expect to commit to several hours of lab planning and preparation and are expected to complete Online Safety Training and a lab test run prior to the SET Conference. Lab Activity Leaders must be present from 9:00 am - 3:00 pm on the Conference day.
New Hands-on Activities: Do you have an exciting and engaging idea for a new lab or hands-on activity? WISEST has Lab Activity ideas that we have used in past conferences and we also welcome fresh, new ideas for science, engineering, and technology hands-on activities. As some students attend the conference multiple years in a row, it's important for us to find new activities to keep everyone excited and engaged! Please fill in the proposal below so we can work with you to execute your idea.
Lab Activity Assistants
Lab Activity Assistants help to deliver a hands-on lab activity for Conference participants! Lab Activity Assistants will help during both the morning and afternoon activity sessions.
Who should sign up: Undergraduate, Graduate, Ph.D. Students, researchers, faculty members, lab assistants, lab coordinators, STEM outreach organizations/leaders, or professionals working in STEM fields. We also encourage Education students in Secondary Education who plan on teaching high school science to volunteer as lab activity assistants.
Time commitment: Volunteers are expected to complete Online Safety Training and a lab test run prior to the SET conference. Lab Activity Assistants must be present from 9:00 am - 3:00 pm on the Conference day.
Safety Coordinators
Safety Coordinators will be assigned to 1 lab in the Chemistry Department and ensure that safety protocols are being followed during the execution of the hands-on laboratory activities. These individuals should be experienced with Chemistry Labs and be comfortable taking control in case of a spill.
Who should sign up: Chemistry Masters, or Ph.D. Students, or other trained personnel from the Chemistry Department with access to the undergraduate general chemistry labs.
Time commitment: Volunteers are expected to review relevant lab procedures/safety documents and complete Online Safety Training prior to the SET Conference. Safety Coordinators will need to be available for the lab test run prior to the conference as well from 8:00 am - 3:00 pm on the Conference day.
Delegate Guides and General Volunteers
General Volunteers help with things like event set up, signage, registration, and whatever is required to have a smooth, successful event.
Delegate Guides assist with leading groups of students to various activities on campus. They are also key in making sure that SET participants have a positive experience!
Please note, the role of Delegate Guide will require walking with students to various locations on campus. Volunteers should be prepared for physical activity and also have a way to communicate with the main volunteer hub, ie. have a cell phone.
Who should sign up: Undergraduate, graduate, or Ph.D. students, high school students, or interested members of the community. We also encourage Education students in Secondary Education who plan on teaching high school science to volunteer as a guide or general volunteer.
Time commitment: Volunteers are expected to complete Online Safety Training and attend a short orientation session. Delegate Guides must be present from 9:00 am - 3:00 pm on the Conference day. General volunteer shifts can vary between 7:45 am and 4:30 pm based on the volunteer's availability.
Role Models and Networking Volunteers
Role Model and Networking volunteers lead discussions with groups of students. These volunteers will share their educational and career experiences, allowing students the opportunity to ask questions and learn more about careers in STEM, and may also meet with students outside group discussions to share additional information about careers and projects they are working on.
Who should sign up: Individuals working in science, engineering, or technology fields or pursuing graduate or Ph.D. studies in STEM.
Time commitment: Role Model and Networking Volunteers are expected to be present from 12:00 pm - 3:15 pm The mentor session begins with a short volunteer orientation, moves into small group panels and ends with a networking mixer with the students.