Introductions Your turn! Introduce yourself (give 4 points about your career to-date). Do you have previous experience of visiting a school/volunteering? What do you hope to get from this session today? Why did you choose ICT/technology as a career? What is the best thing about your job?

Smart Futures Smart Futures is a Government initiative working with industry, research and education partners to promote science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) careers to post-primary students in Ireland. Main aim is to improve the coordination of outreach resources and encourage students to consider/retain STEM subjects at post-primary and third level. Objective is to grow awareness of what people working in STEM do and what skills they use/require.

Smart Futures Co-ordinated by the SFI Discover Programme partnering with the Engineer’s Ireland STEPS programme as well as PharmaChem Ireland, Royal Society of Chemistry, the Institute of Physics and ICT Ireland.

What do we know? Ireland's top 10 multinational employers include tech giants like Intel, IBM, HP, Microsoft, Apple and Google companies employ tech staff across multiple sectors like digital media, gaming, eRetail, life sciences, cybersecurity, financial services etc. 105,000+ people employed in the tech sector in Ireland 730+ Irish-owned digital technology companies The European app economy worth €10billion+ and employs 800,00 people

What do we know? Starting salaries for science, tech and engineering graduates are between €24k- €31k Analytics, Big Data, cybersecurity, mobile apps, cloud computing and high tech manufacturing identified as key growth areas 86k people employed in physics-based jobs in Ireland 52k+ people employed in Irish and multinational Life Sciences companies (in areas like Biotech, Medical Devices, Diagnostics, BioPharma etc).

Why now? Higher + Ordinary2014 Maths52,381 Biology32,957 Chemistry8,604 (+5.5%) Agri Science7,926 Physics7,177 (+11%) Engineering5,203 Applied Maths1,706 (+7%) Technology1,102

Challenges

Benefits of Volunteering?

Communication: consider your audience How would you present to a student group? How to present to a primary school audience? How to present to a post-primary school audience? How is technology relevant to the group in question? What questions would you expect from the group?

Great public speaking is…? Use humour, personal stories and conversational language – don’t patronise! Practice with a timer and allow time for questions. Project your voice, don’t mumble - be heard! Be personable, ask students direct questions, use first names. Connect with teacher pre-visit to agree content, pitch, age group etc. Use ice-breakers and transform nervous energy into enthusiasm. Experience builds confidence, which is the key to effective speaking.

Reflect Be yourself Connect with teacher before visit Consider your clothes, body language, and tone Buddy up Bring/Use Props Bring/Use Props Enjoy! Praise, praise, praise Every idea is a good idea! Praise, praise, praise Every idea is a good idea! Keep it informal and avoid acronyms/ jargon! Keep it informal and avoid acronyms/ jargon! Volunteer Tips for Success

And now for your actual presentation…!

Your name here Job title Company

What is technology?

Recognise anyone? works in technology?

Technology Changing Our World

Technology keeps us connected Computer science Maths Programming Hardware Apps Graphics Cloud computing Social Media

Technology helps us look good Health Nutrition Cosmetics Sensors Manufacturing Medical Devices

Technology helps produce safe food Biotechnology Food science Agriculture Microbiology Meteorology Manufacturing

Technology helps us get there Materials Manufacturing Physics Maths Energy Transport GPS

Technology helps us win! Sports science Biochemistry Physics Maths Data analysis Apps E-textiles Materials

Technology saves lives Medical devices Pharmaceuticals Nanotechnology Immunology Maths Data analysis

Technology in the developing world / protecting the environment Construction Energy Agriculture Communications Health Education

Technology helps education Interactive learning Collaboration Research Communication Art and design

Finance and cybersecurity Software Data analytics Physics Maths Forensics Cryptography Coding e-Commerce

Digital Media Technology Music Film Television Radio Print Design Animation Publishing Internet Marketing

What skills do people in technology need?

Problem solving and critical thinking

Teamwork and communication

Creativity, Innovation, Curiosity

MY STORY Job title Qualifications

Why I chose to work in technology

My typical working day…

Benefits of working in technology Diversity Flexibility Travel the world Further training Solve problems

QUESTIONS?

End of your presentation!

Dos and Don’ts Information on Child protection and other issues Read and sign Smart Futures child protection sheet Teacher must stay in the room at all times!

What’s next? Smart Futures takes requests for visits from schools Indicate your availability and where you can travel to on sign up sheet Smart Futures contacts you to arrange visits at a time that suits Visits are evaluated by teacher and volunteer