ABOUT THE AMBASSADOR PROGRAM

The Our Future is Science (OFIS) Ambassador Program is a unique opportunity for past Mentorship Program Mentees and Mentors to further engage with the OFIS community.

  • As Mentorship Program alumni, Ambassadors have access to OFIS resources and engage and collaborate virtually with the wider network of OFIS alumni, current mentees and mentors, and the larger community of entities vested in uncovering intersections between science and social justice.

  • Ambassadors expand their ability to think critically about community issues, apply best practices for gathering and synthesizing information, co-create and prototype science-based solutions to community issues, and enhance public speaking and science communication skills.

  • Major program requirements include:

    • Attending bi-monthly meetings.
      These present an opportunity for Ambassadors to deeply learn about and discuss topics at the intersection of science and social justice. Examples of past topics include climate change, environmental justice, mental health, and systemic inequities. These meetings will also include professional development activities.

    • Demonstrating and communicating about science-social justice connections by creating 2-3 multi-media outputs.
      Ambassadors work together to create local-level solutions to real-world community challenges. Ambassadors will create outputs that advance understandings about the connection between science and social justice. These may be done independently or collaboratively.

Overview & Reflections Video

The Ambassador Program launched in Fall 2022 with twenty Mentorship Program alumni enrolled. Applications open each summer with former OFIS mentees and mentors in high school or seeking an undergraduate or graduate degree, being eligible to apply. For information on the Ambassador Program please email info@ourfutureisscience.org.

2022-2023 Ambassador, Sara G., from Boston, MA, presented her OFIS Capstone Project at the inaugural year of Sigma XI’s International Forum on Research Excellence (IFoRE). Her poster, titled Brain Fuel: The development of a student-led Initiative to increase awareness of the intersection between nutrition, youth food insecurity, and academic performance, was well-received by IFoRE attendees.

AMBASSADOR MINI PROJECTS

Ambassadors lead/co-lead 2-3 multi-media mini projects with the goal of bringing to life the connection between science and social justice.

Topics can be of personal interest, a current event, an emerging issue, or even a long-standing community or global injustice.

Examples mini-projects could include:

  • Blog and vlog posts for the OFIS website and/or social media.

  • Sharing experiences and providing advice to OFIS mentees and mentors during OFIS workshops.

  • Conducting informational interviews with scientists or activists about their work within the context of science and social justice.

  • Creating highlight reels of OFIS virtual events and activities, mentor/mentee/ambassador outputs, and capstone spotlights.

  • Collaborating with OFIS partners, university-led efforts, and/or science and community organizations.

REACTIONS TO THE AMBASSADOR PROGRAM

“OFIS opened my eyes to the world of science communication and the process of sharing research with others. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity OFIS provided me to fly out to Washington, and not only present my work with OFIS, but participate on a panel discussing my experience with OFIS and as a minority entering the STEM field. Not only did I gain a new level of confidence in my abilities as a scientist, but also as a public speaker and communicator.” — 2022-2023 Ambassador (high school student)

“OFIS has made me so aware of the intersection of my current technical field and social justice and has invigorated in me the desire to pursue social justice issues professionally, even if only in an extracurricular capacity.” — 2022-2023 Ambassador (graduate Student)

“OFIS is shown me that I don't think I can have a career that doesn't some aspect of social justice.” — 2022-2023 Ambassador (graduate student)

“Because of OFIS, I am inspired to study medicine with a purpose of searching for solutions to health disparities in our society. OFIS has also supported me— and in my opinion, helped me get into the college that I will be attending, as well as the combined BA/MD program offered. I seriously do not think I would be where I am if it weren't for my experience with OFIS..” — 2022-2023 Ambassador (high school student)

“I applied for a graduate school service excellence award highlighting my engagement at OFIS. I was humbled to receive the award, which is very competitive, as only one winner is selected annually by a committee chaired by a representative in the Graduate School and student and staff representatives of service-focused areas of campus. This showed me that what we are doing in OFIS is significant and valued in higher education at the graduate school level.” — 2022-2023 Ambassador (graduate student)