Creativity the key to a successful Ambassador program

Let’s hear from Marissa Chow, a current UQ Science student and a former UQ Science Ambassador about her experiences in the program, the challenges she faced, and the highlights of her ambassador journey.

What school did you attend, and when were you a UQ Science Ambassador?

I attended Somerville House and was a UQ Science Ambassador in 2022.

What types of activities did you deliver as an Ambassador?

I ran ‘Science Help’ tutorials for middle school students, helped organise science competitions like the RACI Titration Competition, coordinated National Science Week activities, and founded a science magazine for students.

Can you share the details of a successful activity and how you ran it?

One memorable project was facilitating our school’s participation in the RACI Titration Competition. I coordinated the student participation lists, guided students on proper titration practices, and oversaw their activities during the competition. It was a great way to apply leadership and teamwork skills.

What was the highlight of your time as a UQ Science Ambassador?

The highlight was definitely founding the Somerville House 'Frogs in Lab Coats' Science Magazine. It was a student-led publication where we conducted interviews, wrote articles, and created games like word searches and puzzles. I grew the team to 12 students from Years 10 to 12, and we successfully published termly issues of the magazine.

Describe an activity that didn’t go so well and why.

Initially, we aimed to release monthly issues of the magazine. However, after the first release, things slowed down. The main challenge was lack of organisation and everyone juggling other commitments.

How did you manage that at the time?

I decided to scale back to termly releases and introduced an article tracker. This helped us stay accountable and motivated, which made a big difference in keeping the magazine running smoothly.

What skills did you develop as a UQ Science Ambassador that have helped you at university or might translate to your future career?

Definitely communication skills. Being able to explain concepts in different ways depending on the audience—whether to Year 7 or Year 12 students—has been incredibly useful. This skill translates well to the workplace, especially when interacting with people who have varying levels of understanding on a topic.

What advice would you give to current UQ Science Ambassadors?

Try to come up with creative ideas for activities throughout the year. The more innovative your ideas, the more likely you'll spark interest and get students involved!