You don't need a PhD. You need a couple of hours and a reason to give them.
Content review, mentoring, translation, technical work, community organising — STEMCOM runs on volunteers with a wide range of skills, working remotely or in person, on a schedule you set.
Two worries worth taking seriously before you sign up
Most people who've volunteered before have done it at least once for nothing — time given to an organisation that never showed them what happened next. That history makes a reasonable question hard to shake: will this contribution change anything real, or am I just filling a slot on a spreadsheet somewhere? There's a second worry underneath it for anyone without a STEM background specifically — whether skills like communications, design, or event planning even count here, next to scientists and engineers.
Both worries are addressed directly rather than waved off. STEMCOM shares regular impact reports covering student numbers, learning outcomes, engagement data, and direct testimonials, so the evidence of where your time went isn't something you have to take on faith. And the skill list is intentionally broad: communications, community organising, event planning, graphic design, social media management, and fundraising all support the mission as directly as scientific review does. A STEM background helps with some roles. It isn't a requirement for most of them.
Time commitments that fit an actual schedule
Options range from one-time events at 2–4 hours, to regular commitments of 2–5 hours a week, to project-based work spread over weeks or months. You choose what fits, rather than signing up for something open-ended.
Skills beyond STEM are genuinely part of the model
Communications, community organising, event planning, graphic design, social media management, and fundraising all support the mission directly — non-STEM contributions aren't a fallback option here.
Evidence of impact, not just a thank-you note
Regular impact reports cover students reached, learning outcomes and engagement data, testimonials from students and teachers, and stories of students who went on to pursue STEM. The evidence is built into how the organisation reports back, not something you have to chase down yourself.
What volunteering here actually looks like
Six role types, remote or in-person, with support and safeguarding built in.
Six ways to get involved
Content reviewers, community ambassadors, mentors, workshop facilitators, translators, and technical volunteers — each with its own requirements, from a STEM education background to fluency in a target language to relevant technical skills like programming or UX design.
Remote or in-person, matched to you
Many roles, including content review, mentoring, and translation, can be done fully remotely. Others, like school visits and workshops, are in-person. Opportunities are matched to your location and preference rather than assigned by default.
Support that starts before your first task
Every volunteer receives orientation and training, a clear role description, regular check-ins with a volunteer coordinator, access to resources and materials, and a community of fellow volunteers.
A record you can actually use
The volunteer portal logs your activities and hours, generating reports usable for CVs, university applications, or corporate volunteering programmes.
Safeguarding taken seriously, not as a formality
Roles involving direct contact with children require background checks, operate under clear protocols and boundaries, and take place only in supervised, approved settings, with safeguarding training provided and zero tolerance for inappropriate behaviour.
A door that can open further
Most STEMCOM staff began as volunteers. Employment isn't guaranteed through volunteering, but internal candidates are prioritised for open positions, and volunteering is a real way to demonstrate fit before applying for one.
Two hours a week is a real contribution. Start there.
Review the current opportunities, check the requirements for the roles that interest you, and submit an application. An orientation session follows before you begin.