Tips for National Youth Science Forum attendees (from an industry that wants you to win)
This is a quick guide for those attending the National Youth Science Forum in Australia but can apply equally to anyone attending an industry outreach program.
Much of these ideas are common to what I’ve written in the past about getting the most out of a Startup Weekend event, or even a hackathon like GovHack. But I wanted to take a moment to focus on the excellent NYSF and the talented cohorts of future science leaders that they are inspiring.
There’s a personal bias that the work of the NYSF is very close to our hearts at Quantum Brilliance, where you can imagine a pioneering quantum computing company in Australia is very invested in the next generation of science talent stepping up to push the boundaries of computing (and commercialization of scientific research) together.
So here’s how.
Preparing for the event
1. Do your research on “who” and “what”
Do a little research on the speakers up front. Read their LinkedIn profile and check if they are on Twitter or other social channels. Check if they have a personal website. It will be nearly always out of date but will show a little of their personality and life outside of work.
2. Set an intention for “what I will get out of this”
It can be easy to sit through events and let them happen without much to show for it. Don’t treat events like entertainment. Take ten minutes to sit down with a notebook and pen, and journal your thoughts about what this event is about, what that topic means to you, and what you think you could get out of it. Intentionality is the key to all value creation. And in this case that “value” is your career (and life). Don’t sleep through it.
3. Know who or what is most important to you
The result of the previous two points should help you understand what is most important to you in or around the event. For example, if you’re interested in physics and computers then you would want to be paying attention when my talented peers at Quantum Brilliance are giving a presentation about their lives and careers.
During the event
4. Have a scratch pad for notes (and other ideas and feelings)
As someone whose career it is to attend events around the world, I can attest to the power of a pen and notepad — not just for taking neat and tidy notes, but for externalizing all ideas, thoughts, and feelings. Having a “scratch pad” to get all of those things out on a page lets you focus on the moment, and not have to use any effort or energy to remember for later.
5. Make a list of people to connect with
The value of industry events is exposure to the organizations and individuals who are doing interesting things. The nuance of those personal experiences matters (and aren’t just the generic ideas and clickbait you can otherwise find on YouTube). The opportunity to make meaningful connections with people in your industry or area of interest is powerful. Don’t miss it. Take screenshots, write down notes, or use your mobile phone to take a photo of the screen. Whatever works for you.
6. Don’t fall asleep
Okay, I’m just checking that you’re paying attention here. But it’s good advice all the same.
After the event
7. Synthesise what you experienced
One of the keys to effective learning is to review and synthesize what we have experienced. By considering the intention-setting exercise, and looking over the real-time notes, we not only retain knowledge more effectively but give our brains the nudge to make connections and form new ideas. If you’re like me you might use this as a time to move your paper notes to a knowledge management tool like Obsidian.
8. Connect with the speakers (and each other)
The people speaking at or otherwise supporting these events are the kind of people who genuinely want you to win. Most of us were you at some stage, and know the difference a community makes. Not just for creating opportunities in the short term, but over our entire careers. Don’t miss the opportunity to connect, even if you’re shy, as you can benefit from following someone on LinkedIn or Twitter and seeing what opportunities and knowledge are popping up from afar.
9. Share with your peers
Whether it’s with a little study group or the whole cohort, there’s value in sharing your content. This could be a shared Google Doc of notes you’re taking together, links to the speaker profiles and various accounts to connect and follow, or collections of the “further reading” they might have shared when you connected and followed up.
10. Write a blog post or create other content
Everything you do in public signals your ability to take action and climb your career ladder. Something as simple as writing a blog post about an event you attended, and sharing what you learned or experienced, can have a big impact on your career (and your life). Especially if you take the time to mention some of the specific things learned, and refer to the people who took the time to present or share their experiences. Those people want you to win, and love to be tagged in things that they can in turn share with their networks.
Good luck and enjoy the sessions. Be sure to let me know if you have any additions or ideas to add to this list of tips. And of course… reach out to let me know how I can help.
