Our "Micro-Volunteer" Approach

Our new Micro-Volunteer system makes it even easier to volunteer with Science Buddies. The system allows members of the Science Buddies community to choose volunteer opportunities from a list of short-term tasks with which we need assistance. Most tasks can be completed in a few hours (or less), allowing busy volunteers to contribute in convenient and meaningful ways. We have a range of opportunities for volunteers, allowing volunteers to donate in ways that match their expertise and areas of interest. Current needs include project testing, graphic design, image procurement, blog writing in cutting-edge areas of research, and more!

All users who complete Micro-Volunteer tasks earn points, and we encourage companies and groups to form teams to put their organizations on the Micro-Volunteer Leaderboard!

Micro-Volunteering is as Easy as 1-2-3-4!

1. Register for a Science Buddies membership. (It takes less than 3 minutes to sign up!)
   
   
2. Look at the Micro-Volunteer opportunities listed on the My Science Buddies page. (For additional and specialized tasks, check the Other Volunteer Tasks list.
   
   
3. Choose tasks that fit your expertise, interests, and availability.
   
   
4. Earn points for your community contributions and help us ensure the continued high quality of our materials!
   
   

Interested in Corporate Volunteerism?

Does your company encourage employees to volunteer? Science Buddies Micro-Volunteer opportunities are convenient, short-term, and perfect for teams! Get a group together to test one of our new science Project Ideas and then fill out our feedback form to let us know how it went. Your testing helps us and enables you and your colleagues to donate time and expertise in support of K-12 STEM education.

(Optional: Corporate volunteers can schedule a virtual walk-through of the Micro-Volunteer area with a Science Buddies representative by emailing volunteer@sciencebuddies.org.)

Science Buddies Ambassadors

Even if you aren't a scientific or technical professional, Science Buddies still welcomes and needs your help! Our Science Buddies Ambassador role is a convenient way to spread the word about Science Buddies to teachers and students who aren't familiar with our website and K-12 STEM resources. Our set of Ambassador "steps" let you can spend as much or as little time as you like!

• Download a one-page PDF summary of the Science Buddies Ambassador program.

The Ask an Expert Program

Note: We are currently scheduling and recruiting for the 2011-2012 season of Ask an Expert!

The Ask an Expert Program is a free online forum where students and parents can ask questions about K-12 science projects. Our team of volunteer experts work together to provide personalized assistance with students who have questions about any phase of their project, from coming up with an idea to analyzing data to displaying results at a science fair.

Volunteers in the Ask an Expert forums check in on a scheduled day once a week in a forum that matches their area of expertise and provide guidance to students working on science projects. Experts typically spend thirty minutes to one hour, once a week, answering questions. We ask that volunteers commit to the entire school year, but at times we do make shorter assignments.

The Ask an Expert volunteer season runs from September-May (although we maintain a limited number of volunteers in summer months). We begin recruiting and scheduling volunteers each August. We accept applications year-round and will contact you when we begin recruiting for the next school year.

Our team of volunteer Experts includes both adults and high school student mentors:

High School Students (grades 10-12, US only)

• Earn community service credit mentoring at Ask an Expert.
• Be eligible for cash scholarships for outstanding mentoring.
• Find out more about volunteering as student mentor in the online forums.
• Fill out a Science Buddies volunteer application.

Undergraduates, Graduate Students, and Adults (US only)

• Find out more about volunteering as an Expert in the online forums.
• Fill out a Science Buddies volunteer application.

Ask an Expert Breeds Success

With the help of Ask an Expert and a mentoring relationship with Science Buddies volunteer, Donna Hardy from Bio-Rad, Christina Wang completed top-level microbiology research and went to the Intel ISEF as both a sophomore and a junior. Read her story...

McCray McGee (2nd grade) put Squanto's advice about using dead fish as fertilizer to the test in the family garden. Volunteers in the Ask an Expert Forums helped McCray and his family keep the project age-appropriate. Read his story...