Over 100 young people from around the world volunteer as part of the Young Scientists Journal Team. In celebration of Volunteers\’ Week 2019 (1st-7th June), 16 year old Shannon shared what it’s like to be part of the team…
Hey all, my name is Shannon and I am a 16 year old student from London currently studying A levels in Maths, Physics, Chemistry and Geography. Outside of volunteering for the journal, I spend most of my time studying, playing sports and watching TV shows. We have a tv mount full motion and I enjoy watching there.
How long have you been part of the YSJ team, and what is your role?
I joined the team in early February as the Ambassador for Astrophysics and, later, the Subject Ambassadors Lead. My role involves writing articles and encouraging submissions to the journal, as well as spreading the word about the journal.
What are your areas of interest within STEM?
I love all things space! Specifically: astrophysics, geophysics and the planetary sciences. I find that these are incredibly rewarding and exciting fields as we are always pushing the boundaries of human knowledge.
What motivated you to get involved in YSJ, and what do you get out of it?
I was looking for an opportunity to be involved in science publication and YSJ offered exactly that. YSJ provides me with the chance to work with a global community of scientists, who are all within my age range. That, I found, is something unique to the journal. YSJ also provides authors with the experience of peer review that comes with writing for a professional body. This has enabled me to gain experience in the academic calibre required for university level writing and beyond.
Have you ever done anything like this before you joined the YSJ team?
No! I was actually somewhat nervous before joining the journal as this is an experience that I never even knew existed!
What’s the best thing about being a member of the YSJ team?
Knowing you’re a part of something big. The global aspect of the journal is what makes it so amazing.