Volunteering
with SEEDPOP!
Volunteer with SeedPop!
Be part of a new plant science outreach programme and
help inspire the next generation of scientists!
SeedPop! is currently delivered through the University of Galway, with volunteering opportunities open to University of Galway science staff and students. The programme brings hands-on plant science into primary school classrooms and connects pupils with real scientists. As a volunteer, your role is to engage with young people, share your experience of science, and help them see that science — and being a scientist — is for people like them.
You don’t need to be a plant scientist! Volunteers from science-related disciplines are welcome, with training provided through the established Cell EXPLORERS volunteer training programme, alongside SeedPop!-specific preparation.
What does volunteering involve?
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT
As a SeedPop! volunteer, you’ll have the opportunity to engage directly with primary school pupils and develop your science communication skills in a supportive environment.
You can expect:
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Training and guidance through the Cell EXPLORERS volunteer training programme, with additional SeedPop!-specific preparation.
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Support from the SeedPop! team before and during your school visit.
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The chance to develop valuable skills in communication, public engagement, organisation and teamwork by talking about science with young people.
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An opportunity to share your own experience of studying and doing science and help pupils see scientists as real, relatable people.
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Be part of the SeedPop! team – meet other students and researchers, learn from each other, share experiences and have a bit of craic along the way!
Meet other scientists and be part of the SeedPop! team!
WHAT WE EXPECT FROM YOU
You don’t need to be an expert science communicator — we’re looking for volunteers who are enthusiastic, curious and willing to engage with young people.
We ask volunteers to:
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Complete the required Cell EXPLORERS and SeedPop! training before taking part.
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Complete any required Garda Vetting before taking part in a school visit — we’ll guide you through the process.
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Read and agree to the Cell EXPLORERS Volunteer Code of Conduct as part of your volunteer preparation.
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Attend your agreed SeedPop! school visit.
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Listen to pupils as they share their experiments and findings, ask questions and encourage discussion.
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Be happy to answer pupils’ questions and share a little about your own journey and experience in science.
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Help create a positive and inclusive experience of science for every pupil.
Training and time commitment
We provide all the training you need — no previous experience required! Here’s what’s involved:
SeedPop! volunteers complete selected Cell EXPLORERS online training modules before taking part in SeedPop! practical training and school visits. You’ll be given information on which modules to complete and how to access them when you sign up.
Illustration created with the assistance of OpenAI’s ChatGPT.
✓ Total time commitment: around 4.5–5.5 hours
(1-1.5 hours online + 1.5 hours in-person + 1 hour per school visit + 1-1.5 hours self refection)
✓ Dates for in-person training and school visits will be arranged in advance, with flexible options where possible.
Join the SeedPop! team!
We’re currently recruiting volunteers for school visits in late November, early December 2026, and in February 2027. You can get involved in a way that works for you — whether that’s joining a school visit, helping us prepare experiment kits and resources behind the scenes, or getting involved in future school visits in Semester 2.
Volunteering is a great way to meet other scientists, develop useful skills and help inspire young people through science — while having some fun along the way!
Help us get SeedPop! experiment kits ready for schools
Interested in getting involved?
We’d love to hear from you! If you’re a University of Galway student or staff member interested in volunteering with SeedPop!, please get in touch to find out more about current opportunities and next steps.
Yoshiko Nishigori (she/her)
SeedPop! Project Manager
School of Biological and Chemical Sciences
University of Galway
yoshiko.nishigori@universityofgalway.ie