Volunteering

Give back to your local community, gain experience, build new skills, expand your professional network and support your professional awards through volunteering

Volunteering is deeply embedded throughout the history and the culture of the RSC and is vital to our governance and boards, supports our accreditation and professional standards and significantly amplifies the reach and impact of our charitable activities. 

We actively seek volunteer participation because volunteers:

  • Amplify our passion for chemistry
  • Challenge us and make sure we are relevant
  • Bring sector-specific expertise, knowledge and insights into the organisation
  • Connect us to our local communities
  • Increase the reach of our activities to members and the wider community
  • Represent our values: professional, dedicated, respectful and enabling

Through volunteering you can meet new people and build networks, develop skills and broaden your experience, and make a difference to your local community.

If you are interested in volunteering, there are a wide range of options available through our activities, and those of our Member Networks, partners and grant holders. Not sure what to get involved in or looking for ideas – explore current volunteering opportunities below.

Learn more about volunteering here

Volunteering Opportunities

In this section, you will be able to explore all current volunteering opportunities offered by the following:

  • Royal Society of Chemistry
  • RSC Member Networks (including Local Sections and Interest Groups)
  • RSC grant award holders
  • RSC programme/project partners who are working on behalf of or in collaboration with the RSC and/or an RSC Member Network

 


 


Evening lecture at National Gallery of Scotland

Date: Thursday 29 May 2025 5:30 - 8:00 pm
Location: Hawthornden Lecture Theatre, National Gallery of Scotland, The Mound, Edinburgh, EH2 2EL
Overview: Volunteers are requested to help staff doors at a free to attend evening lecture at the intersection of science and art, hosted jointly by the National Galleries of Scotland and Royal Society of Chemistry Edinburgh and SE Scotland Branch. 
Date Added: 8 May 2025

Click for more information


RSC Mentoring - Ongoing opportunities

Date: Ongoing opportunities
Location: Online
Overview: As the professional body for chemical scientists, the Royal Society of Chemistry's mentoring programme connects our community with mentoring partners beyond their workplaces and existing networks. For mentors, it’s a chance to develop your communication and leadership skills while making a lasting positive impact.  
Date Added: 13 March 2025

Click for more information


Share your PhD experience with Chemistry World - Ongoing opportunities

Date: Ongoing opportunities 
Location: Online, worldwide
Overview: Are you currently doing a PhD or have completed a PhD in the chemical sciences within the last five years? Chemistry World invites you to share your insight and opinions to help the team develop a new content strand to support PhD students. It’s a chance to have your voice heard, make a difference to your community and gain valuable professional skills.
Date Added:13 November 2024

Click for more information


Become an assessor for the approval of training scheme - Ongoing opportunities

Date: Ongoing opportunities 
Location: Online, worldwide
Overview:  To support RSC provision of high quality training, we are looking for RSC Members and Fellows to support the assessment of training courses.
Date Added: 3 October 2024

Click for more information


I'm a Scientist, Get me out of Here! – Ongoing opportunities

Date: Ongoing opportunities
Location: Online, UK
Overview: I’m a Scientist, Get me out of here, is an outreach activity engaging school students with people working in STEM. Students connect with scientists through themed online text-based live chats, ask follow-up questions, and vote for their favourite scientist to win £500 to put towards further outreach. The activity is text-based and online, so you can take part from anywhere at times that suit you best.
By taking part, you will also have access to the Academy - a short public engagement CPD course. It is text-based and online just like the Chats and can be done at your own pace. You benefit from a private space to reflect on your I’m a Scientist experience, as it’s happening, with guidance from science communication expert Dr Hannah Little.
Date Added: 18 September 2024

Click for more information


Become a STEM Ambassador – Ongoing opportunities

Date: Varied
Location: Varied, UK
Overview: Would you like to make a difference to young people, your community and education in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM)? STEM Ambassadors make an impact by supporting learning, illuminating careers and raising aspirations.
Date Added: 18 September 2024

Click for more information

 


Become a Chartered Chemist (CChem) mentor  – Ongoing opportunities

Date: Ongoing opportunities
Location: Online
Overview: Chartered Chemist (CChem) holders can play a critical role in the Chartered Chemist (CChem) awarding process by signing up as a CChem Mentor and supporting applicants to achieve their own CChem status. CChem holders can either volunteer to mentor someone in their workplace or network, or join the CChem mentor pool.
Date Added: 18 September 2024

Click for more information


Become a Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv) Assessor – Ongoing opportunities

Date: Ongoing opportunities
Location: Online, worldwide
Overview: To support the professional award of Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv), express your interest in becoming a CEnv assessor. Eligibility criteria apply.
Date Added: 18 September 2024

Click for more information


Become a Chartered Scientist (CSci) Assessor – Ongoing opportunities

Date: Ongoing opportunities
Location: Online, worldwide
Overview: To support the professional award of Chartered Scientist (CSci), express your interest in becoming a CSci assessor. Eligibility criteria apply.
Date Added: 18 September 2024

Click for more information


Become a Qualified Person (QP) Assessor – Ongoing opportunities

Date: Ongoing opportunities
Location: Online, UK
Overview: To support the RSC contribution to the Joint Professional Bodies’ assessment panel for the Qualified Person in the Pharmaceutical Industry (QP) professional award, express your interest in becoming a volunteer QP assessor. Eligibility criteria apply.
Date Added: 18 September 2024

Click for more information
 

Become an RSC Industry Representative – Ongoing opportunities

Date: Ongoing opportunities
Location: Varied
Overview: Would you like to receive regular news and updates about industry support from the Royal Society of Chemistry to share with your colleagues? Become an Industry Representative for your organisation.
Date Added: 18 September 2024

Click for more information


Become an RSC Technician Representative – Ongoing opportunities

Date: Ongoing opportunities
Location: Varied
Overview: Would you like to receive regular news and updates about technician support from the Royal Society of Chemistry? Become a Technician Representative for your organisation.
Date Added: 18 September 2024

Click for more information


RSC Elections: currently closed to nominations

As a charity, we are governed by our Board of Trustees who may appoint boards and committees and delegate such powers to them as it may think fit.
Our boards and committees are formed through elected representative members, who contribute to guiding and driving our strategies and activities.

For more information on our Board and Committees including our Trustees and Leadership team please go to our Structure and Governance page
These pages will be updated when nominations for Boards and Committees are open.


 

How to get in touch

If you have any questions about any of the volunteering opportunities listed above, please use the contact details attached to the listing.
If you have any general questions about volunteering with the RSC, get in touch with us by email to volunteer@rsc.org.