The Dept for Business, Innovation and Skills is running an event members of this forum may find interesting (I’ve also posted about this in the Second Life forum). Here’s the info:

Are you interested in inspiring the next generation of scientists? Are you a Second Life aficionado or would you just like a gentle introduction to virtual worlds? If so, this is the event for you.

Join us on 7th September at 18:00 hours British Summer Time in Guildford (at the science festival) or in Second LIfe to discuss the value of role models in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Do people choose to be role models? Or are role models famous people, perhaps from the past, that we admire from afar? Do young people need to be inspired in this way? Is there a benefit to business in enabling staff to take on dedicated role model or mentoring roles? How will the concept of the role model develop as we become more attuned to working collaboratively and virtually in online spaces and via social networks? And we want to know above all the answer to the question “Who Inspired You?”

To book a place, visit: http://bissecondlife.eventbrite.com/
Second LIfe venue: http://slurl.com/secondlife/UK%20Future%20Focus/128/128

(There’s an interesting discussion on role models in one of the Nature Network forums – do check it out and leave a comment). Women in Science Forum discussion on role models