1 CfAO Educational Partnerships in Hawaii: Summer Internships with Long-Term Impact Lisa Hunter Associate Director, Education & Human Resources Center for Adaptive Optics March 17, 2004

2 Outline of meeting Lisa Hunter, CfAO/University of California Santa Cruz –Undergraduate Internships –CfAO Internship Program Model –Status of internship program on Big Island, including new short course –Need for more involvement –Ideas for the future David Le Mignant, Keck/CfAO –Supervising an undergraduate intern at an observatory: experience from 2003 –Akamai Observatory Short Course Open discussion

3 Center for Adaptive Optics A “Science and Technology Center” (STC) funded by the National Science Foundation. Funded in 1999 for 10 years Includes 11 sites; headquartered at UC Santa Cruz STC’s are funded to do highly innovative, cross-disciplinary work that integrates research, education, and knowledge transfer Education focuses on undergraduates, and training junior researchers in science teaching strategies Hawaii is very important to CfAO science and technology development

4 What is a summer undergraduate internship program? 7-10 week supervised independent project - generally full-time Undergraduates at range of levels Program structure that facilitates student success Intern advisor/supervisor guides and mentors students Most successful if student gets complete experience (their own question/problem with presentation at end)

5 What can be accomplished with internship programs? Retain and advance students in science and engineering Increase participation of targeted groups through recruitment Builds workforce Rewarding for advisor/supervisor Completion of a small project Builds partnerships (colleges, universities, organizations) Builds community support

6 Interns in the news Community college intern completed CfAO Mainland internship. Now is paid to give presentations at schools, colleges, community events Trained by Malika Moutawakkil, CfAO Education Coordinator Talked to 200 students that day! Takes experience far beyond 1 student.

7 Interns in the new: technical presentations

8 CfAO Internship Program: History 2002: Started “Mainland Internship” –About 15 students/summer; ~ 80% women or underrepresented minorities 2003: Started “Akamai Internship Program” –All Maui residents; 50% women or underrep. minorities –11 students placed at Maui industry sites –1 student placed at Keck –Internship host organizations attended the CfAO Maui High Tech Industry Education Exchange

9 CfAO Internship Program: 2004 Piloting a partial program to serve local students 4 students to be placed at Keck Others? Maui High Tech Industry Education Exchange to feature on Akamai Internship Program, and posters on CfAO research. May 19, 2004 Expansion of Akamai Internship Program to Big Island:

10 CfAO Undergraduate Internship Model Community Presentation Technical Presentation Independent Project Short Course Professional Development Activities & Support; Mentoring Presentations in schools and community settings - gains community support Experience presenting in conventional setting 5-day intensive program that prepares student for coming research experience: - Content Background - Working environment - Community/socialization Group of targeted students Small teams provide project for intern(s) at their organization

11 Status of 31 Mainland Interns 16 community college students –7 still enrolled in science/engineering –6 transferred; 1 w/grad app (female) 2 to UCSC and work with CfAO –2 dropped college; 1 unknown 15 4-yr students –3 graduated: 1 in grad school (female); 2 in workforce –11 still enrolled in science/engineering 6 grad applications: –4 to CfAO institutions (3 URM male; 1 female) –2 to non-CfAO (female) 27 of 30 retained in science/engineering

12 What do interns say is most important part of their experience? Experience in science communication –Writing an abstract –Preparing a talk and poster –Going to a meeting Applying what they learn in the classroom to a real problem Learning about graduate school Experience in the working environment & meeting people IMPORTANT LESSON: You can’t give a presentation without a real project - giving a student their own question or problem is essential!

13 CfAO Internship Model: Status on Big Island for 2004 Community Presentation Technical Presentation Independent Experience Short Course Professional Development Activities: thru other programs in 2004 Can we pilot 1-2 student presenters in ? Possibility for Sept., 2004, with local help Akamai Observatory Short Course (AOSC) June 1-5, 2004: - Claire Max, PI - David Le Mignant, Lead instructor - Target is >10 Hawaii residents Currently recruiting students - need help! - 4 students at Keck - More organizations needed

14 Hosting an Intern in 2004: Timeline As soon as possible: Get commitment from a few individuals at your organization (makes it much easier) Design a project, or a few to select from (to be completed in ~ 6 weeks, full-time) Let us know what you’re planning Find your own local student, or work with CfAO $ The CfAO can fund a few more interns (Hawaii state residents)

15 Hosting an Intern in 2004: Timeline March-April: Student enrolls in AOSC ( enrollment) May: Send a representative to the Maui High Tech Industry Education Exchange, May 19, 2004 (ideal, but not necessary) June 1-5: Give a brief presentation at the short course that includes project description and information on your organization June 6 - August: Supervise & mentor student intern $ The CfAO can fund a few more interns (Hawaii state residents)

16 CfAO Preliminary Proposal for Full Akamai Program on the Big Island Support ~12 students in program (placed at observatories) Short Course (continue) Annual Symposium Student Community Presentations (training program and logistics) Build in media coverage (another element? Webcasting?) Develop collaboration between observatories, UHH, HCC, CfAO, community organizations New element? –Annual meeting for scientists and engineers: “Integrating students into the technical workforce” Strong need within CfAO community for this meeting Big Island could be great location

17 Integrating students into the technical workforce Questions that many of our intern hosts have: –How do you design a good project? –How do you supervise a student? –How can you help a student advance in science or engineering? –How are internships connected to local education? –Are there elements of internships that can be applied to formal classrooms? –How do you support different learning styles? –Helping students develop strong communication skills

18 Outline of meeting Lisa Hunter, CfAO/University of California Santa Cruz –Undergraduate Internships –CfAO Internship Program Model –Status of internship program on Big Island, including new short course –Need for more involvement –Ideas for the future David Le Mignant, Keck/CfAO –Supervising an undergraduate intern at an observatory: experience from 2003 –Akamai Observatory Short Course Open discussion