Smithsonian Science Education Center Internship Program

The Smithsonian Science Education Center (SSEC) is transforming K-12 education through science via their innovative new STEM curriculum and digital resources, conducting professional development for STEM teachers, and fostering STEM education leadership among school and community leaders. SSEC has offered an array of internship opportunities for teens who would like to gain some work experience in the science and education space, earn a stipend, and possibly gain school credit (varies by school).

Eligibility: SSEC accepts applications from students currently enrolled in undergraduate or graduate programs, as well as high school students (at least 16 years old). The SSEC is actively seeking a diverse applicant pool of interns. All interns must successfully complete a Federal background check before their internship begins.

Due to the pandemic and advent of remote program offerings, SSEC has pivoted to and included virtual (remote, from home, online) internship options as well, so they may be available, too. In-person internships will be in Washington, D.C. Both virtual and in-person internships constitute full-time hours (25 – 40 hours per week) over a 10 week period; internships are offered in the Summer, as well as in the Spring and other seasons.

Virtual Internship Descriptions

Smithsonian Science Education Academy for Teachers (SSEAT) Intern:

Project Description: This intern will work with educators, researchers, staff, SSEC partners to support Professional Services programming and preparations in Summer 2022.

Learning objectives include:

1. Gain an understanding of the LASER model for transforming formal science education through professional development and the services and curriculum offered by the Smithsonian Science Education Center that support this work.
2. Research new resources to supplement both the intern’s and organization’s understandings of science and STEM education.
3. Learn the basics of educational program development including developing engaging hands-on experiences, building strong communication skills, and best practices in cultivating partnerships and collaborations.
4. Communicating with partner organizations, Smithsonian scientists, and participants to deliver educational programming.
5. Work collaboratively with SSEC staff to create science practice support documents for in person professional development.

The intern will receive daily instruction, guidance, and feedback for all tasks assigned. The intern will also get an understanding of why tasks are necessary and how they contribute to achieving positive outcomes.

Professional Services STEM4SD Intern:

Project Description: Intern will work with educators, researchers, staff, SSEC partners, and experts in the field of STEM Education for Sustainable Development (STEM4SD) to support the Smithsonian Science for Global Goals project and the Network for Emergent Socio-Scientific Thinking (NESST).

Learning objectives include:

1. Gain an understanding of the field of STEM4SD.
2. Gain an understanding of the work of the Smithsonian Science Education Center in the field of STEM4SD, including supporting research to inform STEM4SD professional development, and other services and curriculum offered by the Smithsonian Science Education Center.
3. Research new resources to supplement both the intern’s and organization’s understandings of STEM4SD.
4. Generate and revise blog posts based on the SSEC’s thought leadership intersecting policy and best practices in STEM4SD.
5. Learn the basics of educational program development and strategic planning including the revision of organizational systems, building strong communication skills, and best practices in partnerships and collaborations.

Intern will receive daily instruction, guidance, and follow-up for all tasks assigned.  Intern will also get an understanding of why tasks are done and how important their execution will be in order for positive results.

Global Goals Intern

Project Description: Intern will work with Smithsonian Science Education Center curriculum developers to assist in the development of Smithsonian Science for Global Goals guides. The Smithsonian Science for Global Goals guides aim to inspire young people to take action on the world’s most pressing issues. Interns will learn how to apply knowledge of science content and diverse ways of knowing, research, and pedagogy to assist in developing high-quality resources for teaching and learning.  Learning objectives include:

1. Assisting in the development of community research guides for a global audience of students ages 8-17. This task may include outlining, writing, editing, and proofreading as part of a team of writers, editors, education specialists and scientists.
2. Assisting in identifying and interviewing subject matter experts and young activists about guide topics, recording and transcribing interviews, synthesizing information, and translating high-level academic information into student-facing materials.
3. Conducting additional research on guide topics related to the environment and human health, particularly tracking relevant resources, online conversations, and scientific research to inform guide development and supporting website.
4. Helping to create case studies to showcase the work of subject matter experts from around the world who are collaborating on the community research guides.
5. Researching and understanding the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals along with the accompanying educational goals.
6. Help implement Smithsonian’s commitment to diversity, equity, accessibility and inclusion by assisting in identifying diverse subject matter experts, creating an accessible guide, and considering a variety of cultural contexts to make the guide relevant to a global audience.
7. Representing intern’s own context and perspectives in collaborative discussions about the development of the guide.

Candidates should have strong writing skills, skills in independent research, the ability to communicate professionally with experts, experience/interest in education or curriculum, and the ability to adhere to tight deadlines. Interns will be managed directly by the curriculum developers for Smithsonian Science for Global Goals and will receive feedback and guidance on their writing, research, and other content creation.