Smithsonian
Institution
National Museum of Natural History
Research
Training Program
Research
Training Program
A
ten-week in-residence summer research and study
curriculum exclusively for currently enrolled
undergraduate students.
Serving
the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum
of Natural History community since 1980, the Research
Training Program actively facilitates the education,
training, and encouragement of the next generation
of natural history researchers by hosting in-residence
opportunities for students to explore natural
history science, and pursue meaningful research
projects with Natural History's best research
scientists in the biological, geological, and
anthropological disciplines. Helping students
develop confidence and competence in the research
process through active engagement in the overall
research process from hypothesis development to
communicating results to scientific and general
audiences is the cornerstone of this program
Rooted
in the Institution's vast collections - 126
million specimens of plants, animals, insects,
fossils, rocks, minerals, meteorites, marine organisms,
and human artifacts - and supported by the Museum's
internationally acclaimed research community,
the Research Training Program:
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Provides
a first-time opportunity for undergraduate
students, especially underrepresented minorities
and persons with disabilities, to be involved
in active research participation including
students who might not otherwise have the
opportunity to engage in research projects
such as students from institutions where research
opportunities in the natural history sciences
are limited.
-
Encourages
the most talented and highly-motivated young
scientists from around the world to pursue
research investigations, and careers, in natural
history.
-
Fosters
interdisciplinary and international cooperation
to help solve the scientific questions of
today, and tomorrow.
-
Offers
a unique curriculum of opportunities for science
exploration, discovery, and hands-on experience
by utilizing the Smithsonian research and
collections resources.
-
Creates
future scientists who transmit an appreciation
of interdisciplinary natural history studies
and the value of scientific collections and
collections-based research.
-
Shares
with the next generation the science of the
National Museum of Natural History and the
research expertise and skills mastered by
our staff.
Research
is pursued on-site at the National Museum of
Natural History in Washington, DC with results
communicated to scientific and general audiences
through presentation and publication.
