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Minorities in Science and Technology Career Fair 23 April 1996 - 25 April 1996 Upholding "perfect attendance," the NMNH hosted an interactive booth at the sixth annual Minorities in Science and Technology (MIST) career fair held at George Washington University, Marvin Center. More than 30 Smithsonian professional staff, and their repertoire of curious specimens, from Departments of Mineral Sciences, Entomology, Paleobiology, Invertebrate and Vertebrate Zoology plus representatives from the Discovery Room and SERC fielded questions and shared insights into natural history science with approximately 900 students including 400 junior high and 500 high school students from the DC metropolitan area. Smithsonian's representation was organized and directed by Mary Sangrey as part of outreach initiatives of the Research Training Program. Information
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Participants |
Calendar Information Packet The 1996 Minorities in Science and Technology (MIST) Career Day will be held 23 - 24 April 1996 (junior high) and 25 April 1996 (high school) at the George Washington University's Marvin Center Ballroom (map attached - Appendix A). MIST is a small collection of associations and organizations around the Capitol area who have come together in order to exchange information and ideas concerning programs that encourage junior high and high school students to consider a career in science or mathematics. As members of the National Museum of Natural History, we are interested in sharing information about careers in natural history. In previous years, approximately 1,000 junior high and 500 high school students from more than 30 local schools participated. The NMNH will be one of about 25 exhibitors. We expect to again occupy tables #22, #23, and #24 (Layout of Marvin Center Ballroom attached - Appendix B). Our display will be represented by all NMNH research departments. The list of staff participating this year is attached (Appendix C - please e-mail me corrections and missing information). There is room for more to join us so if you know of others, please contact me. It is up to you to determine who will "work" which day. Prior to the event you will need to select items to represent your department. A list of items used in previous years is attached (Appendix D). We have also compiled a list of comments and suggestions from previous years (Appendix E). Please look over this list and pay close attention to the suggestions - we have learned many valuable lessons in the past and don't want to repeat unnecessary mistakes. Organization of NMNH involvement will followed a tight schedule this year (Appendix F). Only one organizational meeting will be conducted (by popular request). This meeting is scheduled for 10:00am 9 April 1996 in the Botany Library Conference Room. The purpose of this meeting is to talk about the display items, to arrange the order of our display, to review packing procedure for the items to be transported to the exhibit area and to meet each other. Before 22 April 1996 you will need to select, inventory, pack, and deliver to the Botany fumigation room all your display items/materials. Because we will only be getting together once this year, communication through e-mail will be our main method of exchanging information. Please check your e-mail regularly for updates and share information with the other representatives from your department. Each year I look forward to MIST. Not only is it a time to share information about the NMNH with eager young students from the DC area, but I enjoy working with the group of staff who regularly contribute their time toward making the NMNH representation at this event so successful. This will be my last year coordinating the NMNH table. Next year Dave Rosenthal (Anthropology) will serve as organizer. Although I plan to stay involved in the event, new and fresh ideas are needed and I think Dave is the perfect person. I hope you participate with Dave in continuing to develop and improve our MIST table. Finally, I'd like to take this opportunity to "Thank-you" for agreeing to participate this year in the MIST Career Day. Traditionally, most have enjoyed participating in the event, and I anticipate this year will also be a lot of fun. For some this will be the fifth year you've taken time out from your busy schedule to do this. Both Nella and I want everyone to know that your efforts are appreciated by the Museum. If you have any questions or problems, please contact either of us. Reminder, after the Career Day, all representatives are encouraged to provide written comments to evaluate the successes and suggest improvements for next year. I recommend you start keeping notes now of changes for next year - over the years these have proved to be very valuable! Mary
Sangrey List
of Participants
Department
of Anthropology
Department
of Botany
Department
of Entomology
Department
of Invertebrate Zoology
Department
of Mineral Sciences
Department
of Paleobiology
Department
of Vertebrate Zoology
Organizers
Calendar
of Events
5 October 1995 1 March 1996 17 March 1996 20 March 1996 22 March 1996 22 March 1996 22 March 1996 22 March 1996 22 March 1996 22 March 1996 23 - 27 March 1996
27 March 1996 29 March 1996 29 March 1996 31 March 1996 2 April 1996 9 April 1996 9 April 1996 9 - 22 April 1996 15 April 1996 17 April 1996 19 April 1996 22 April 1996 22 April 1996 22 April 1996 22 April 1996 22 April 1996 22 April 1996 23 - 25 April 1996 23 April 1996 23 April 1996 23 April 1996 23 April 1996 23 April 1996 23 April 1996 24 April 1996 24 April 1996 24 April 1996 24 April 1996 24 April 1996 24 April 1996 25 April 1996 25 April 1996 25 April 1996 25 April 1996 25 April 1996 26 April 1996 26 April 1996 29 April 1996 29 April 1996 1 May 1996 1 May 1996
Comments
and Suggestions
Compiled from notes received previous years. Selecting items. Knowing the age group, and therefore making the assumption that specific career questions will not dominate conversation, we've decided to suggest that you select collection items from your Department to stimulate interest in natural history careers and to get the students talking to the Departmental representatives. Specifically, we suggest that you select unique or interesting items for the display. The overall theme of using collections items from each of the Departments has worked very well. However, without question, the success of the exhibit items depends on the comfort and knowledge of the NMNH staff person representing the items. When selecting display items, it is very important to choose items you like to talk about. An interesting specimen, without someone who understands why it's interesting or is uncomfortable talking about it to junior high or high school age students, is a waste of space. If you are looking for ideas we suggest items from the "Links to Life" list which highlights NMNH research efforts linked to real life situations. Items which were very popular and/or worked especially well included:
Items which were not very popular and/or were not effective included:
Fragile items. Fragile items should not be selected for use in the display. Students should be allowed, although carefully, to touch and hold the specimens. Items which can easily be easily broken and/or scientifically valuable items should be avoided - accidents can always happen, even when extreme care is taken. Identification tags. Students are interested in asking "what is this", but identification tags naming the item are often useful. When the table is crowded, the tags are lost in the confusion. But when there are few students, the tags help stimulate conversation. Overall, it was agreed that the tags were effective, and it's recommended to keep this part of the display.
Don't Touch Tags. We will also have a supply of "Please Do Not Touch" tags available just in case you determine at any point during the event that these are needed. Literature available. We will have copies of "Quest", "Smithsonian Resource Guide for Teachers", "Botany Brochure", and "IZ Brochure." In addition, we will have a small brochure about opportunities for junior high and high school age students, information about the SEEDS program, and the High School Internships program. If you have other suggestions, pass your ideas on to Mary. Please allow enough time for adequate copies to be acquired.
Supplies. Past experience has proven the need to have our own office-type supplies on hand. Included on the supply list: rubber bands, tape, pens, pencils, markers, post-it note pads, stapler, scissors, herbarium string, Windex, paper towels, "complements of the Smithsonian Institution" pads, and plastic bags. If you need anything special, please tell Mary. As in the past, several NMNH note pads will be available at the tables for students to write down specific questions or information request which require follow-up action. Specifically, students and teachers interested in further information about internships, volunteer positions, and teacher packets should be encouraged to record their name, address and information requested on the note paper. These will be accumulated and the specific request forwarded to the appropriate office. Field Guides. In previous years we found ourselves wishing we had several local field guides on hand to help answer questions and to illustrate explanations. Consider including a few local field guides complete with simple diagrams in your list of items. These can be kept on hand (under the table or on the chair behind you) for your reference. Display arrangement. Placement of collection items and the order of the Department displays at the table is very important. All collection items should be laid out together once before traveling to the exhibit area to determine the best arrangement. The live cockroaches work best at the table with the literature where there is more space. This also attracts more attention to the information available. Paleo and IZ work best when next to each other because they have fossil and recent collections of the same thing. Information card. Staff working at the display tables should have some type of business/information card complete with name, address and telephone number to hand to students and teachers for follow-up information. Name Tag. You will be provided a name tag to wear during the event. They will be the same as previous years so you are welcome to re-use yours (if you can find it). New tags will be prepared for those who need them. If you need a tag, please provide the following information to Mary before 15 April 1996: your name and your department as you'd like it to appear on the tag. Fumigation room. Botany has generously allowed us to use their fumigation room (located near the West loading dock) as a holding area for all items traveling to the exhibit. Be sure all material (boxes, bags, etc.) stored in this room is clearly tagged "MIST 1996". Transportation of items. Just as he has done for the past five years, Herman Stephens (Steve) will be driving the Public Programs van to take our display items and other props to GW. The vehicle needs to be packed and ready to leave all three days (23rd, 24th & 25th) before 8:00am (to beat the worst of the rush hour traffic). Steve will then return to GW at 11:30am to return items (and any staff that fit) to NMNH. Set-up and Take-down. A representative from each Department needs to be available both days to set-up (8:00am) and take-down (11:30am) the collection items from their Department. Staff unfamiliar with proper packing of individual items can make mistakes - it's better to have your expertise available to guarantee that "extra bit of individual attention." However, set up generally only takes a few minutes. Once the booth is set up there is a "lag" time of an hour or more before the students arrive - just keep this in mind. Security. The Marvin Center Ballroom (where our display will be) is not a secure area. Watch your items. Valuable items should be returned to the Museum overnight between the two event days. Investigate options to locate "secure" overnight housing at GW for items to limit handling and transporting. Note: In 1996 someone stole our supply bag, pens, and "hold-it" adheasive from under the table sometime inbetween event days. Attendance. At least one representatives from each Department must be present at the table throughout the event. You should plan on being ready to host students by 9:30am. Display space. Three tables will be available for our display, one table for literature and the cockroaches, two tables for display items. Each department will have an area of approximately 20" across by 30" deep. This isn't a lot of space so select items accordingly and try not to over-crowd the area. Banner. Once again we'll be using the "green" banner. Although this banner is nice once assembled, it's bulky and difficult to manage! Stan and Steve will be in charge of moving and assembling this part of the display - remember a screw driver is required to assemble and take-down. A large plastic bag should be constructed to preserve the banner board during transport. Noise. The noise, at times, is overwhelming. Talking to students can be very difficult - just be prepared. Consider bringing a cup of water or soda to have on hand to quench your thirst after "all the shouting." A supply of hard candies, mints and throat drops should be kept at the table for participants. Job information. Be careful about trying to explain internships, jobs and careers. Students at this age do not seem to comprehend the term "internship." When "stipend" is mentioned as "money" this translated directly to "job", which is a term that is understood, and which can be used to help explain an internship but not under these conditions. The Smithsonian High School internship program (which provides participants a "stipend") has already selected their participants for 1996 so exercise caution when explaining this program. Although we want these students to be aware of our opportunities, we must be careful about misleading them into thinking we have jobs waiting for them. Rain. Be prepared for a rainy day. All your display items, literature, etc. must be packet in sturdy containers and water proofed (plastic bags work fine). All boxes must be properly labeled "MIST 1996." For easy set-up you should also include your department on the container. List of display items. A list must be prepared of all collection items traveling to the event (this also includes any equipment you are bringing such as hand cart, etc.). This list needs to be to Mary by noon 22 April 1996. It is not acceptable to identify items as "two boxes of collection items on loan from Anthropology." The guard station requires an itemized list of all items leaving the building (loan papers filed in the Departments is not adequate). This is contrary to the "rules governing" the transportation of collection items which strongly discourage specific identification of items being transported for security reasons but we're not going to get out of the building unless we comply.
Loan papers for items. All collection items traveling to the exhibit must be approved by your collection manager and, where necessary, proper NMNH loan procedures followed. Copies of any "paper work" generated should be provided to Mary by noon 22 April 1996.
Property
pass. A property pass is required to get items out of the building.
Each department must have a separate ITEMIZED and SIGNED property pass
for ALL THREE days. Even if it's not the property of NMNH, if we have
to get it out of the building it needs to be included on the property
pass. The guard station at the loading dock requires a "proper signature",
someone with authority for all the items listed on the property pass.
You should know who this person is. If not, please find out before 22
April 1996.
Specimen
List and Participants Department of Anthropology Note: "The archeology objects were not as popular as other collections. If they were presented differently, the kids might better understand the meaning behind the artifacts " - (Dave Rosenthal). 1996: Dave Rosenthal 1995: Dave Rosenthal & Dave Hunt
1994: Natalie Firnhaber & Dave Hunt
1993: Molly Coxson, Natalie Firnhaber, and Dave Hunt
1992: Molly Coxson and Natalie Firnhaber
Department of Botany Note: consider bringing parasitic and medicine plants. 1996: Bob Faden, Greg McKee, Sylvia Stone, and Stan Yankowski
1995: Lisa Funderburke, Carol Kelloff and Stan Yankowski
1994: Barrett Brooks, Carol Kelloff and Stan Yankowski
1993: Christine Begle, Lisa Funderburke and Stan Yankowski
1992: Pedro Acevedo and Margie Knowles
Department of Entomology 1996: Gary Hevel, Buck Lewis, Mary Jo Molineaux, Virginia Power, and Warren Steiner Same as last year. 1995: Gloria House, Buck Lewis, Mary Jo Molineaux, Beth Norden and Warren Steiner
1994: Gloria House, Buck Lewis, Mary Jo Molineaux, Beth Norden and Warren Steiner
Department of Invertebrate Zoology 1996: Tyjuana Nickens, Paul Greenhall, Cynthia Ahearn, and Victoria Batista
1995: Tim Coffer, Victoria Batista, Tyjuana Nickens, Paul Greenhall, & Jennifer Nicol
1994: Tim Coffer, Victoria Batista & Tyjuana Nickens
1992: Karen Reed, Marilyn Schotte and Mike Sweeney
Department of Mineral Sciences Note: the bigger it is and/or the closer it is to the front of the table, the more attention it gets. 1996:
Leslie Hale & Tim O'Hearn
1993:
Leslie Hale and Linda Schramm
1992: Mike Wise
Department of Paleobiology 1996: My Le Ducharme, Derrick Kysar, and Bob Purdy
1995: Derrick Kysar, Conrad Labandeira, Bob Purdy and Jann Thompson
1994:
Derrick Kysar, Conrad Labandeira, Bob Purdy and Jann Thompson
Department of Vertebrate Zoology 1996: Carole
Baldwin, Elyse Beldon, and Kevin deQuiroz
1995: Elyse Beldon
1994: Elyse Beldon
1993: Elyse Beldon
1992: Elyse Beldon and Kevin deQueiroz
Laboratory of Molecular Systematics 1992: Liz Zimmer
Evaluation
Form
While the Career Day(s) is fresh in your mind, take a few moments to record your thoughts about what "worked" this year and suggestions for next year. Return this form to me (Mail Stop NHB 166). Your comments will be added to our information packet distributed to the 1997 NMNH representatives. 1. List items which were popular and/or worked especially well (include in this list items from your Department and observations you made concerning items selected for use to represent other Departments). 2. List items that were not very popular and/or were not effective ( again, include comments about "your" items and items from other departments). 3. What literature were students most interested in? What should we include/exclude next year? 4. Are there any items which should be added to the "supplies" to have on hand? 5. Anything else? (number of departmental reps, information provided prior to event, e-mail as communication prior to event instead of meetings/memos, etc.). A
Note from the Director On behalf of the National Museum of Natural History I thank you for participating in the 1996 Minorities in Science and Technology (MIST) Career Day held April 23, 24, and 25 at the George Washington University. I understand that our display table was not only one of the most popular exhibits at the event, it was also one of the most successful in reaching the audience. Your experience at the NMNH and your knowledge about the subject offered the students and teachers a personal insight into museum jobs that they will find useful in shaping their future career goals. I am especially pleased to learn that you, and the other NMNH staff, are eager and willing to take time out from your busy schedule to contribute to activities that support the NMNH community. One of the goals for the Museum is a diverse workforce in all disciplines. To reach this goal, we need to continue to make a special effort to participate in events, such as MIST, that give us an opportunity to expose teachers and young people to careers available in natural history disciplines. Again, thank you for your assistance in planning and participating in the MIST Career Day. I appreciate your efforts toward making this a successful event and for serving as a representative of the Museum. Sincerely,
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