 |
 |
| Highlights |
| |
|
| Highlights |
Virtual Symposium & Poster Session - join us on-line Thursday, 1 August 2002, to view research poster presentations by the '02 RTP participants. Information
about the Research Training Program:
Application Procedures : go directly to the current RTP on-line application forms
Smithsonian
Center for Education and Museum Studies Smithsonian Office of Fellowships - internships GRADUATES Smithsonian Office of Fellowships - fellowships POST GRADUATES PROFESSIONALS Academic Appointees in-residence
Professional Visits OTHER ACADEMIC LINKS Office of Fellowships: For information and application materials about fellowships and other scholarly appointments offered at the Smithsonian, visit the Smithsonian's Office of Fellowships web site at: http://www.si.edu/ofg/ SOARS: produced by the Smithsonian Office of Fellowships, "Smithsonian Opportunities for Research and Study" is a guide of research and study programs at the Smithsonian plus a complete listing of scientific staff and their research specialties. The site address is: http://www.si.edu/ofg/sorsnmnh.htm CONTACT
US
- OR -
Research
& Collections |
Minorities in Science and Technology Career Fair 27 April 1998 - 29 April 1998 Upholding "perfect attendance," the NMNH hosted an interactive booth at the seventh annual Minorities in Science and Technology (MIST) career fair held at George Washington University, Marvin Center. More than 42 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
Packet | Participants | Calendar Information Packet The 1998 Minorities in Science and Technology (MIST) Career Day will be held 27 - 29 April 1998 at the George Washington University's Marvin Center Ballroom (map attached - Appendix A). The three day event begins Monday, 27 April 1998 and concludes Wednesday 29 April 1998. Our booth will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday for Junior High School students and Wednesday for High School students. 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. To do this we have traditionally used specimens from our collections to get their attention, stimulate their questions and spark their interest in the study of 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 have requested four tables this year, most likely tables #22, #23, #24 and #25 (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 repeating unnecessary mistakes. I also have a notebook of photos from previous years and YOUR notes about what worked and what you would do differently next time. Let me know if you'd like to review the notebook. 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 10:00 a.m. 9 April 1998 in the Botany Library Conference Room. The purpose of this meeting is to talk with each other about potential display items (and possible complementary specimens), 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 24 April 1998 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. Comments from the 1996 MIST encourage Departments to have on hand brochures/hand-outs to give to students interested in take-home information about the discipline. If you provide me the text, I can prepare the brochures - for an example ask me for a copy of the one prepared for Botany. To allow enough time for edits, please e-mail me your text before 15 April 1998. 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. 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 sixth year you've taken time out from your busy schedule to do this. Both Wendy 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
SERC
Organizers
Calendar
of Events
8 January 1998 23 January 1998 February 1998 March 1998 March 1998 27 March 1998 27 March 1998 31 March 1998 3 April 1998 8 April 1998 9 April 1998 10 April 1998 9 - 22 April 1998 13 - 24 April 1998 15 April 1998 20 April 1998 20 April 1998 22 April 1998 23 April 1998 24 April 1998 24 April 1998 24 April 1998 24 April 1998 27 - 29 April 1998 27 April 1998 27 April 1998 27 April 1998 27 April 1998 27 April 1998 27 April 1998 28 April 1998 28 April 1998 28 April 1998 28 April 1998 28 April 1998 28 April 1998 29 April 1998 29 April 1998 29 April 1998 29 April 1998 29 April 1998 29 April 1998 30 April 1998 30 April 1998 30 April 1998 31 April 1998 31 April 1998 4 May 1998 11 May 1998
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:
Questions. Typical questions students ask (in addition to what is that specimen) include:
Try to have answers ready for these and other related questions - but the most frequently ask questions will be about the specimens you bring so make sure you are prepared to talk about whatever is in front of you. 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. List of identification tags to be prepared in Mary's hands by noon 20 April 1998. 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 several Smithsonian publications on hand including "Quest" and information from SERC. If you have literature suggestions, pass your ideas on to Wendy or 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 by you at least once before traveling to the exhibit area to determine the best arrangement and to confirm that everything fits into the space provided (that's no more than 20" across and 30" deep!). 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. If you have other suggestions of complementary groupings, please let Mary know so space can be reserved accordingly. Information card. It is recommended that staff working at the display tables have on hand some type of business/information card complete with their 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 20 April 1998: your name and your office/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 1998". Please deliver boxes/items to be stored and transported before Friday 24 April 1998. Transportation of items. The Public Programs van will take our display items and other props to GW. The vehicle needs to be packed and ready to leave all three days (27th, 28th & 29th) before 8:00 a.m. (to beat the worst of the rush hour traffic). The driver will then return to GW at 1:00 p.m. to return items (and any staff that fit) to NMNH. Set-up and Take-down. A representative from each Department needs to be available all days to set-up (8:00 a.m.) and take-down (1:00 p.m.) 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 event days. We will be investigating options to locate "secure" overnight housing at GW for items to limit handling and transporting but don't count on this. Note: In 1996 someone stole our supply bag, pens, and "hold-it" adhesive from under the table sometime in-between 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 8:30 a.m. Display space. Four tables will be available for our display, one table for literature and the cockroaches, three 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 Yankowski 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 will be kept at the table for you. 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 has been discontinued so there are limited opportunities available. 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 packed in sturdy containers and water proofed (plastic bags work fine). All boxes must be properly labeled "MIST 1998." For easy set-up you should also include your department on the container. Information Brochures. Each Department should consider preparing their own hand-outs/ brochures as take home information about individual disciplines and collection items.
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 24 April 1998. 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 24 April 1998.
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 24
April 1998.
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: Jennifer Clark, Deb Hull-Walski, Jim Krakker, Dave Rosenthal, & Barbara Watanabe "Tsompionchi" 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. The double coconut was a hit. The chocolate bars and "candy bar" plants were real attention getters and provided good story lines for where food comes from. 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: Cynthia Ahearn, Victoria Batista, Paul Greenhall, Tyjuana Nickens, and Yolanda Villacampa
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 MIST Career Day(s) event 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 Mary Sangrey (Mail Stop NHB 166) and attach a listing of the specimens and literature that you used (as reference for next year). Your comments will be added to our information packet distributed to the 1999 NMNH representatives. 1. List items that you thought 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 1998 Minorities in Science and Technology (MIST) Career Day held April 27, 28, and 29 at the George Washington University. I understand that our career table, featuring specimens from our collections and literature about natural history science, was not only one of the most engaging 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 our museum and careers in natural history disciplines. This insight will undoubtedly prove useful as these students shape their future career goals. I am especially pleased to see you, and the other NMNH MIST volunteers, willingly take time out from your busy schedule to contribute to activities that support the NMNH community and our outreach efforts. We all have a full work load. However, our obligation to the Museum community is a balance between daily responsibilities and contributions to extra activities that may fall outside of our routine but support our mission as a Museum. 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,
|
Key Links to RTP Web Pages
Research
Training Program
Information |
Highlights
|
Alumni
Pages
Application
Process
|
Requirements |
Application
Status
Application
Form |
Cover
Letter Form | Recommendation
Form | Advisor
List
| NMNH Home | What's New ? | Calendar of Events | Information Desk | Search |
You are HERE. To continue select the next option.