The NEON Undergraduate Internship Program: Mentoring the next generation of science and engineering professionals

In parallel with efforts to build the NEON facility, NEON has initiated efforts to provide programs that help foster future science and engineering professionals. Our first program targets undergraduates interested in pursuing careers in these fields, particularly students from groups historically under-represented in science and engineering. 

Background/Question/Methods

Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) professionals are essential for developing our country’s technological innovations and global competitiveness. Although STEM occupations are projected to grow at a rate twice that of non-STEM occupations, the supply of STEM professionals is not expected to meet this projected growth. Further, the most rapidly growing segments of the US population are largely underrepresented in science and engineering and as a result we are missing the potential of large segments of our population. Attracting and retaining minorities to STEM careers is a priority for key scientific agencies such as NASA and the NSF. Government and industry are called to help address these problems in a variety of ways including, for example, providing mentoring and internship opportunities. NEON’s Undergraduate Internship Program is designed to address this priority. Its mission is to provide undergraduate students from traditionally underrepresented groups in science and engineering mentored opportunities to conduct challenging and engaging STEM-related projects that help students build successful, real-world experiences for future STEM careers while also contributing to the NEON mission. 

Results/Conclusions

In 2012, NEON began development of an undergraduate internship program and piloted it in the summer 2013. Internship experiences were identified from several STEM tracks – ecology, engineering, advanced computing, and environmental journalism. Projects were designed to give interns opportunities to apply academic learning to real-world challenges, and to be completed within a 10-week period, giving interns a sense of accomplishment as well as a resume-building final product. Interns worked with two mentors each - a STEM mentor who provided guidance on the project and a coaching mentor who helped interns navigate the challenges of transitioning from student to professional. Additionally, the program provided career exploration activities such as a leadership workshop, and a brown bag series on career paths, experiences of early career scientist/engineers, and professional portfolio building.

Challenges and successes from our first year are presented including description of four successful interns and projects. Evaluation of pilot efforts is crucial and guides plans for expansion of the program as the NEON network builds.