YES! 1.0 Internship Application The National Museum of Natural History is currently accepting applications for the Youth Engagement through Science (YES!) internship program.

Required Program Dates YES! interns must be able to commit to all of the following program dates:

Summer Session: 6 weeks, Monday through Friday, June 29 - August 7, 2020, 9:00am - 4:00pmYES! interns will work on science research projects with Smithsonian research scientists and science staff. They will also receive training and mentoring in communication skills and will go on behind-the-scenes tours and field trips to other Smithsonian locations.

Saturday Sessions: 8 weeks, Saturdays only, August 15 - October 3, 2020, 9:00am - 4:00pm Interns will participate in college preparation workshops and will develop a TED-like presentation about their science experience in the YES! program.

Reach 100 Between October 4 and November 6, 2020, YES! interns will participate in a “Reach 100” initiative, where they will be tasked to give their presentations to their school community and peers.

Attn: Youth ProgramsSmithsonian Institution- NMNHOffice of Education & OutreachPO Box 37012 MRC 158Washington, D.C. 20013

Mail the application package to:

(This method of submission is preferred.)

•

YES! APPLICATION as the subject.YouthNMNH@si.edu with

E-mail the application package to:

Two Letters of Recommendation (forms attached)

There are two ways to submit the application package.

•

Required Essays (see Application Form)Application Survey (attached)Application Form (attached)

About the ProgramYES! is a highly competitive, paid internship program that connects Washington D.C. metro area teens with Smithsonian collections, experts, technology, and training. The program provides youth from populations that are traditionally or historically underrepresented in science careers an opportunity to engage in an immersive, hands-on experience and assist them in achieving the goal of attending college. For the past 10 years, YES! has immersed teens in science research across the Smithsonian, and exposed them to a variety of STEM careers by giving them an opportunity to work side-by-side with Smithsonian science staff, researchers, and educators.

YES! interns also enjoy exclusive museum perks such as: free admission to the Butterfly Pavilion; 20% off in all Smithsonian Museum stores; one free Smithsonian IMAX film per week; and access to Smithsonian Libraries.

This project is supported by the Smithsonian Youth AccessGrant Program.

Applying for the Program

Application ProcedureSubmit a complete application package:

Eligibility • Applicants must be between the ages of 14-19 and currently

enrolled in high school.• Applicants must be US citizens or US permanent residents.• Applicants must live in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan

region (D.C., MD, or VA).• Applicants must have an interest in science and

communicating science to the public.• Applicants must be able to participate in the full YES!

Program dates detailed above in Required Program Dates.

Application Deadline Applications must be submitted no later than January 31, 2020. Incomplete applications will not be accepted. If you are mailing in the application packet, it must be post-dated no later than the due date.

Questions? If you have any questions or concerns, please contact: YouthNMNH@si.edu or (202) 633-4588.

Please note: Applications missing any of the documents listed above will be considered incomplete and will not be processed. Due to the high volume of application submissions, Youth Programs staff are not able to confirm receipt of applications.

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY YES! 1.0 INTERNSHIP APPLICATION 2

Application Form In addition to this form, all applicants must include the application survey, essays, and two letters of recommendation. Please print clearly. If names, emails, and phone numbers are illegible, we will not be able to contact the applicant.

Applicant Full Name: ______________________________________________ Date of Birth: _____/_____/________

Address: _________________________________________________________________________________________

City: __________________________________________ State: ______________________ Zip Code: _____________

Cell Phone Number: ___________________________ Applicant Email: ____________________________________

Gender:

Male

Female

Other: ____________

Preferred Pronouns:

He

She

They

Other: ____________

Ethnicity (Optional):

African American/Black

Hispanic

Asian

Native American

Pacific Islander

White

Other: ______________

Name of School: __ Grade:

If you attend a private/independent school with tuition, do you benefit from financial aid?

Parent/Guardian’s Name(s):

Parent/Guardian’s Phone Numbers: (phone 1) (phone 2)

Parent/Guardian’s Email: I am a US citizen or US permanent resident:

Required Essays

Please respond to ALL of the following questions. Answers must be typed; please include your name on your responses.Essay (500-700 words)

1. What excites you about science and what does science mean to you? Elaborate on your academic and personalexperiences with science and tell us the role science will play in your future.

Short Answer Questions (maximum 200 words each) 1. Describe the world you come from; for example, your family, school, community, or city. How has this world

shaped your dreams and aspirations?2. What has challenged you the most in life so far and how did you overcome it?3. Look over the past YES! intern project descriptions that are attached at the end of the application. Which of them

interests you the most and why? (Please note that these are intern project descriptions from past years; they do notreflect what is available for the current year of YES! programming.)

Submission Packet Checklist

____ Application Form ____ Application Survey ____ Required Essays

____ Two Letters of Recommendation

Included in this packet

Being sent separately by my recommenders

_____________________________________________________________ ____________

Yes No N/A

_________________________________________________________________________

________________________ ___________________________

___________________________________________________________________________ Yes No Other ________________________________

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY YES! 1.0 INTERNSHIP APPLICATION 3

Application Survey

1. Are you in a magnet or science-related track program at school? Yes No

2. Have you ever completed an internship before? Yes No

3. Are you enrolled in Free/Reduced Lunch at your school? Yes No

4. Will you be the first in your immediate family to attend college/university? Yes No

___________________________________________________________________________________________

5. If you answered “No” to the question above, please specify who went to college.

6. List any extracurricular activities (band, sports, part-time job, etc.) and any other teen programs (Mary’s Center,LAYC, Bridges 2 Independence, FLoC, ARTLAB+, Boys & Girls Club, P.O.W.E.R., etc.) you currently participate in.

___________________________ ___________________________ __________________________

___________________________ ___________________________ __________________________

___________________________ ___________________________ __________________________

7. Do you have previous experience using microscopes? Yes No

8. Are you willing and able to work in an outdoor setting? Yes No

9. Are you willing and able to work with live animals, including insects? Yes No

10. Are you willing and able to work with dead animal specimens, including insects? Yes No

11. Some projects might demand absolute care and attention, especially when handling fragile specimens. Pleaserate your comfort working with and handling fragile specimens on a scale from 1 to 5, where 5 is the mostcomfortable:

1 2 3 4 5 Not Comfortable Comfortable

12. How did you hear about YES!?

Current or past YES! members

School teacher/counselor

Family member

National Museum of Natural History or Q?rius website

Teen Night Out @Natural History

Presentation at your school or community organization

Natural History Investigations: After School

Other: ____________________________________

_____________________________________________

I certify that the information given above is true:

Applicant Signature: _____________________________________________________ Date: _____/_____/________

Parent/Guardian Signature: _______________________________________________ Date: _____/_____/________

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY YES! 1.0 INTERNSHIP APPLICATION 4

Past YES! Intern Project Descriptions Please take a look at some of the past YES! intern project descriptions on the following two pages. (Please note that these

are intern project descriptions from past years; they do not reflect what is available for the current year of YES! programming.)

Anthropology

Anthropology is the study of humans and their societies in the past and present. Through the lens of cultural anthropology, YES! interns explored the way humans interact with objects both historically and in the present.

Humans communicate directly and indirectly through a range of media: shell adornments, drums, telegraph, even smartphones. Working with anthropology collections from around the world, YES! interns mapped the properties of different objects (what objects are made out of, who made them, etc.), and thought critically about how these objects worked in their own contexts to communicate a range of values and meanings. Investigating this broad span of technology, interns also helped research how they and their peers use smartphones. This work helped to tease out the cultural particularities of our present media moment, and shed light on the diverse ways humans have communicated in the past.

Botany

Botanical collections give glimpses of the past, offer knowledge of the present, and help make predictions about a species’ future well-being. Historically, botanical collections were used mainly for identifying new species, and to provide an inventory of species in specific environments. With improved technological advances, botanists can identify plant species using DNA and determine plant family trees.

YES! interns worked with lichens, unique composite organisms that are the result of symbiotic relationships between fungi and algae. Interns handled pressed lichen specimens and dried tissue samples, learned techniques to identify lichens, utilized curatorial practices, extracted lichen DNA, and performed various molecular analyses.

Collections

The Smithsonian Institution holds the largest collection of natural history specimens in the world, with approximately 155 million items, 145 million of which are at the National Museum of Natural History.

YES! interns assisted with the Collections Program in the conservation of some of these specimens. Interns developed an understanding of: preventive conservation approaches for the care of museum collections; the ethics and guidelines of practice for the conservation profession; and ways to safely handle specimens. Interns assisted staff from the conservation department as they documented the condition of museum objects and conducted minor treatments. Interns assisted with research into paleontological fossil preparation techniques and fluid preserved specimen preservation techniques.

Entomology

With over 35 million specimens housed at the National Museum of Natural History, the National Insect Collection is one of the largest entomological collections in the world.

YES! interns learned how to care for luna moths (Actias luna) and polyphemus moths (Antheraea polyphemus), from hatching to the adult stage of development, and received a hands-on understanding of the complete metamorphosis these insects undergo. Interns obtained fresh leaves, took measurements, and recorded changes throughout the life cycle in order to fully understand the development of these moths. In addition to mastering concepts of basic biology, interns took part in preservation and dissection of specimens, and assisted with engaging visitors at the museum’s Butterfly Pavilion.

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY YES! 1.0 INTERNSHIP APPLICATION 5

Past YES! Intern Project Descriptions

Smithsonian Gardens provides and manages over 180 acres of outdoor gardens as well as 13 public exhibition gardens often called the Smithsonian’s “museum without walls.” Through these public gardens and outdoor exhibits, staff engage people with plants and the role that gardens play in our cultural and natural worlds.

Smithsonian Gardens’ Tree Collection consists of nearly 1,800 native and non-native trees planted around the Smithsonian Institution museums on the National Mall, the Anacostia Community Museum, and the Support Center in Suitland, Maryland. YES! Interns spent the summer working with the living collections team to inventory, document, measure and assist with a professional photography project related to the Tree Collection. Interns were outdoors much of the time, and given the nature of their work, they sometimes got a little dirty. Interns also assisted with plant management and spent some time speaking with public audiences, helping to inspire appreciation and stewardship of the outdoors.

The National Zoo has a long history of innovation and leadership in the care and exhibition of wild animals. Today, the exhibits are more than just places within the Zoo, they include educational and scientific programs both on-site and around the world. Interns were Animal Keeper Aides at the National Zoological Park. This included learning about the Zoo’s conservation efforts, and helping with public engagement.

YES! interns assisted with husbandry, including food preparation and upkeep of enclosures at Amazonia, and with the Lions and Cheetahs. They also helped zoo staff with enrichment preparation and behavior watches, and with various other projects around the exhibits.

Paleobiology

The shells of microscopic fossils have accumulated on the world’s seafloor for many millions of years. Different microfossil species can be identified using characteristics of their shells and species identifications can help determine the age of the sediment they occur in. Abrupt shifts in species composition may indicate major changes in the ocean environment.

Working with a collection of microfossils called foraminifera that were obtained from beneath the ocean floor in sediments that are more than 94 million years old, YES! interns used microscopes to measure how their shape changed across millions of years of their evolution. Because interns worked with microfossils they had to pay close attention to detail and practice patience when handling the specimens. Research that was collected over the summer helped to better characterize the timing and rate of evolutionary change of the species studied.

Vertebrate Zoology

Vertebrate Zoology includes the study of fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. This department at the museum holds the largest collection of vertebrate specimens in the world.

Interns learned how frog skeletons vary among ~7,000 species of frogs and toads and tested how these skeletal changes allowed frogs and toads to adapt to various lifestyles and habitats. YES! interns used computer software to generate 3D models of frog skeletons from microCT image data, measured those skeletons in 3D using a range of techniques, and compared those measured skeletons among species. Interns were able to explore their own hypotheses for why skeletons may have evolved in relation to differences in where species live and how they move around their habitat (digging, climbing, walking, etc.). Through this project, YES! interns generated new skeletal data from museum specimens and make a lasting contribution for future research.

Smithsonian Gardens

National Zoo

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY YES! 1.0 INTERNSHIP APPLICATION 6

Letter of Recommendation Form In order to better assess whether this applicant has the potential for success with our program and to assist us in

determining their candidacy, please fill out this form as a recommendation. All information that you provide to the Youth Programs Department will be kept in strict confidence. Please email the recommendation to YouthNMNH@si.edu with the applicant’s name in the subject line. Email is preferred, but you may also return this recommendation in a sealed envelope to the applicant or to our return address below. Letters of recommendation should not be submitted by family or friends. They should be from teachers, mentors, counselors, and/or community leaders. We thank you for your cooperation and time.

Attn: Youth Programs Smithsonian Institution- NMNH Office of Education & Outreach PO Box 37012 MRC 158 Washington, D.C. 20013

Name: _______________________________________

Organization: _________________________________

E-mail: _______________________________________

Phone Number: _______________________________

Your information

Relationship to Applicant: ______________________Applicant’s Name: ___________________________

1. How long have you known the applicant?

2. Do you have concerns about the ability or motivation of the applicant? If so, please explain why.

3. Please describe the applicant’s ability to communicate effectively with others, both orally and written.

4. What characteristics, both personal and academic, will make this candidate stand out?

5. What would you consider to be the applicant’s strengths and weaknesses?

6. Does the applicant have any limitations that may require special consideration to help their adjustment to the

program?

7. We would appreciate any additional comments or observations (attach separate sheet).

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY YES! 1.0 INTERNSHIP APPLICATION 7

Letter of Recommendation Form In order to better assess whether this applicant has the potential for success with our program and to assist us in

determining their candidacy, please fill out this form as a recommendation. All information that you provide to the Youth Programs Department will be kept in strict confidence. Please email the recommendation to YouthNMNH@si.edu with the applicant’s name in the subject line. Email is preferred, but you may also return this recommendation in a sealed envelope to the applicant or to our return address below. Letters of recommendation should not be submitted by family or friends. They should be from teachers, mentors, counselors, and/or community leaders. We thank you for your cooperation and time.

Attn: Youth Programs Smithsonian Institution- NMNH Office of Education & Outreach PO Box 37012 MRC 158 Washington, D.C. 20013

Your information

Name: _______________________________________

Organization: _________________________________

E-mail: _______________________________________

Phone Number: _______________________________

Relationship to Applicant: ______________________Applicant’s Name: ___________________________

1. How long have you known the applicant?

2. Do you have concerns about the ability or motivation of the applicant? If so, please explain why.

3. Please describe the applicant’s ability to communicate effectively with others, both orally and written.

4. What characteristics, both personal and academic, will make this candidate stand out?

5. What would you consider to be the applicant’s strengths and weaknesses?

6. Does the applicant have any limitations that may require special consideration to help their adjustment to the

program?

7. We would appreciate any additional comments or observations (attach separate sheet).