“ is | Tuesday, August26th,2014

 

MSI-IIT internship
growth, opportunity to educate others

(Continued from Page 1)

involves a series of explosive chemistry
experiments where the audience learns about
matter, combustion, and chemical reactions.

The MSI-IIT internship partnership
is now entering its 8th year. This partnership
began with a common trustee between HT
and M51, and the program aims to foster
communication skills in students while making
science education accessible to the community
through the delivery of several fun and
interactive live science demonstrations at M51.

“1 have been looking at the program
since my freshman year,” says Cassie Godette,
5th year physics major and 2014 M51
summer intern. “It’s a little intimidating to do
demonstrations in front of a ton of people, but
its really great once you try.”

Christina Castillo, 4th year applied
math major and 2014 intern, adds her thoughts
about the feedback that volunteers and interns
receive at the museum to help improve their
programs. “In our shows, we learn how to give
positive reinforcement and how to stay positive

with our guests. Those traits translate into the
feedback we get from other facilitators at the
museum. Our feedback is never negative; it’s
always positive and constructive. We always
learn about what we do well and get suggestions
on what to work on. There’s always something
that you do well and there’s never a truly bad
show. The museum is an awesome place to learn
how to take feedback and practice presentation
skills that you’re going to need for the rest of
your professional career.”

“You learn how to present yourself
so that people respect and listen to you,” says
Sany Nguyen, another 2014 M51 intern. “Think
of it realistically; you’re going to have to talk to
people professionally, so you should do it here
in the safe environment where there are people
to help coach you”

Students who complete the internship
and volunteership also report increased
confidence, more comfort with public speaking,
and positive experiences in working in a team.

Lynne Meyer, Director of the Office of

Spiritual Life and Service Learning here at IIT,
who acts as the liaison between the museum
and the university, also offers her wisdom. She
says that the MSI volunteership and internship
can be a positive and important experience for
anyone, regardless of their major. “Whatever
field you go into, you’re going to have to
communicate with people who are not in your
area. Whether it’s your boss, a customer, or a
colleague in another department, being able
to confidently and concisely explain diflicult
concepts to somebody who doesn’t share your
background is a real valuable skill.”

The MSI Internship Program has
become a highly competitive opportunity for
IIT students over recent years. Meyer says
there are usually over three times as many
students applying than there are spots open
for the volunteership portion of the program,
so students should also remember not to get
discouraged if they don’t get selected on their
first try. With so many passionate and qualified
applicants, it is very difficult to narrow them

rogram provides

down to the 12 who are chosen to volunteer
each semester. Although this program is a
very unique partnership between M81 and
HT for undergraduate students, one should
also know there are many other ways to
volunteer within the museum if they’d like to
have that experience. Students are also heavily
encouraged to try again and apply in upcoming
semesters should they not make it on their first
try; several successful volunteers and interns in
the program have applied more than once before
being accepted to the volunteership.

In order to apply for the MSI—
IIT volunteership and internship program,
interested students can visit information
sessions being held on Thursday, September 1 1,
Friday, September 12, and Monday, September
15. All of the information sessions will be held in
the Hermann Hall Crown Room at 12:50 RM..
Contact Lynne Meyer at 1meyer2@iit.edu with
any additional questions.

 

 

Photos by Kari Bowns