NSF Day at NMNH

Interns hosted by the National Museum of Natural History’s Academic Resource Center gather for a group photo

The following was adapted from an article by Samantha Delle, Media & Outreach Leader of the National Museum of Natural History’s (NMNH) Academic Resource Center.

On Monday 7/17/17, the National Museum of Natural History’s (NMNH) Academic Resource Center (ARC) intern team hosted several intern groups for a day within the museum. Those in attendance included interns from the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC), George Mason Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU), Maryland Sea Grant REU, Gallaudet University, and Natural History Research Experiences (NHRE).

Gavriela Carver, the Special Activities and Events Leader in the ARC, planned a busy day of activities for all the interns. Participants began the day with behind-the-scenes tours, which emphasized collections-based research in the Birds, Meteorites, Mammals, Entomology, and Paleobiology collections. Interns were randomly selected to join different tour groups, so cohorts merged, and conversations sparked.

After the tours, participants headed to the Executive Conference Room for a presentation about the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (NSF GRFP) by the NSF GRFP Director, Dr. Gisele Muller-Parker. Interns were able to ask specific questions about the program and the application process.

Following the presentation, a pizza lunch offered interns the opportunity to socialize and approach Gisele with personal questions.

At the luncheon’s conclusion, interns ventured out to explore the museum’s exhibits, including the Hope Diamond, the Butterfly Pavilion, Objects of Wonder, and the Sant Ocean Hall. After, they enjoyed a free IMAX screening of Dinosaurs Alive.

Overall, the day’s events provided an opportunity to highlight the NMNH’s collections-based research, to facilitate communication amongst intern cohorts, and to outline the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program and its application process.

See more pictures of the event here!