New Earth Science on Volcanic Islands summer internship begins
A cohort of 10 motivated undergraduate students arrived at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa this week to participate in a summer research internship called Earth Science on Volcanic Islands, hosted by the Department of Geology and Geophysics (G&G). The opportunity, funded for three years by the National Science Foundation’s Research Experience for Undergraduates program, seeks to increase participation in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) workforce by underrepresented groups.
“In practice, what this means is we find highly qualified students for whom participation in this program will have the biggest impact,” said Paul Wessel, co-director of the program and professor of G&G. “We found students with great potential.”
Students are assigned to work with faculty throughout the geology and geophysics department for nine weeks. The internship program takes advantage of the unique tropical volcanic island and surrounding marine environments in Hawaiʻi, which are found nowhere else in the country.
“Hands-on research internships such as this give students an authentic experience of the scientific process,” said Ken Rubin, G&G professor and department chair. “Taking classes does not always reveal that picture very clearly, but doing science under the tutelage of a mentor makes it real.”
Read more about it in the UH System News.