Maria Mitchell interns get hands-on education
BY SAM TOOLE INDEPENDENT INTERN
They hail from all over the country and range from college sophomores to second-year graduate students. They have come to Nantucket looking to further themselves in their various fields of study. These are the 26 new interns at the Maria Mitchell Association.

A group of the interns at Maria Mitchell this summer.

While on the island, each will participate in different projects and assignments. They will conduct research in the fields of natural science and astronomy and be assistant curators at the science museum in the HinchmanHouse at the Mitchell Houses and at the aquarium on Washington Street. Others will help teach summer programs to young children.

During the summer, the Maria Mitchell Association is at its busiest, with many programs and different types of research going on. The majority of the students learned about the internship through the National Science Foundation, whose program, Research Experiences for Undergraduates, is specifically tailored for supporting active research by students. The directors of the different areas of study handpicked each intern through an application process. The 26 interns are essential to the summer workings of the Maria Mitchell Association, and their duties range from teaching young children about the earth, to studying the stars, to researching snakes, scallops and other wildlife.

The projects they participate in over the summer are tailored to their specific interests and all have found the experience so far to be very interesting and fulfilling. Because the Maria Mitchell Association is a relatively small organization, it gives students the opportunity to really get a feel for the work and a better understanding of what future careers might hold for them.

In places like the aquarium, for instance, students can partake in a multitude of different jobs and learn many necessary skills in one experience, as do the astronomy and education interns. The interns say the individual attention they are getting from the top scientists at the Maria Mitchell Association lets them know their work is appreciated.

Janet Schulte, executive director of the Maria Mitchell Association, said the enthusiasm of the interns is infectious. "The excitement and energy of the interns brings a depth and vitality to the Maria Mitchell Association's programs and organization as a whole," she said.

If you are interested in one of the many summer programs offered by the Maria Mitchell Association, you can either register online at www.mmo.org or by calling 228-9198.