Youth Science Media Program Connects Experts and Students around Careers and the Cosmos

Boston-area students gained career mentors, transferrable media production skills, and behind-the-scenes experiences at the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian they’ll remember for a lifetime

What started with a simple group tour and a follow-up question from a curious student has led to a mutually beneficial collaboration between scientists and engineers at the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian and young cadets in the Civil Air Patrol based in Boston, Massachusetts. Associate Director for Science and astrophysicist, Dr. Randall Smith, shares that this unique pilot program came about somewhat organically. Students had participated in a tour of this major hub for astronomical research in Cambridge and wanted to continue their exploration of the research, technology tools, and people that have unlocked many of our universe's biggest questions. 

Through collaborative discussions with Karina Funk, 1st Lt. Margaret Canha, and Captain Edward Brown, Smith was able to pilot a program that offered student cadets an opportunity to follow their interests and questions they were most curious about. The video projects that resulted were a reflection of student interests and spanned across science and history topics, as well as phenomena and people stories. Topics included a deep dive into how astronomers have captured images of the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way galaxy in 2022 and continue to improve the technology tools and satellites to do so. While another video focused on the history of the Observatory's beloved 15-inch telescope, The Great Refractor, which holds a number of significant 19th century achievements, including the discovery of the eighth satellite of Saturn, the first observation of Saturn's inner ring, and the first daguerreotype ever made of a star, the bright Vega. Another student project followed an arc of sharing stories of women in roles in astronomy and astrophysics as a way to encourage young girls to consider these pathways, while another captured audience attention with a look into exoplanets (planets that orbit a star outside the solar system) and the scientific missions ahead.

Throughout the process, students reported that they began to see the role of a scientist or engineer as more of an accessible pathway than they previously imagined. Smith shared that there was a sense among the students that "I could do this! I would enjoy this!" The group also honed skills that will set them up for success in the future no matter what field they pursue: everything from preparing for an interview and asking thoughtful follow-up questions to leveraging digital tools available to them to create a compelling video story (complete with opening titles, credits, and captions). One of the elder participants also took on a leadership role, as she noticed that some students might have been outside of their comfort zone and decided to create a few templates and examples for corresponding with a professional via email or over the phone to set up an interview. 

While the benefits to the students are often referenced in programs like these, the participating scientists and engineers enjoyed the experience too as they honed their own research talking points to keep them accessible to their interviewers and also followed the student's lead in what direction the discussion would go. For many, it offered a chance to reflect on their own career pathways and what sparked their interest in the field in the first place. 

Dr. Smith reflects on his own story growing up and hailing from a family of educators and school leaders. He mentioned how small moments outside of the traditional classroom strengthened his love of learning and appreciation for math. At his local YMCA site, there were often college students who would host afterschool or weekend events that exposed him to more challenging puzzles in his understanding of math, like the ever-interesting Pascal's triangle and its connections to binomial expansion. Learning didn't stop with the sound of the school bell, he often sought out opportunities and experiences to try new things and challenge himself. Those experiences made for a sturdy foundation to lead Dr. Smith where he is today, now overseeing hundreds of scientists and engineers in better understanding humanity’s greatest unresolved questions about the nature of the universe.

Through the steady stream of thank you cards that have filled Dr. Smith's desk over the last few weeks, he's learned about students' reflections on the project and their plans to take this experience with them as they navigate their own future aspirations. While some envision future careers as potential scientists or engineers, many were also fascinated by the process of digging in to undertold stories in history and others fell in love with interviewing and developing a story from start to finish to capture the audience's attention and leaving them inspired. 

Science communication continues to be an evolving field noted for its importance in being able to share often highly technical information with non-expert audiences, while supporting them in understanding why this matters. Through this pilot project, staff started to dream up other ways that their research stories could be told through compelling media and visuals. As STEM literacy and science communication continue to be key skills for today and into the future, how might students pair with experts in their own communities to learn more about STEM careers, and consider ways to share complex research ideas to a wider audience?

Educators and students pursuing similar video production projects might be interested in the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage's Video Production Handbook, complete with best practices in pre-production, composition, image control, audio, lighting, and interviewing. It also provides helpful vocabulary and a sample video release form. Additionally, for those looking to take the next step in career-building pathways, the Smithsonian Office of Academic Appointments and Internships offers a comprehensive guide to internship opportunities available from across the Smithsonian year-round for high school, undergraduate, and graduate students. 

Ashley Naranjo | | Read More

Ashley Naranjo is a museum educator, specializing in the use of digital resources for teaching and learning. She currently leads education partnerships as the Assistant Director, Education and Outreach Strategy in the Smithsonian’s Office of the Under Secretary for Education. She has developed and implemented professional development opportunities for teachers, librarians and fellow museum educators since 2011. She holds a B.A. in Human Development from the Lynch School of Education at Boston College and a M.Ed. in Learning Design and Technology from the Rossier School of Education at the University of Southern California. She is a 2019 graduate of the Getty Leadership Institute’s NextGen of Museum Leaders program.