The National Center for Science Education is seeking one part-time and one-full time summer interns to work on science education activism, with a particular focus on climate change education. These are temporary positions based in Oakland, CA.

About the National Center for Science Education

The National Center for Science Education (NCSE) is a not-for-profit organization that defends and promotes the teaching of science in public schools. It provides information, resources, and support related to areas of science that are often attacked on social or political grounds—such as climate change and evolution. Its mission is to ensure that these topics are presented in a scientific, engaging, and accurate manner in the classroom.

Science education in America is under attack and science teachers are at the forefront of this challenge. There are many topics in the sciences that are scientifically sound, but politically and socially controversial, leaving educators at risk of being challenged anytime they try to address these issues. The most prevalent challenges appear when teachers attempt to teach climate change and evolution, but other issues have arisen around genetically modified foods, and the Big Bang. It is NCSE’s position that socially controversial science topics must be taught appropriately in the science classroom, and we work with educators to ensure that they are supported to do this.

Summer Internships

We are looking for two interns (one full-time and one part-time) for three months (June-August 2015) to help with NCSE’s launch of a new teacher engagement campaign to support and defend educators as they teach these topics, with a particular focus on climate change education. This is a unique opportunity for someone with a science background to learn about science advocacy to support one of the most important groups: science teachers.

The selected candidate will receive training in:

• Climate change science and education
• Common denial arguments and tactics
• Writing for a public and educational audience
• Developing a large scale, national campaign to engage educators
• Using social media and web technologies to connect with educators
• Helping to defend and support science educators who teach these topics

The interns will work at the NCSE headquarters located in Oakland, CA.

Qualifications:

• Must have a basic understanding of and interest in science, science education, and science advocacy.
• Good writing and computing skills are required.
• Timeliness and follow-through are a must.
• Preference for background or degree in Biology, Earth Science, or Environmental Sciences.
• This is an ideal position for a recent graduate, but we will review all applicants equally.

Salary and benefits:

There are two paid positions, one full-time (40 hours a week) and one part-time (16 hours a week) at the NCSE offices in Oakland. The internship mentor will meet with each intern on a weekly basis, and be present while the interns are working. The internship will last for the entire summer: June–August. Due to the short nature of the internship, there will not be an opportunity for the intern to take a vacation during this time, though we do have July 4 off. The full-time position pays $6,000 for the summer; the part-time position pays $2,000. No benefits are associated with either position. NCSE is an equal-opportunity employer.

To apply:

Please specify if you are applying for the full- or part-time position. Include a cover letter, three references, and a résumé. E-mail all three to Minda Berbeco PhD, Programs and Policy Director: berbeco@ncse.com. Applications must be received by April 1, 2015. Link to position: https://ncse.com/about/jobs#interns

Courtesy of Minda Berbeco, PhD, Programs and Policy Director, National Center for Science Education