Project Description: Steward Observatory conducts research at the forefront of modern astronomy, with telescopes at five mountain-top observatories across Arizona, a state-of-the-art mirror lab crafting a radical new generation of telescopes, and diverse research units—including two aboard NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope. It is a hotbed for stories, from the engineering behind intricate equipment, to new data reshaping our view of the universe, to the personal histories of the students and faculty that are drawn to this program. Our Space Grant intern will write about the research unfolding at Steward Observatory, according to their interests and guided by dual mentors in science communication, Chris Impey and Hannah Hindley. The intern will have the opportunity to broaden their knowledge of astronomy and deepen their skillset in storytelling, while supporting ongoing communication efforts within the Astronomy Department. Much of the work will be steered by the intern’s own specialties and strengths.
NASA Relevance: Stories and writing activities during the internship will mostly focus on current or future NASA missions in astronomy, astrobiology, and planetary science.
Work Description:
- Aid in ongoing astronomy communication efforts, from organizing social media campaigns, to creating video content, to helping write internal communications.
- Refine their science storytelling techniques in the form of at least one focused larger project, either longform writing or multimedia.
- Attend Steward Observatory talks, meet astronomers, and follow leads for interesting stories.
Open or Reserved Project: Open, 2 positions