Teen Science Scholars

Teen Science Scholars

THE 2023 TEEN SCIENCE SCHOLAR APPLICATION IS OPEN
Application Deadline: Monday, March 13, 2023

Teen Science Scholars complete hands-on summer internships with Science Division staff at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. Teen interns strengthen their investigative and communication skills, develop a peer network of students from across the state of Colorado, and share their work and experiences during a Showcase event at the end of the summer. To be eligible, applicants must be entering their junior or senior year of high school in the fall of 2023, be interested in learning more about a science-related career and be available for the duration of the internship (early June through the end of July). Teens from groups that have been historically marginalized from the sciences and individuals who will be the first generation in their family to complete a four-year college degree are strongly encouraged to apply

Teen Science Scholars receive a monthly stipend, bus passes, and Museum cafeteria vouchers to offset cost-of-living expenses during their internship. Transportation and supplies for fieldwork are provided by the Museum.

Teen Science Scholars is made possible with support from the Harvey Family Foundation, Daniels Fund, the Gateway Fund II of The Denver Foundation, the Paul and Harriet Rosen Teen Science Scholars Endowment, Dr. Paul & Mrs. Harriet Rosen, Marx-Stark Family Foundation, Robert Walker & Cristy Godwin, Phillip & Susan Greenberg, John G. Duncan Charitable Trust, Robert Zupkus & Janet Burda, Jon & Roxanne Isenhart, and Lael Moe & Cathy Fennelly, among other donors, and Dr. Richard Stucky, who was instrumental in founding the program.

The application deadline is Monday, March 13, 2023 

 

Teen Science Scholars

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Anthropology Scholar

2023 will see the Anthropology/Archaeology Teen Science Scholars tackle more dirt – literally. The teens will construct and work with an outdoor archaeobotanical flotation laboratory, complete with troughs, basins, buckets, hoses, screens and (the occasional) water fight. Their efforts will lead toward a better understanding of two archaeological sites: the Jones Miller Bison Kill site (c. 10,000 BP, Eastern Colorado), and the W.S. Ranch Ruin (c. AD 1000 West-Central New Mexico). Excavators in the 1970s collected soil samples containing valuable information about the climate, ecology and activities at these sites – if the data can be extracted! In order to separate dirt from data, the teens will “float” the soil samples – so that organic data in the form of charcoal, seeds, pollen and bone rise to the top and are collected and preserved so that we can analyze the data microscopically. This work will answer important outstanding questions on these sites. For The Jones-Miller site – “what was the seasonality of the bison kills” “was there more than one hunting episode” “does the C14 data we collected support the projectile point dates we found.” For W.S. Ranch – “what was the landscape and ecology nearby?” “had they overexploited nearby resources” “what were their subsistence and farming strategies.” ALL of these questions will be answered from the data collected by the Anthro TSS. A valuable contribution indeed.

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Earth Sciences Fossil Preparation Lab Scholar

The Earth Science Labs at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science hosts a variety of vertebrate fossils, including dinosaurs, crocodiles, turtles, fish, and even fossil plants, too. Using special tools, equipment, and materials, the Teen Science Scholars will have the opportunity to clean, stabilize, and repair vertebrate fossils collected from North Dakota, Utah, Wyoming, and even Madagascar. Additionally, using a hand-held scanner, the TSS applicants will surface scan fossils from long-neck dinosaurs (sauropods) and upload the images to create 3D models of each dinosaur bone.

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Space Sciences Scholar

The two scholars will work together to learn and use data science tools to manipulate astrophysical datasets to create new visualizations for planetarium software. They will determine exoplanet orbital parameters around binary star systems, create modules for each new system that can be loaded into planetarium software, and create a short planetarium presentation about planets around other stars.

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Vertebrate Zoology Scholar

Three staff of the Vertebrate Zoology team are partnering together to give students a well-rounded understanding of mammal work within our Museum. First, students will be trained in specimen skeletal preparation, how to take specimen measurements, and how to collect tissue samples. The students will then process the tissue samples in the Genetics Lab to see how molecular work aids in the identification of hard-to-tell-apart species. Lastly, the students will spend time in collection preservation areas, learning the various techniques we use for the long-term care of our specimens. Disclaimer: interns will work with dead animals that may smell and have blood present. This internship is not for the squeamish. 

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FAQs

Applications will be reviewed and individuals will be notified to schedule an interview no later than March 28. Staff will be reviewing applications March 7 through March 27.

Interviews are scheduled for March 27 to April 7. All applicants will receive a response no later than April 24.

If you are selected as a Teen Science Scholar you will receive a $1,600 stipend. Stipends are not used as compensation but to offset expenses during the internship.

Yes, you can apply to be a Teen Science Scholar. Please keep in mind you must be physically present for your scheduled shifts at the Museum from June 5 to July 22.

The Museum does not provide housing for this program. We provide RTD bus passes to participants during their internship.

As long as you are eligible for the program you can apply in 2023.

This depends on the area you have been selected for. Schedules range from 8 a.m. – 3 p.m., Monday to Thursday, or 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Tuesday to Thursday. You will be informed of the schedule during your interview. All participants will take part in professional development workshops on Fridays.

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