7 answers
Norbert
Student
Newark, New Jersey
8
Questions
Updated
5015 views
What are some research opportunities in STEM that provide hands-on experience and knowledge in that field or internships?
I'm looking for ones that are available to middle-schoolers. It could be independent, remote, or hands-on. The internships don't have to be paid.
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7 answers
Isabel Dominguez
Student
137
Answers
Corning, California
Updated
Isabel’s Answer
Hey Norbert!
Middle schoolers have lots of cool ways to dive into STEM. They can join programs like the STEM Enhancement in Earth Science (SEES) internship, NASA’s STEM Engagement activities, or use Science Buddies for their own projects. Local universities or science museums might have summer camps or mentorship opportunities. Check out groups like Girls Who Code (they sometimes have other STEM activities), 4-H STEM, and online citizen science projects like Zooniverse. Websites like Nova Labs and Exploratorium offer fun science experiments too. You could also reach out to local professors or labs to see if you can help out and learn more.
Middle schoolers have lots of cool ways to dive into STEM. They can join programs like the STEM Enhancement in Earth Science (SEES) internship, NASA’s STEM Engagement activities, or use Science Buddies for their own projects. Local universities or science museums might have summer camps or mentorship opportunities. Check out groups like Girls Who Code (they sometimes have other STEM activities), 4-H STEM, and online citizen science projects like Zooniverse. Websites like Nova Labs and Exploratorium offer fun science experiments too. You could also reach out to local professors or labs to see if you can help out and learn more.
Michelle M.
Actress
3284
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Norbert !
Middle School, depending on your school district, can mean different grades in different regions, so I will just assume that you are an age between ten to thirteen. Thinking about an Internship just may not be the exact thing you'll want to pursue, but if your school doesn't already have any STEM extracurriculars, groups or clubs, there are some things that you can pursue while in middle school.
Did you know that the Newark Public Schools offer Newark STEM Week ? Your school partners with i2 Learning to bring students this program. This is where students in your grade can get hands on experience and do projects, not through an internship.
Another program in Newark for elementary and middle school students is Students 2 Science. They provide hands on STEM learning and experience. Please ask your teacher or the school counselor for the contact information to these programs so that you can begin participating. For next Summer, there are STEM Camps for your age group, too. Ask your school staff to provide a list of the camps for you. Another worth mentioning is Newark Academy as they have a VEX IQ Robotics program at which you can obtain hands on learning and learn how to do research. New Jersey STEM Pathways Network is another place that you can contact. There may not be internships, but there are plenty of programs at which you can work hands on and obtain experience while in Middle School.
An internship is possible once you have a basic understanding of the work, and many internships are offered to college students in their Junior and Senior year at college or when they graduate with their degree. They understand the concepts and have already done research and projects and the internship enhances and adds to what they already know. It's okay to leave Internships for later on while you are in college.
Have you asked staff at your school if they have STEM activities, classes or groups because it seems that many schools in NJ do have these. This would be a good time to visit your school district's or school's website or call the school and ask.
Since you haven't yet had a STEM program, I would highly advise not doing it online, remote. To start out, it will be important for you to do it in person, on site so that you can meet other students that you can collaborate with. You would also get good guidance from whomever leads the program. You would also develop your social and communication skills, get used to working in groups and independently and this will be valuable as you move forward with STEM. Not everything has to be done over the internet.
Through the programs I have mentioned, you might learn more about volunteer opportunities which can be done as a way to gain experience.
I hope this helps to start you on your way and I wish you all the best !
Middle School, depending on your school district, can mean different grades in different regions, so I will just assume that you are an age between ten to thirteen. Thinking about an Internship just may not be the exact thing you'll want to pursue, but if your school doesn't already have any STEM extracurriculars, groups or clubs, there are some things that you can pursue while in middle school.
Did you know that the Newark Public Schools offer Newark STEM Week ? Your school partners with i2 Learning to bring students this program. This is where students in your grade can get hands on experience and do projects, not through an internship.
Another program in Newark for elementary and middle school students is Students 2 Science. They provide hands on STEM learning and experience. Please ask your teacher or the school counselor for the contact information to these programs so that you can begin participating. For next Summer, there are STEM Camps for your age group, too. Ask your school staff to provide a list of the camps for you. Another worth mentioning is Newark Academy as they have a VEX IQ Robotics program at which you can obtain hands on learning and learn how to do research. New Jersey STEM Pathways Network is another place that you can contact. There may not be internships, but there are plenty of programs at which you can work hands on and obtain experience while in Middle School.
An internship is possible once you have a basic understanding of the work, and many internships are offered to college students in their Junior and Senior year at college or when they graduate with their degree. They understand the concepts and have already done research and projects and the internship enhances and adds to what they already know. It's okay to leave Internships for later on while you are in college.
Have you asked staff at your school if they have STEM activities, classes or groups because it seems that many schools in NJ do have these. This would be a good time to visit your school district's or school's website or call the school and ask.
Since you haven't yet had a STEM program, I would highly advise not doing it online, remote. To start out, it will be important for you to do it in person, on site so that you can meet other students that you can collaborate with. You would also get good guidance from whomever leads the program. You would also develop your social and communication skills, get used to working in groups and independently and this will be valuable as you move forward with STEM. Not everything has to be done over the internet.
Through the programs I have mentioned, you might learn more about volunteer opportunities which can be done as a way to gain experience.
I hope this helps to start you on your way and I wish you all the best !
Davielle Panzullo, M.A., PMP
Business Transformation Sr. Manager
53
Answers
Irvine, California
Updated
Davielle’s Answer
Join clubs - robotics, math, engineering. Join things outside of schools.
Ask your parents, friends that have parents, in that field and they could provide direction.
Low income programs are sometimes available. Talk to your guidance counselor about programs.
Local YMCA might have clubs.
Join Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts since they have different badges.
Search the internet for STEM programs in your area. Some are age-based, some are location-based.
Boys and Girls Clubs of America
Girls Who Code is a good STEM program, there are similar programs for boys.
Explore different areas of STEM to determine what you are interested in and do well.
Ask your parents, friends that have parents, in that field and they could provide direction.
Low income programs are sometimes available. Talk to your guidance counselor about programs.
Local YMCA might have clubs.
Join Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts since they have different badges.
Search the internet for STEM programs in your area. Some are age-based, some are location-based.
Boys and Girls Clubs of America
Girls Who Code is a good STEM program, there are similar programs for boys.
Explore different areas of STEM to determine what you are interested in and do well.
Pallavi Aras
7
Answers
Ashburn, Virginia
Updated
Pallavi’s Answer
In middle school, you can explore exciting opportunities like VEX robotics and Lego League. Try setting up a profile on LeetCode to discover coding challenges you love. Also, create a GitHub account to display your projects.
Get involved in competitive events like FBLA and DECA for more fun and learning.
Don't forget to visit your local museum to see what activities they offer.
Wishing you lots of success!
Get involved in competitive events like FBLA and DECA for more fun and learning.
Don't forget to visit your local museum to see what activities they offer.
Wishing you lots of success!
Karthick Natarajan
Postdoctoral Researcher at NYU Langone Health
32
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Karthick’s Answer
Summer Programs & Camps
These programs provide practical learning with expert guidance.
iD Tech: Offers both online and in-person camps at universities focusing on coding, game design, and robotics.
Local University STEM Camps: Visit local university websites for programs like "Engineering for Kids," "Coding Bootcamps," or "Aerospace Adventures."
Space Camp: Located in Huntsville, Alabama, this camp offers a deep dive into space and aviation.
Citizen Science (Real, Remote Research)
Participate in real scientific research from home by analyzing data.
Zooniverse: Help scientists by classifying galaxies, identifying wildlife, or transcribing historical documents.
iNaturalist: Use an app to photograph plants and animals. Your data helps scientists track biodiversity.
Foldit: An online game where you fold protein structures to aid in disease research.
Competitions & Fairs
These are great for doing your own research projects.
School/County Science Fair: Design, execute, and present your own research project.
FIRST LEGO League: Team up to build and program a robot for missions. It's a fun way to learn engineering, coding, and teamwork.
Mathcounts / Math Olympiad: If you love math, these competitions let you solve tough problems and compete with others.
Local Opportunities (Hands-On)
Be proactive and reach out for these opportunities.
Volunteer at a local science museum or zoo: Assist with educational programs or demonstrations.
Join a Maker Space or Fab Lab: Use tools like 3D printers and laser cutters to build and create.
Email a Local University Professor: Politely ask if you can volunteer in their lab, helping with tasks like cleaning equipment or organizing samples.
These programs provide practical learning with expert guidance.
iD Tech: Offers both online and in-person camps at universities focusing on coding, game design, and robotics.
Local University STEM Camps: Visit local university websites for programs like "Engineering for Kids," "Coding Bootcamps," or "Aerospace Adventures."
Space Camp: Located in Huntsville, Alabama, this camp offers a deep dive into space and aviation.
Citizen Science (Real, Remote Research)
Participate in real scientific research from home by analyzing data.
Zooniverse: Help scientists by classifying galaxies, identifying wildlife, or transcribing historical documents.
iNaturalist: Use an app to photograph plants and animals. Your data helps scientists track biodiversity.
Foldit: An online game where you fold protein structures to aid in disease research.
Competitions & Fairs
These are great for doing your own research projects.
School/County Science Fair: Design, execute, and present your own research project.
FIRST LEGO League: Team up to build and program a robot for missions. It's a fun way to learn engineering, coding, and teamwork.
Mathcounts / Math Olympiad: If you love math, these competitions let you solve tough problems and compete with others.
Local Opportunities (Hands-On)
Be proactive and reach out for these opportunities.
Volunteer at a local science museum or zoo: Assist with educational programs or demonstrations.
Join a Maker Space or Fab Lab: Use tools like 3D printers and laser cutters to build and create.
Email a Local University Professor: Politely ask if you can volunteer in their lab, helping with tasks like cleaning equipment or organizing samples.
Davielle Panzullo, M.A., PMP
Business Transformation Sr. Manager
53
Answers
Irvine, California
Updated
Davielle’s Answer
The number one thing is keep your skills updated. What proactive steps should I follow - embrace continuous learning. Keep skills updated in your professional field.
Always cultivate your soft skills, communication, emotional intelligence, critical thinking, in order to use AI with some discernment.
If your goal is to keep apace, you need to know how it works at a foundational level. There's the perspective of end user, but knowing how the basic algorithms work is very important.
Understand the industry you are in, as well as knowing your customer - different departments within a company.
Change will always be a constant, so learn to deal with it.
Flexibility in understanding the client's needs in order to take the best approach.
Become an early adopter.
Always cultivate your soft skills, communication, emotional intelligence, critical thinking, in order to use AI with some discernment.
If your goal is to keep apace, you need to know how it works at a foundational level. There's the perspective of end user, but knowing how the basic algorithms work is very important.
Understand the industry you are in, as well as knowing your customer - different departments within a company.
Change will always be a constant, so learn to deal with it.
Flexibility in understanding the client's needs in order to take the best approach.
Become an early adopter.
Richard A. (Tony) Eckel
49
Answers
Updated
Richard A. (Tony)’s Answer
Norbert,
Most STEM at your level is data collection - simple as that and more boring and valuable than can be described in a simple paragraph. Upon data collected by hordes of dedicated, poorly paid, yet dedicated individuals, science is made!
A simple one - Keep a log of birds you actually observe in the same well-defined location every week for one year. It can be in your yard, a park down the street, or a vacant lot. Record the weather, temperature (every 15 minutes), moon phase, how arid or lush the bushes and trees are, and then observe and record every bird you see in a specific place between say sunrise and 3 hours after sunrise. Reason for the time is that birds do not know clocks so sunrise is their "alarm clock" as it were, but that is when they are most active. Keep a notebook and identify every bird species and count of those species and at what time you saw them. If you can, identify and record each species call when you hear it. At first, you will miss many while you learn to identify the animal by sight and sound, but you will get better quickly. Then categorise them by what they eat. If you can, add images - either as sketchs or pictures - to add depth to your observations. You will begin to know which birds are around only when it rains, and which sleep-in most mornings. It is your opportunity to contribute to science directly.
Your observations are the very foundation of science. It is what Darwin was doing, it was what Newton was doing, it was what all scientists do; Observe and record. Overtime, you can analyse the species population shifts over the seasons and patterns of arrival times. This sort of observational data collection allows you to engage in real science independently.
Then, publish your notebook results and your analysis. I guarantee, this is the BEST internship record you can bring to a job interview!
You may think birds are not that important - but the decline of bird and insect populations over the decades is a contested fact in climate change, and you can help establish the truth/accuracy of that data. You're looking at 52 weekends of time alone working on a mission to save the human species - there's a superpower there.
Tony
visit https://www.birdcount.org/
Visit https://www.audubon.org/community-science/christmas-bird-count
Most STEM at your level is data collection - simple as that and more boring and valuable than can be described in a simple paragraph. Upon data collected by hordes of dedicated, poorly paid, yet dedicated individuals, science is made!
A simple one - Keep a log of birds you actually observe in the same well-defined location every week for one year. It can be in your yard, a park down the street, or a vacant lot. Record the weather, temperature (every 15 minutes), moon phase, how arid or lush the bushes and trees are, and then observe and record every bird you see in a specific place between say sunrise and 3 hours after sunrise. Reason for the time is that birds do not know clocks so sunrise is their "alarm clock" as it were, but that is when they are most active. Keep a notebook and identify every bird species and count of those species and at what time you saw them. If you can, identify and record each species call when you hear it. At first, you will miss many while you learn to identify the animal by sight and sound, but you will get better quickly. Then categorise them by what they eat. If you can, add images - either as sketchs or pictures - to add depth to your observations. You will begin to know which birds are around only when it rains, and which sleep-in most mornings. It is your opportunity to contribute to science directly.
Your observations are the very foundation of science. It is what Darwin was doing, it was what Newton was doing, it was what all scientists do; Observe and record. Overtime, you can analyse the species population shifts over the seasons and patterns of arrival times. This sort of observational data collection allows you to engage in real science independently.
Then, publish your notebook results and your analysis. I guarantee, this is the BEST internship record you can bring to a job interview!
You may think birds are not that important - but the decline of bird and insect populations over the decades is a contested fact in climate change, and you can help establish the truth/accuracy of that data. You're looking at 52 weekends of time alone working on a mission to save the human species - there's a superpower there.
Tony
Richard A. (Tony) recommends the following next steps: