Washington Aerospace Scholars (WAS) is seeking STEM industry professionals to guide high school juniors as they design a future human mission to the surface of Mars.
Volunteers will work with a team of eleven scholars during one of three Summer Residency sessions hosted at The Museum of Flight, alongside university students and certified educators, as the team plans one component of the Mars mission.
Prior to arriving, scholars have spent six months completing lessons in the science of space, history of NASA and other industry partners, and mission design, all to provide the context necessary to succeed with the tasks of the residency.
Scholars are divided into four teams for the residency. The team projects will be an in-depth review of one of the following topics in Mars exploration:
- Getting There (& Back?) - How will we get there, and safely?
- Living There - What are the risks of working & living in the Martian environment, and how do we best adapt to those risks?
- Working There - What are the goals of the mission & how will we accomplish those goals?
- Mission Integration - How do we best integrate all needs to best accomplish overall goals?
Learn more about the WAS Program
Responsibilities
- Attend an orientation session, in-person or online.
- Provide a short professional biography and photo, to be sent to scholars prior to the residency.
- Host an online meeting with your assigned team prior to the residency.
- Participate in the summer residency during team project work time.
- Lead your team in a professional manner, including the selection of team leadership and roles.
- Work in partnership with staff to facilitate student research, project design, and presentation for their assigned team.
- Assist with team, individual, and overall program evaluations.
- Follow-up with WAS scholars post-residency as asked, usually in the form of requests for letters of recommendation.
The goal of Washington Aerospace Scholars is to encourage scholars to study science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) by giving them an in-depth view of what careers in those fields are really like. Mentors provide guidance and advice about their own professional experiences, which can help scholars decide how and where to pursue STEM careers.
Qualifications
- Experience within the aerospace, aviation or STEM industries, demonstrating dedication to mentoring and supporting learners with excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
- Strong problem-solving and critical thinking abilities, fostering a culture of curiosity, exploration and continuous learning with empathy, patience and active listening.
- Commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion, inspiring underrepresented students, and willingness to undergo a background check, required training and orientation.
- Must be 18 years or older
Time Required
Mentors work with their team Sunday from noon - 5 PM, Monday-Thursday from 8 AM - noon, and Friday from 8 AM - 2 PM.
Summer Session Dates
- Session #1 - July 20 - 25
- Session #2 - August 3 - 8
- Session #3 - August 17 – 22
How to Apply
Please select an application form below if you are interested in becoming a WAS Mentor at The Museum of Flight.
