SCI Network NYC Evaluation
Context
The Wildlife Conservation Society leads SCI Network NYC, a consortium of eight science-based cultural institutions in NYC: American Museum of Natural History, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, New York Botanical Garden, New York Hall of Science, Queens Botanical Garden, Staten Island Zoo, Wave, Hill, and WCS. Our organizations are committed to providing high-quality STEM internships to NYC youth and each year, we host 1,100 interns who gain experience in a variety of fields, including animal care, horticulture, research, science communication, teaching, and conservation advocacy. Our goals are:
- Increase the number of youth in STEM internships.
- Provide training for internship supervisors to support them in providing high-quality career development experiences for youth.
- Leverage New York City’s Summer Youth Employment Program to benefit our interns and institutions.
- Demonstrate our collective impact through evaluation, storytelling, and advocacy.
Evaluation Questions
- What is the role of internships in youths’ science identity development?
- How can SCI Network NYC support youth in pursuing careers at science-based cultural institutions?
Methods
We administer an anonymous intern exit survey to understand the impact of our internships and SCI Network peer networking events on interns’ experiences, knowledge and skill development, interest in working at cultural institutions, and career goals.