Two Houghton students earn NASA internship

Houghton High School’s Micaela Geborkoff and Logan Sandell were both selected to be part of NASA’s prestigious STEM Enhancement and Space Science summer internship program. SEES studies the atmosphere of Earth and its closest neighboring planets. Normally, students stay at the University of Texas while working at NASA’s Austin center, but due to the pandemic this year’s program will be virtual only.

It is required that students complete a learning module before hand, and depending on what project they are a part of, they may need to show basic proficiency in coding too, namely PYTHON.

SEES was started in 2010 originally as an opportunity only for Texas students. Now in its 6th year of accepting nationwide applications, over 750 were received. The full release is below.

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Micaela Geborkoff, and Logan Sandell, both juniors students at Houghton High School, have been selected for the prestigious STEM Enhancement in Earth and Space Science (SEES) summer internship to be held at The University of Texas at Austin’s Center for Space Research.

Students will work with scientists and engineers to conduct authentic research from data received from NASA’s Earth observing satellites as well as designing Mars habitats, Lunar Exploration, and robotics. This nationally competitive program sponsored by NASA’s Texas Space Grant Consortium selects students who will increase their knowledge of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) through Earth and space education. SEES is a collaborative effort of Texas Space Grant Consortium members and affiliates, NASA, and The University of Texas at Austin. Students apply for SEES and are selected competitively. The internships are organized around an aerospace or space science theme drawn from NASA’s diverse engineering and scientific research programs. The program combines the strengths of collaborators to enrich teaching and learning of STEM.

Almost 750 applications were received for the coveted internship positions and 300 were selected this year. Due to the pandemic, the student internship will be all virtual in 2021. Students conduct 60-90 hours of NASA Earth and Space Science research and Python coding to prepare them for the program. During the internship students conduct hands-on activities and field investigations and attend presentations by NASA subject matter experts.

Earth is a complex, dynamic system we do not yet fully understand. The Earth system, like the human body, comprises diverse components that interact in complex ways. We strive to understand the Earth’s atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere, and biosphere as a single connected system. Our planet is changing on all spatial and temporal scales. The purpose of NASA’s Earth science program is to develop a scientific understanding of Earth’s system and its response to natural or human-induced changes, and to improve prediction of climate, weather, and natural hazards.

The SEES internship proves that the excitement students feel about space science is a critical step in enriching science, math, engineering, and technology. The internship will provide students the rare – and for most, unique – opportunity to work beside professional scientists and engineers at the cutting edge of space exploration. SEES is funded through NASA Cooperative Agreement NNH15ZDA004C and is part of NASA’s Science Activation program. For more information, go to: https://science.nasa.gov/learners