UC graduate and undergraduate students are invited to get involved with the Center for Public Engagement with Science (PEWS) this year by applying for a paid internship, registering for the Sharing Science Experience workshop (for graduate students) or the UHP pre-approved experience (for undergraduates), assisting with our Science Fair project, and/or participating in an interdisciplinary research and discussion group!

See below for more information, and email engagingscience@uc.edu with any questions.

Sharing Science Experience Workshops

Registration is open for the first course of our three-level interdisciplinary Engaging Science curriculum sequence. This course, Sharing Science Experience (HUM/SOSC/NSCI 7000), is a two-day workshop that provides graduate students with an introduction to public engagement with science through a hands-on experience at the Cincinnati Museum Center. Students will learn to communicate their research to a broad audience, create effective public engagement experiences, work across disciplines, and discover new opportunities for publicly-engaged science. The class is facilitated by a Museum Educator and UC faculty in the sciences and humanities (this year, Nate Morehouse, Brooke Crowley, and Angela Potochnik).  

This 1-credit workshop (HUM/SOSC/NSCI 7000) is offered twice in the Fall 2025 semester from 10am-5pm each day (lunch will be provided):  

  • October 4th & 5th (Weekend)  
  • November 14th and 15th (Friday & Saturday)  

UC graduate students from any discipline are invited to register. The Engaging Science curriculum sequence is part of PEWS’ NSF-funded Innovations in Graduate Education Award. Students may sign up for either section and whichever area designation of the course best serves them: humanities (HUM), social sciences (SOSC), or natural sciences (NSCI).  

R&D Group

The PEWS Research & Discussion (R&D) Group will meet every Friday, 12:30-1:30pm, beginning August 29th. PEWS R&D hosts interdisciplinary conversations about public engagement with science and sustainability, including occasional visiting speakers and discussion of in-progress research and activities. If you want to get academic credit for participating, you can enroll in HUM 7001 (HUM 4001 for undergraduate students). Join the PEWS Team in MS Teams to get more information and meeting invitations.

Questions? Email us at engagingscience@uc.edu.

Internships

PEWS is seeking students for several part-time paid internships during the 2025-2026 Academic Year. See below for more information. Deadline to apply: Friday, September 5th, 2025.

Science Harvest Intern

Develop and implement hands-on science activities to share monthly at the Northside Farmer’s Market, and help other UC students and faculty get involved too. Science Harvest is an outreach initiative that strives to share science with local communities through two-way conversations about science with participants of all ages. Experience with science outreach with mixed-age participants is desired. Compensation: $5,000 for 4 hours/week September 2025 – August 2026.  

Video and Media Coordinator

Assist with video recording and streaming of events and producing video content. Facility with video editing and Adobe Premiere Pro desired. Compensation: $2,500 for 2 hours/week September 2025 – August 2026.  

Graduate Sustainability Fellows

Support the PEWS Sustainability initiative sponsored by Research2030, including planning interdisciplinary sustainability events and facilitating a sustainability graduate student community. Interest and experience in interdisciplinary sustainability research or outreach is desired. Compensation: $4,000 for 4 hours/week Fall 2025 & Spring 2026.  

How to Apply

If you are interested in being considered for one or more of these internships, please email EngagingScience@uc.edu with:

  1. Your CV
  2. A brief application (Word or PDF) which includes the following information: 
    • your name; 
    • college and department, program of study, year in that program; 
    • which position(s) you are applying for and, if more than one, your order of preference among them; 
    • a one-paragraph statement of your interest in and qualifications for the position; 
    • a one- or two-paragraph statement of any experience you have with public engagement with science and any previous involvement with PEWS.

Please apply by Friday, September 5th. Applications will be reviewed for depth of interest in and experience with public engagement with science, qualifications and relevant experience for internship opportunity, and the collective range of interns’ backgrounds and interests.

Faculty and Staff: please share this announcement with any UC graduate students who may be interested in these opportunities.

Science Fair Mentorship

The PEWS Science Fair program engages local elementary students in exploring science through the development of a “showcase” project for the Southwest Ohio Science and Engineering Expo Science Fair, one of the nation’s largest student science fairs. These students are mentored by UC undergraduate and graduate students, who in turn learn how to lead effective public engagement with science activities.

Interested in being a SCI Fair mentor? Join PEWS Curriculum and Pedagogy Director Dr. Melissa Jacquart for a training session on outreach in schools, August 23rd from 9:45am-5:00pm! Sign up to attend the session and/or express an interest in becoming a mentor.

University Honors Program (UHP) Pre-approved Experience

UC undergraduate students can enroll in a pre-approved experience with PEWS as part of the UHP program. Students will learn how to effectively engage the community through science, sharpen their science communication skills, and connect with community members around UC and in Greater Cincinnati.

Students will begin by taking the one-credit Sharing Science Experience workshop (available for undergraduates this Spring), and then complete two of these semester-long opportunities: 1.) Enroll in the PEWS Research and Discussion Group, 2.) Community outreach through our Science Harvest program, 3.) Student mentorship through the SCI Fair program. Students can complete two of these opportunities or a single opportunity twice. 

Visit the UHP website to learn more, or contact engagingscience@uc.edu.

Published by Kate Nicole Hoffman