Ellen Israel’s Internship Experience

Ellen Israel, Development Intern through the University of Nevada Reno’s Pack Internship Grant Program

My name is Ellen Israel and I served as The Discovery’s Development Intern through the University of Nevada Reno’s Pack Internship Grant Program this spring. The program allocates funds from the Associated Students of the University of Nevada (ASUN) budget for students to work semester-long paid internships at over 50 local organizations with the goal of developing valuable career skills. I began this internship in my senior year pursuing a veterinary science degree without an inkling of what I wanted to do after college, and this was cause for panic. Although I have wanted to be a veterinarian since I was eight years old, I couldn’t shirk the feeling that I wanted to do something else.

I’m happy to say that The Discovery was the perfect place to meld my love of science with my desire to be creative. During my time here, I mainly worked on grant writing, volunteer recruitment, and event coordination. Each day was different—I saw all aspects of museum administration and learned just how difficult it is to keep a museum running.

I wrote six blog posts about museum news, including Social Science events and The Leprechaun Race. I helped with logistics at these events by greeting visitors, distributing surveys, and recruiting volunteers. I had a great time attending events, like when I watched adults race around the museum floor in sperm helmets at Social Science: Attraction, and when I cheered for racers at the Leprechaun Race. I also spent days researching and writing 3 grant proposals and a final report; each detail had to be accurate and specific since grant funding is vital to support museum operations. Though I was having fun, I also knew I was supporting The Discovery – a deeply rewarding endeavor in itself.

During spring break, I observed field trips and camps. In the two field trips I observed, the students learned about reversible and irreversible changes, and pushes and pulls—things that seemed simple to me, but were mind-blowing to them. I loved watching kids get excited about science.

All the while, I worked with a wonderful, supportive team towards our goal of inspiring the community through interactive science education. While I’d love to stick around, eat more Holey Schmidt Donuts, and learn all that I can from the incredible people at The Discovery, it’s time for the next step. As science popularizer Loren Eiseley once said, “The journey is difficult, immense. We will travel as far as we can, but we cannot in one lifetime see all that we would like to see or to learn all that we hunger to know.”

The journey after graduation won’t be easy, but with my experience at The Discovery under my belt, I think I’ll be just fine.

Do you know a University of Nevada, Reno student who might benefit from a specialized (and paid) internship experience? Check out the Pack Internship Grant Program at the Nevada Career Studio.