Hawaii Island Akamai Observatory Internship Program Center for Adaptive Optics Fall Retreat November 18, 2006 Sarah Anderson Hawaii Island Akamai Internship Coordinator Engineering Assistant, Keck Observatory

Hawaii Island Akamai Observatory Internship Program Eight Week Summer Internship Program funded by the Center for Adaptive Optics Hawaii Island observatories Educational institutions Hawaii-based students

Program Purposes Directly advance Hawaii students into science and technology careers Ensure a continued Hawaii based workforce for astronomy into the future Encourage collaboration among the Hawaii observatories and educational institutions

Why Akamai? Tech sector is a small (but growing) part of Hawaii’s economy Astronomy sector even smaller Promotion through education

Wage Comparisons Average annual wage, State of Hawaii 2004, $35,191 Average annual wage, United States 2004: $39,354 Tech sector wages are good, but other industries are competitive

Program History Modeled on the successful CfAO Santa Cruz and Maui internship programs Pilot short course in the summer of 2004 Summer 2005, First Cohort Summer 2006, Second Cohort Currently recruiting for Summer 2007 Modeled on successful CfAO Maui and Santa Cruz programs One of the interns from Maui CC transferring to UHH Astro program, wanted to come to the Big Island, placed at Keck with David LeMignant- AO Scientist at Keck Next worked on just a pilot short course for Big Island

Observatory Recruitment Established program, returning mentors (change of leadership Keck, Gemini and Subaru) New mentors CfAO leadership CfAO infrastructure Astronomy & Education community Buy in from observatory leadership was the first step and critical, CfAO leadership was key in getting the top level commitments- still needed the actual mentors, people to directly work with the students- depended on the network of observatory personnel, friendships and working relationships all called into play. The availability of existing CfAO infrastructure and experience was the bonus, gold ring- made it hard to say no. Final Result 2006: 13 internship positions at six institutions

Participating Observatories & Institutions Keck Observatory- 5 interns 6 mentors> 4 engineers, 1 astronomer & 1librarian Gemini North- 2 interns 2 mentors> 1 engineer, 1 astronomer Smithsonian Submillimeter Array- 1 intern 1 mentor> engineer Subaru Telescope- 2 interns 2 mentors> 2 engineers Institute for Astronomy, Hilo- 1 intern 1 mentor> engineer The Five major observatories hosted interns. Mentors came from both the Astronomy and Engineering domains. University of Hawaii Hilo with U of Tokyo- 2 interns 1 mentor, 2 advisors> astronomer, professors

Intern Selection Online application: Selection Committee; CfAO infrastructure; application and website reference Selection Committee; Lisa Hunter, Malika Moutakawill Bell, CfAO Dr. Robert Fox, chair of Physics and Astronomy at University of Hawaii at Hilo, Harvey Motomura, Electronics Program Chair at Hawaii Community College Sarah Anderson, Keck Observatory & CfAO Selection Committee members become proponents

2006 Cohort Home Institutions: University of Hawaii at Hilo (Astronomy and Physics & CS)- 4 Hawaii Community College (Electronics Technology)- 3 University of Hawaii at Manoa (Electrical, Civil & Mechanical Engineering)- 3 College out of State (Aeronautical Engineering, Astronomy)- 3 Gender: 5 women, 8 men Origins: Diverse, including 5 students of Hawaiian ancestry 9 students born in Hawaii Home Institutions: University of Hawaii at Hilo (Astronomy and Physics Dept.)- 4 Hawaii Community College (Electronics Technology)- 1 University of Hawaii at Manoa (Electronics Engineering)- 5 College on the mainland (Math)-1 Gender: 3 women, 8 men Ethnicity: Hawaiian/Pacific Islander- 2 Asian American/Filipino- 3 Caucasian- 6 Island Ties:
9 local students

Akamai Observatory Short Course (complete talk by David Le Mignant) 5 day intensive preparatory course, prior to placement at host observatories model that CfAO uses for all internship programs 2006 focus on the relationship between science and engineering exposure to observatory staff Excellent venue for collaboration : Claire Max- PI Lisa Hunter- CfAO David Le Mignant- Lead Instructor Rich Matsuda, Co-lead, Keck Observatory Marc Rafelski, UCLA, Instructor Catherine Ishida- Instructor, Inquiry Malika Bell- CfAO, Coordinator Hilary O’Bryan- CfAO, Support Observatory Support Staff 5 day intensive preparatory course, prior to placement at host observatories model that CfAO uses for all internship programs Focus on big picture observatory systems and principles, work skills exposure to observatory staff Success of course due to people involved, CfAO and observatory personnel : Claire Max- PI David Le Mignant- Lead Instructor Mike McElwain- Instructor Kai Noeske- Instructor Celine D’Orgeville
Catherine Ishida Lisa Hunter Malika Bell observatory support staff

Intern Projects Project completed during the seven week internship Beneficial to the supervisor and institution Challenging but possible

Example Projects Helium Compressor Controller Expansion Electronics Technology student, Jennifer Takaki, supervised by Subaru Electronics Technician, Lucio Ramos Tribological Analysis & Maintenance of Telescopes Civil Engineering student, Bronson Libed, supervised by Craig Nance, Keck Observatory Facilities Engineer Measuring the Deflection of the Telescope Mount UCLA Aerospace Engineering student, Arlen Kam. Supervised by Gemini Electronics Engineer, John White Surveillance Web-Camera Electrical engineering student, David Luis, supervised by Keck Facilities electrical engineer, Craig Nance Graphics User Interface, Asteroid Data Reduction Astronomy student, Z Knight, advisor Al Conrad, astronomer Keck Observatory Computer Model of Subaru Deformable Mirror Drive Pearl Yamaguchi, electrical engineering student, supervised by xxx xxxx of Subaru Telescope

Community of Practice (Learning Community) Developed during the the program Short course Weekly meetings Technical work on projects Symposium Demonstrated Friendships Confidence Committed to each others success, Symposium 9 students attended the SACNAS Conference (Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science)

2006 Program Conclusion The 2006 Akamai Observatory Symposium held Friday July 28th, at ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center in Hilo ten minute presentations Attended by mentors, friends, family and other interested observatory staff and educators real-world experience working understanding of observatory careers. observatory staff introduced to students ten minute oral presentations from each student about their project The 2005 Akamai Observatory Symposium held Friday July 29th, at Subaru Telescope Headquarters Attended by mentors, friends, family and other interested observatory staff A inaugural cohort of students with the confidence that real-world experience builds, as well as a working understanding of observatory careers. Observatory mentors and their colleagues with a much better appreciation for the dedication and talent of up and coming young scientists and engineers. Too early to assess success criteria of advancement of students into science and tech careeers

Hawaii Island Akamai Program Results (to date) 2004 Informal Program Interns Ben Berkey- f/t employee at Keck Kawai Kuluhiwa- working this year, applying to grad school 2005 Cohort; 1st formal cohort, 11 interns 5 continuing as undergrads 2 in grad school (STEM) 3 working in STEM fields 1 looking for work 2006 Cohort; 13 interns All still undergraduates 2 community college students pursuing 4 year degrees ten minute oral presentations from each student about their project The 2005 Akamai Observatory Symposium held Friday July 29th, at Subaru Telescope Headquarters Attended by mentors, friends, family and other interested observatory staff A inaugural cohort of students with the confidence that real-world experience builds, as well as a working understanding of observatory careers. Observatory mentors and their colleagues with a much better appreciation for the dedication and talent of up and coming young scientists and engineers. Too early to assess success criteria of advancement of students into science and tech careeers

The Future Program funded for summer 2007 Improvements Student recruitment has begun, Akamai Expo recruitment event Jan 26th on Maui and promotion begun Favorable response from 2006 observatories and mentors for committing to the 2007 program Community is very supportive Improvements Joint Astronomy Center (James Clerk Maxwell Submillimeter Telescope and United Kingdom IR Telescope) expressed interest in participating Early formal recruitment visit to observatories planned

A heartfelt Mahalo Nui Loa to Lisa Hunter, the CfAO staff and the National Science Foundation for making it all possible!