1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

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

13. 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

14. 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)

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

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