Smithsonian American Women’s History Initiative: Hidden Histories: Stories of Women in STEM From America's 250th Intern

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Smithsonian American Women’s History Initiative: Hidden Histories: Stories of Women in STEM From America's 250th Intern

What hidden stories of women in STEM exist in the United States’ 250 years of history? What of the 154.8 million objects housed in the Smithsonian collection has a story that needs to be told? Hidden Histories: Stories of Women in STEM From America's 250th eBook will dust off the underrepresented stories of women in STEM professions that have gone unrecognized.

The Hidden Histories: Stories of Women in STEM intern will help organize and write content for Hidden Histories: Stories of Women in STEM From America's 250th eBook. This eBook will be part of the Stories of Women in STEM eBook series. The Women in STEM eBook series is a series of free educational eBooks for middle school age readers. Designed to highlight the often-overlooked role of women in STEM, the eBooks feature biographies of trailblazing women who made history through their scientific discoveries and innovation. Each eBook has a theme or topic that unites the women's stories, such as women in biotechnology. The short biographies highlight different paths, obstacles, and careers of women in STEM to inspire the next generation. Readers learn how women have defied stereotypes and overcome structural barriers to advance the science, technology, engineering, and math industry. Hidden Histories: Stories of Women in STEM From America's 250th eBook will also highlight items in the Smithsonian collection and give the opportunity for an intern to uncover items that may not get the focus they deserve. Learning objectives include:

• Conduct research: compile a list of possible interviewees and Smithsonian collections objects to feature in the eBook
• Hone interview skills: compose a list of interview questions that both the intern and the public find engaging and informative
• Practice professional communication: create an email template to send to interviewees and coordinate and conduct interviews with STEM professionals
• Enhance writing: write story drafts based on interviews conducted and on collections object research
• Learn publishing skills: gain insight on the eBook publication/production process by request and compile images for the eBook and guiding the stories into the copy edit and production cycle

Candidates should have strong writing skills, skills in independent research, the ability to communicate professionally with experts, experience/interest in writing, journalism, science, and/or education. Interns will be managed directly by the project manager in the Curriculum, Digital Media, and Communications division and will receive feedback and guidance on their writing, research, and interviewing.

This is a hybrid internship with some days in our Washington, DC office and others working at home. The internship will last from June 9 - August 15, 2025. Hours: 40 hours per week. We accept undergraduate and graduate level interns. Stipend will be available the intern.

The funding for this stipend comes from the Smithsonian American Women's History Initiative Pool, administered by the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum in support of programs that amplify women’s stories to tell a more complete American history, reach a broad audience, and empower and inspire people from all walks of life

The Smithsonian Institution does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), national origin, age (40 or older), disability, genetic information, parental status, or military service.