The Thompson Earth Systems Institute is hiring an undergraduate student to support a new grant, Community Action Projects for the Environment (CAPE). CAPE helps youth learn more about local environmental issues, select one to explore, and effectively voice suggestions for change to community decision-makers. The grant is intended to support museums, science centers, and other informal science settings as they facilitate CAPE programs with their youth groups. As part of the grant, we are collecting data on how educators perceive their ability to facilitate civic
action projects as well as how the youth participants are impacted by the program. The educators are part of a community of practice to support them over the course of the year.

This position will be responsible for supporting the educators facilitating CAPE programs with their youth. This will include scheduling monthly meetings with CAPE members and offering support to the museums facilitating the communities of practice. The person hired in this position will have the opportunity to travel to a workshop in South Florida to help to assist with data collection and training of new educators. This position will also assist with the analysis of the data collected. If interested, you would then have the opportunity to help with conference presentations or publications.

Responsibilities

• Scheduling and attending monthly virtual meetings with educators engaged in CAPE
• Supporting grant participants as they facilitate civic engagement programs with youth
  ages 11-18 by answering questions and identifying resources
• Assisting with data analysis
• Collaborating on conference presentations and publications as interested
• Attend and assist with a training workshop in South Florida (optional)

Eligibility

This position is open to UF undergraduates in their sophomore, junior, or senior year interested in gaining research and project management experience. Candidates must have an interest in learning about data collection and analysis as well as how to support a community of practice. Team members will gain mentoring in educational research such as data collection, data management, data analysis, and science communication.

Start & End Date

January 10, 2024 – May 17, 2024

Application Due Date

Friday, December 8, 2023

Location

Thompson Earth Systems Institute Office Suite McGuire Hall 3215 Hull Rd, Gainesville, FL 32611

Application

CAPE Assistant Application Google Form

Contact

Dr. Megan Ennes, megan.ennes@ufl.edu