The Mind Museum Internship Experience : Aspiring Science Communicators by Garrick Bercero , Mind Mover
In the five years since The Mind Museum ( TMM ) has opened its doors , it had also been training a new generation of science communicators to improve the public understanding of science in the Philippines .
Under the TMM ’ s internship program , interns get a taste of what being a Mind Mover is like , and how it is to inspire audiences .
One of our interns from Palawan State University ( PSU ), Maria Solis , had this to say about the contrast of the museum experience from her traditional encounters with science , “ As an engineering student , we just do solving , listen to our professor , take whatever lessons they teach , take our exam , review and memorize formulas . But in our stay here , we experienced how to teach , ask and interact with the people entering the museum .”
Another engineering student , Michael Baguna , shared that his experience taught him to look beyond mathematics . “ During Makerspace Pilipinas , I also enjoyed teaching children Arduino programming and the proper use of tools . Those moments were special to me because I taught those children something useful and productive , and that was priceless .”
Fellow PSU student , Franz Baaco , added , “ I ’ ve learned so much about communication , science and teaching , that can only be learned through experience . We ’ re always told that we must be passionate about what we talk about . Because excitement is contagious , if you inspire even just one of the kids in the audience to be a scientist when they grow up , that ’ s more than enough .”
Training science communicators isn ’ t just about making sure they know their science . TMM training always includes theater training , as Mind Movers are also expected to be performers .
Intern Avery Chan was shy at first during her training , but drew from her passion for science to connect with her audiences . “ By helping the kids go out of their comfort zones , I was able to do the same . It made me feel very happy and fulfilled to think that I made some sort of a difference in their lives through science , and that — hopefully — I was able to move their
minds as much as they moved mine .”
MIND MOVING MOMENTS
The program also inspired the interns to have a deeper appreciation of science . Intern Szarrii Lim considered science as her least favorite subject in school , but the program changed her view . “ I was falling in love with science for the first time in my life . Honestly , I learned and understood even more stuff in this short period of time than in an entire semester of science class .”
Intern Jana Codera also says the museum ’ s approach renewed her love of learning . “ I used to be really studious , but sometimes my classes would get boring , and my teachers lacked enthusiasm . I got tired of exerting effort in studying . However , The Mind Museum changed that . TMM has made me love learning once more , and that ’ s something I ’ ll never forget .”
Some of our volunteers and interns have even gone on to become full-time Mind
Movers themselves . Former intern and now Mind Mover , Christer , has this to say on the different approaches to teaching science : “ People relate to stories . We look for ourselves in narratives around us . Stories from our parents and grandparents , after all , are what we grew up listening to and learning from . It is just fitting to use stories to talk about science and how important it is for our lives .”
The Mind Museum aims to touch the lives of each visitor through science , but for those who stay with us for longer than the average visit , we hope to build a deeper Filipino culture that can look at science from a different perspective .
TMM ’ s internship program molds a new generation of young people who are not just inwardly passionate about science , but are also able to share an infectious excitement for it with the world outside the museum .
For more information on The Mind Museum ’ s volunteer and internship program , please email volunteers @ themindmuseum . org .
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