NOAA Satellite and Information Service and Education: Building a STEM-Literate Workforce

In order to support NOAA’s goal of building a STEM-literate workforce, it is important for NOAA Satellite and Information Service (NESDIS) to participate in NOAA’s Office of Education supported student opportunities. Since 44 percent of NESDIS will be eligible for retirement in 2022, it is critical to increase participation in internships to build the next generation. Student internships can cultivate a dynamic setting to develop young professionals and a diverse workforce within NESDIS while creating and instilling a valuable experience for both the professional and the programs participating.

After an extensive analysis of NOAA’s internship programs, and exploring previous NESDIS internships, it was determined that NOAA’s student opportunities can lead to a well-rounded workforce.

NESDIS faces educational challenges which prevent student opportunities from prospering. Such challenges consist of prospective students being unaware of opportunities at NESDIS, the NESDIS community is not well informed about the student opportunities, and student projects are not best suited for undergraduate studies. Each challenge can be overcome by building upon current internship programs at NOAA, informing the community about student opportunities, and by creating relevant and meaningful projects that will fit each individual student’s skillset and NESDIS’s future needs.

The community at NESDIS can excel in the future and can become a powerful driver for generating the next generation of the STEM workforce. This project will create guidance for overcoming these challenges.