[music]
[Rinehart] There's a lot of different styles for how different mentors, here at Goddard,
work with their students. Our team approach is to work with them but to
give them ownership because when they have ownership they tend to do better,
they tend to be more creative. [Okafor] When they decided they needed a star camera they
could have purchased one because other research organizations build star cameras,
but Stephen decided to give students a chance to build the star camera.
[Cotto] Working here is very self-motivating so they kind of just give you
what to do and the basics of it and they say OK figure it. So right now I
run around, read a bunch of papers online, talk to all the experts,
which is pretty interesting and I think it's a fair representation of the real world.
[Handleton] There is definitely a lot of pressure to get your work done
but it's not incredibly stressful. They know you're a student and that
they're all there to help. There are experts here for everything. [Rinehart] Within the
BETTII project the thing I think is the most valuable for the students,
the best opportunity, is the chance to work with people who are doing
cutting edge research and cutting edge work. That is the kind of stuff that gets
the students excited about what they think they want to do with their lives.
[Okafor] The cool thing about being here at Goddard is you get to see the wide variety of
things that we actually do, from climate science, to space exploration, and
everything in between. [Handleton] I'm incredibly grateful for this opportunity. It's been
a great experience. Not only technical knowledge that I've learned but just
seeing how a big mission like this comes together. [Cotto] It feels great to be part of
this team because you really feel that it actually matters, like the work you're doing.
[Rinehart] When I was an undergraduate I was fortunate that I got to work on some
interesting projects. And it's part of what gave me a love for science and the
love for the kind of work that I get to do now. And I want these students to have
the same kind of experience. [Handlton] When this mission launches and the data starts
coming back that will definitely be exciting. It's not supposed to launch
until 2015 but I'll definitely be looking out for that. It will be great to
actually see my work contributing to telling us things we don't know about
the universe. [Okafor] I would say if you're an engineering or science student and you
think you want to work at NASA you should definitely apply. Even if you
don't know a lot about space you'll definitely learn everything you need to
know once you start working here. [Rinehart] I see them out having lunch together everyday.
I see them talking about the different things they are working on and
sharing ideas. That's teaching them what it's like to form a team and
be part of a team and that's something that is extremely
valuable as they go forward in their careers. [Okafor] I think my favorite part of working here
is, people who work at NASA don't work at NASA because they kind of like what
they are doing. They work at NASA because they have a passion for science
and technology and broadening our understanding of our world. So it is
great to work with people who are so passionate everyday about what they are doing.
[Cotto] Being about to sit down and discuss with someone what I'm
working on and knowing that they're the expert in that field has been priceless.
[Handleton] I think what I'll remember most about my time working here is definitely the
people. It's been great working in the lab with Anthony and Yvonne. It's
been great getting to know these senior scientist and engineers who just know
so much and love what they do. [Okafor] A goal would be for me to work at NASA full-time
and I think the internship program is a good stepping-stone.
[beeping]