Student Perspectives: Taking a Look at the Influences of West Hub Sci Comm Internships

By Kimberly Mann Bruch, SDSC Communications

The West Big Data Innovation Hub has been fortunate to have more than 40 high school and undergraduate students work on science communication efforts over the past few years. While the bulk of their assignments were assisting with researching and writing articles for the West Hub website, several of them presented posters at the 2023 Our Water Data Future, worked on DataJam projects, and participated in community engagement events such as the 2024 San Diego Bird Festival.

Summer 2024 San Diego Supercomputer Center interns participated in science communications efforts for the West Big Data Innovation Hub.

Research Experience for Undergraduate (REU) students were also involved with West Hub science communication efforts while spending the bulk of their time on an array of data science projects at the San Diego Supercomputer Center. Additional students worked on a COVID-19 Data Challenge and assisted the team in composing documentation about the event.

We took a moment to speak with some of the past years’ for reflections on how this time with the project impacted their educational experience. Here is what a few of them had to say:

“Throughout my experience, I found great value in working to construct my stories and learn from the work of those around me. I was able to not only learn from my science writing mentor, but also from an array of physicists, biologists, engineers, mathematicians and environmental scientists who were working on projects funded by the National Science Foundation.” – Sneha Lele, senior at Torrey Pines High School

“My science writing internship has given me the experience and knowledge I needed to succeed in my first year at SDSU. I learned how to approach and complete difficult assignments which embody more technical writing.” – Amina Bendjennat, freshman at San Diego State University

“With the ongoing growth of complex scientific and technological advancements, the role of understandable communication has become vital. The internship that I had with the West Hub prepared me for sharing my undergraduate research with the broader community and I am grateful for the time I had with this team during my high school years as it taught me how to do that.” – Henry Lemersal, sophomore at Notre Dame University

“For almost a year, I’ve been an intern at the San Diego Supercomputer Center as a science writer with the Research Experience for High School students. This experience has allowed me to prepare articles for the SDSC and West Hub sites as well as present a poster at an academic meeting and compete in a data science challenge. It has helped ready me for college application preparation as well as made me an overall better communicator as I enter my senior year of high school.” – Rajan Tavathia, senior at Mount Carmel High School

“This writing internship opened my eyes to many different science topics. From learning how bioinformatics could determine genetic anomalies in cancer to understanding how water could be conserved through an app, I was able to get a little glimpse into each area of science and learn about their unique importance in the STEM industry.” – Aanika Tipirneni, sophomore at Canyon Crest Academy

“These enriching science communication experiences for students were a result of West Hub Science Writer Kim Bruch’s vision and leadership. She transformed the idea into a thriving program that empowered future science communicators,” said West Hub Executive Director Ashley Atkins, who is the San Diego Supercomputer Center Chief of Staff.  “Students also gained a deeper understanding of the importance of academic community engagement, both locally and nationally. The inspiration she sparked will continue to guide them as they embark on the next stages of their academic and professional journeys.”