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Overview

The Build a Better Book Teen Internship Program at engages Albuquerque area teens in helping to expand the accessibility of its exhibit spaces. Teen Interns work with Explora's exhibits team and utilize Explora's teen makerspace, , to fabricate new exhibit components to make the science center a more inclusive and accessible space for all visitors.

2024 Program

The 2024 BBB Teen Internship at Explora will run June 18 - July 19, 2024 (no program the week of July 4th).
The program meets Tues - Fri from 9am - 4pm each day.

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Eligibility

Rising 10th-12th graders who are at least 14 years old are eligible to apply. Previous experience in engineering is not required.

Across all sites, Build a Better Book strives to provide opportunities for students who might not otherwise have an opportunity to participate in an out-of-school-time engineering internship experience. We strongly encourage students from the following backgrounds to apply:

• Underrepresented in science and engineering, including girls, African American, Hispanic/Latino or Native American students
• LGBTQ+ students
• Underserved, suchÌýas coming from low socioeconomic means, which may be indicated by qualification for free/reduced lunch
• Potentially the first family member to attend college
• Absence of science and engineering degrees in family
• Coming from a high school with low admittance rates to top-tier colleges, especially rural or predominantly minority high schools

All applicants who meet the eligibility requirements will be considered, regardless of race or ethnicity.

Program Structure

The 4-week BBB Teen Internship at Explora is designed to provide interns with an authentic engineering design experience in a workplace setting. Participating interns will work collaboratively in project teams to design and produce accessible exhibit components for the science center. Through the internship,Ìýstudents develop anÌýunderstanding of:

• Universal Design principles and empathy-driven design
• Accessibility tools and designing for disabilities
• Tactile and multi-modal learning styles
• Maker Technologies, such as 3D modeling and printing, computer programming, electronics, and laser cutters
• Characteristics of blindness, vision impairments, and other disabilities
• 21st century workplace skills