National Science Resources Center Volunteer Program

Criteria for Volunteers
Positions are open to all individuals who meet the qualifications established for each project, including having successfully completed a Federal background check.  All volunteer positions require that you be available during business hours, Monday through Friday, and be at least 16 years of age.  For those who are able to commit to a year or more of volunteer service, the minimum time commitment is 6 hours per week.

Registration Deadline  
Volunteers – We accept applications for volunteers all year.  Volunteers must register with Smithsonian’s Behind-The-Scenes Volunteer Program. 

Application and Selection Process      
If you are interested in volunteering with NSRC, please click the following link on how to apply:  Behind-The-Scenes Volunteer Program. 

Upon completion of a written application and a personal interview as well as successful completion of a background investigation, qualified applicants are referred to NSRC staff members for consideration.
 
There are seven program areas in NSRC: 

Science Education Program Areas for Volunteers
1. Center for Building Awareness of Science Education
2. Center for Strategic Planning and Reform Initiatives
3. Center for Teacher Professional Development Initiatives
4. Development Division
5. Publications Division
6. Executive Office
7. Finance & Administration Division

Typical Assignments for Volunteers at NSRC:

Center for Building Awareness of Science Education
Volunteers in this Center can contribute to this work by creating their own research project or choosing from a variety of ongoing projects, depending on their interests.  Past opportunities have included researching the science of high-school and adult learning, examining the education system of developing communities, and organizing conferences and seminars to help change the course of science education throughout the United States and the world.

Center for Strategic Planning and Reform Initiatives
During the summer, the Center for Strategic Planning and Reform organizes Strategic Planning Institutes (SPI), communicates with previous SPI attendees, promotes SPI events and works to find additional funding sources for their programs.  Volunteers in this program will work on a variety of projects that include preparing event materials such as participant lists, agendas, nametags, and participant resource binders using Microsoft Word and Publisher.  Also, drafting and sending letters and e-mail correspondence to event participants.

Center for Teacher Professional Development Initiatives
The Center for Teacher Professional Development holds a number of major teacher education events between June and late August. These include four Smithsonian Science Education Academies for Teachers (SSEAT).  Each SSEAT lasts one week.  Your work for these Academies may include helping with recruitment, preparation of printed and other materials, working with coordinators to ensure all materials are available and at the appropriate location, serving as a liaison with Smithsonian museum staff, providing logistical support, assisting the NSRC staff and consultants as they teach the curriculum and assisting with the evaluation. Work of these Volunteers will allow travel to different locations around the Metropolitan DC area and beyond. 

Development Division
NSRC’s Development Division has volunteer opportunities available for anyone with an interest in fundraising projects that help NSRC achieve its development goals to be a sustainable organization.  Volunteers will assist with short and long-term projects, such as, researching donors, responding to inquiries and tracking contacts, developing marketing materials that promote planned giving opportunities to NSRC, writing letters and other correspondence and assisting with proposals to foundations and corporations.

Publications Division

Communications – Volunteers interested in information technology or Web issues may assist in the maintenance of the NSRC site and the development of new Web components. Assistance is also needed with digital asset management of photos and documents.  Volunteers may also work on image and document scanning, cataloging, and metadata assignment in addition to other assignments.

Publications – Volunteers can assist the curriculum development and improvement process by writing, editing, performing photo research, and/or creating databases to track development and revision of our educational materials.

Executive Office
Volunteers interested in business operations will appreciate working with the support staff of NSRC.  This department supports the Executive Director with administrative projects geared toward achieving the success of the organization.  Volunteers will assist with the National Advisory Board Meeting, National Coalition Meeting, and InterAcademy Panel Conference by writing letters, preparing materials, event planning and meeting planning support.

Finance & Administrative Division
The right hand of the Executive Office is the Finance & Administration Division.  This division consists of two administrative functions – Human Resources and Finance.  Volunteers will assist with tasks such as creating spreadsheets to track staff professional development and the internship program, formatting budges in Excel, organizing accountable property documentation, contract maintenance, and document archiving.  Familiarity with Excel is a must for F&A Volunteers. 

More about the NSRC. 

For questions about NSRC volunteer opportunities, please contact Angela Pritchett, Volunteer and Internship Coordinator, at 202-633-2284 or PritchettA@si.edu.