Michael Bo, 2026 Mather Policy Intern - NSB

Biography

SPS Chapter: University of Richmond
Hey! I’m Michael Bo, a rising senior at the University of Richmond from Long Island, New York. I’m a pre-law physics major with a math minor, which is rare at a small university like UR, so I’m thrilled to meet more people that work with both STEM and law. I’m active with many campus groups, so here’s the obligatory shortlist: the one and only Society of Physics Students, Alpha Phi Omega (a co-ed community service fraternity), Phi Alpha Delta (a co-ed pre-law fraternity), Osmosis (pop science magazine), and as a tutor. I’ve also done research in cosmology, which I presented at the American Astronomical Society conference in January. Professionally, I’m fascinated by the intersection of science and law, particularly the ecosystems of science policy and patent law.
Outside of school, I love a rock scramble through mountains, playing chess, pickleball and volleyball with my friends, and reading stories from Wikipedia to novels. If you’re looking for a rec, I highly recommend Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel and The Secret History by Donna Tartt. I’m excited to meet everyone and learn everything I can about policy!

Internship

Host: National Science Board

Internship Blog

Week 1

In Andy Weir’s Project Hail Mary, the protagonist soars through the stars to solve a problem important to his time, without enough fuel to return home. I too understand this struggle, because I went to a bakery on a Lime scooter and it was taken by the time I left. Seriously, I just put it down.
This last week has been awesome in every way a noun can be. That is, the people, the places, and the things. I’ll cover them backwards.
The things I get to do here are so interesting. At work, the things I read about on the news become part of the daily chatter. I cannot express enough how incredible that is. I recently picked up a book by Eitan Hersh about how to get away from treating politics as a hobby, and these different perspectives will change how I think about mass media and the nation permanently. Outside of work, I’ve been running around from bookstores and museums to cat cafes and live music. There are too many things to do here for me to make it everywhere, but I’m going to try.
Washington DC is unlike any other city I’ve lived in. Which, at 21 years old, may not be a high bar, but DC is incredible. The Library of Congress, Kramers and the Torpedo Factory (in Alexandra) are all highlights. And don’t get me started on the scooters. They’re not fast, they’re not cheap, and they don’t seem safe, but they are so much fun. There’s a lot to see in DC, and I’ve got a lot of plans in the works.
And of course, the people are what makes any experience great. Shoutout to the NSB staff and the AIP/SPS Staff for putting this all together, and the other interns for being generally fantastic. I could not be more excited to see where this summer takes us.

Week 2

In Everything Everywhere All at Once, my hands-down favorite movie, the protagonist must navigate the multiverse and meet various alternate versions of the cast. That’s not so dissimilar to Week 2 of this internship. Sometimes I’m a physicist doing data analysis, sometimes I’m analyzing the dissemination of information in politics, sometimes meeting the competition from my 7^th grade worlds robotics tournament. It is so awesome to be able to fill so many different roles simultaneously. Also happy to say I never had the sausage fingers thing from the movie. Not really sure what was up with that.
About that LSAT; I took it Saturday! I’ve been studying for a few months, so it was great to finally step up to the plate. I always liked the conclusiveness of standardized testing; I get in the ring and give it my best shot, then it’s over. There’s a cinematic undertone to that, despite being just a multiple-choice test. Much of this week was spent on the LSAT this week, whether it was studying or going to sleep early or eating healthier, so it is good to have more free time this weekend. The internship cohort then ran a surprise party for me afterwards! It was a blast, and I got to show off my ERS skills. Thanks guys!
I met most of the office at work this week. It is incredible to be around these people. The wit and experience these folks walk around with is so powerful. I already liked the work, and recently I have been able to really appreciate the people lately too.
Throughout the week, I’ve been leaving my footprint across DC. I worked from the DAR library on Wednesday, saw the Albert Einstein statue on Saturday, explored the Smithsonian Zoo on Sunday, and ate at many cafes. The Magic Tree House series wishes it was about me.
The LSAT had a strong handle on Week 2, and I still got to do so many fun things. I am really excited to see what I can do with more time now. Tune in next week!

Week 3

In Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar, there is a fig tree with fat purple figs on the tip of every branch. Each fig represents another miraculous possibility or a boundless future; a traveler, an Olympian, a mother and so on. Yet the poem reveals that the narrator is starving at the base of the tree, unable to select just one fig. The expense of losing the alternative possibilities overburdens her. Which is tough for her, but this week, I got a taste from every fig.
On Tuesday, some of the interns and I went out for trivia night, but the only question we ended up asking is “Why are we in Petworth?” as we rode a bus 30 minutes in the wrong direction. Oops. But Maddy and I made the most of it, going for an hour-long hike through parts of Rock Creek Park, and it was awesome. There was a strong northeast feel to nature there, and it reminded me of the Catskills back home.
On Wednesday, we had another potluck. It was fun, but I seriously need to work on my cooking. Some of the other interns are way better chefs, and I have a lot to learn. It’s a good kind of challenge.
On Thursday, I went to the Library of Congress happy hour, which was full of people in fun costumes and beautiful sights. It’s interesting to see how they valued science and what they thought sciences were when the library was built. Also on Thursday, I went to a sustainability networking event and met an energy law professor who had words of wisdom for me. It’s always good to hear input from another angle.
On Friday, I went to the grand premiere of the documentary The Endless Frontier, which was about science in America and the case for federal funding. It was a modern, human, long-form argument that is deeply concerned with impacts; in other words, I recommend it.
On Saturday, I got coffee with Zhane, who had this internship (and blog) last year. He’s an incredibly funny, collected, intelligent guy. I’m so glad I reached out; if you are a student considering this internship next year, feel free to contact me! I also went to an art gallery and contemplated spending more money than I had on a brilliant painting of the dark side of the Earth.
On Sunday, a friend came into town, and we hit the Wharf, a few bookstores, and a psychic. I’m not usually one for mysticism, but I’ve been curious for a while at what it is people go to. The psychic basically said I was awesome and will live a strong and happy life. Basically.
This week was so much fun, next week is shaping up to be as exciting. See you then!

Week 4

In Frank Sinatra’s My Way, the singer declares having lived a happy life because of having chosen his own path. Similarly, this last week has been a testament of how great my choosing this path has been.
At work, I got to press forward on some important data projects and do some research and writing for AIP’s FYI Science policy newsletter. These were incredible experiences that change the way I think about the political whirlwind that is Washington, DC.
Outside of work, I’ve been able to go on an amazing dinner cruise, tour NIST (which included a descendant of Newton’s apple tree!), celebrate Ethan’s birthday, listen to live music at the French embassy, and explore Georgetown with a friend from Richmond. I’ve also made some good progress on Dickens’ Great Expectations, which is a fantastic read.

Week 5

In Moulin Rouge! (spoilers!), the lead invents a play that mirrors his life and predicts some of the ending. Importantly, the lead does not know or want the ending when he writes the script, yet the pieces fall into place. Now, exactly halfway through my internship, I find myself laying out my final plans before the curtain call in DC. This week, I’ve been crossing my fingers I have better luck than Christian and Satine and reflecting on what I want more of in the second half.
This was a big week for the arts! For me, anyway. I visited another art gallery, watched Moulin Rouge! (the musical) at the Kennedy Center, saw an orchestra at the NOI, read more Great Expectations, watched the new Supergirl, tried some photography, relearned writing techniques, found new music and attended a comedy show. It is incredible to have access to so much art; that may be one of my favorite parts of cities. When I return home, maybe I’ll try may try making some myself.
I was also able to attend the Board of Directors dinner and take on more responsibility at my internship. As I enter the second half of the summer, I’m making a concentrated effort to complete the professional goals I set for myself at the start, with a stricter eye towards timelines. The work has been great but now it is time for crescendo. I’m excited to use everything I have learned to complete my projects. Stay tuned!

Week 6

In our Founding Fathers’ Declaration of Independence, the 13 states declared America its own entity from Great Britain. It is written in a very particular way, calling on the Laws of Nature to entitle people with power. As a policy intern and a physics student, I can’t help but wonder what the Founders thought of nature that empowered rights and science.
This weekend was the Fourth of July, and I spent it under a rock, literally. I joined my friends for an Independence Day celebration in rural Virginia, which included a caverns tour near Front Royal. Despite the heat, we also went on a hike in Shenandoah National Park and explored Front Royal’s downtown. It’s nice to live in a city, but it’s also nice to get away from it. Some greenery and a waterfall is very calming.
I was also able to explore the Niels Bohr library on Wednesday! Learning about oral history interviews really helps highlight the human element to history.
Also this week: Catan, Director Vought’s hearing with the Appropriations Committee, a potluck, and more Great Expectations. I was also able to push forward on important projects at work, which is always satisfying. Overall, it was a busy week well spent. With so few weeks left, I can only hope for more of these.

Week 7

In Dickens’ Great Expectations, the protagonist arrives in a great new city and finds some things peculiar as he tries to embed himself among the elite. A couple things simply don’t seem to make sense to someone who has not lived in the city and culture an extended time. I feel this about dc’s buses. How is the metro so good and the buses so random.
I spent much of the last week with the other interns. I am so lucky to be stuck with such an incredible group. On Monday, we got third place in trivia out of ~12 teams. It turns out the hardest part was securing a table after all. On Wednesday I hosted another potluck, where we played Mario Kart and Just Dance 4. Then we played Werewolf and Catan on Thursday to some music. These people are awesome.
I spent the weekend away visiting a good friend. We watched the world cup England v. Norway match, which was a ball.