Sarah Monk, 2018 AIP Mather Policy Intern

Biography

SPS Chapter: University of Maryland-College Park

I am a recent Physics graduate of The University of Maryland, College. I’ve been involved with the Society of Physics Students since 2012, serving for 2 years as an officer before transferring to UMD and being elected Secretary, followed by President of the UMD SPS Chapter, and Associate Zone Councilor for Zone 4. I also held the role of President of The American Nuclear Society during my final year at UMD and have been active with the Women in Physics chapter. It’s been my pleasure to also serve for the past year as a Network Fellow with the Access Network, a network of graduate and undergraduate students across the country working towards a vision of a more diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible STEM community.

While at UMD I conducted research on the LZ Dark Matter Detector Collaboration since Fall 2015 as well as trained under the Maryland University Training Reactor program, but since have found that my passion lies in policy and determining how the work we do in physics affects people’s lives. My hope is to enter a career in science policy, helping make science accessible to and beneficial to all. When not in school I love to cook, bake, and try new foods; read as much as possible; attend live music shows; and do lots of crafts.

Internship

Host: American Institute of Physics

Project

Abstract

This presentation is a look at the unique experience of a Mather Policy Intern working for the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. The position of Mather Policy Intern has a definite learning curve, and differs from many other physics internships in that it is not explicitly focused on physics, but how physics (and other sciences) are interpreted by and used to benefit the American People. From researching new technologies, to analyzing the possible socioeconomic impact of new policies, to drafting the words a Member of Congress will speak to get their message across, the Science Committee staff is integral to the progression of science in this country. A Science Committee intern must be prepared to contribute in versatile and useful ways. This presentation will serve a dual purpose, both as a look into the experiences of an AIP Mather Policy Intern over the summer, and a guide to help prepare future Mather Policy Interns for their summer with the Committee.

Final Presentation

Monk_Presentation.pdf (.pdf, 22 mb)

Internship Blog

Week One: A Week of Firsts

As I made my way down D Street, I repeated the words I had been telling myself for weeks. “You were chosen to do this, you can do this, everything will be fine.” My breath caught in my throat as I approached the door, sure that at any moment someone would tell me I wasn’t dressed appropriately, I looked out of place, I didn’t belong here. I stepped through the door, placed my bag on the x-ray conveyor belt, and walked through the metal detector as I reminded myself to breathe, lest I look suspicious. I had only been here once before, and only vaguely remembered where I needed to go, taking my first tentative steps to the elevator. Stepping off onto the third floor, I glanced at the arrow on the wall directing me to my destination. I advanced towards the door, took a final deep breath, and stepped inside for my first day as an intern in the Minority Office for The Committee on Science, Space, and Technology .

My first day was short, so there wasn’t a lot to do. I read through the Intern Briefing Binder to familiarize myself with how things work here. I took my time reading about all the committee members, wanting to be able to recognize them on sight, I was terrified of embarrassing myself in front of a Member of Congress. I tried to retain as much information as I could, not wanting to do anything wrong. I met the other office interns, Rohni and Monica, who helped put me at ease about the office. Before I knew it the day was over and it was time to head back to the apartment to tell my roommates all about it.

The next day I received my first project! I was so excited to prove that I was ready for this job. I also got an assignment to do a write-up for a markup the following day, and was told I would get to attend a hearing on Thursday. I got to meet more of the office staff from various subcommittees (our office holds the subcommittees of Energy, Space, Environment, Research & Technology, and Oversight), and even learned that one of the staff members of the Space Subcommittee went to The University of Maryland as well! He was really encouraging, telling me a story of being rejected by NASA right after college, at the time crushing his dream, but after working in government he was eventually asked to oversee NASA in the committee. He told me that though your dreams may not come true immediately, they will come true as long as you have passion. I was so excited for all these new experiences, but really the most exciting part of my day was that I got my official U.S. House of Representatives ID Badge. I have never felt so official!

On Wednesday I learned what a Markup was. Maybe something I should have known previously, but hearing about it and watching it live are completely different things. This was the Appropriations Committee Markup on The Interior-EPA Spending Budget for the 2019 Fiscal Year . Perhaps not the most exciting topic, but I enjoyed hearing from so many members of Congress. I tried my best to keep up with who was talking and which District they were from, frantically taking notes the entire time. I didn’t want to leave anything important out of my write-up. After 25 amendments that took 6 hours(!) to discuss and vote on, the bill was passed by the committee to be moved to Congress for vote. I didn’t have a lot of knowledge previously on how these processes worked, and it was enlightening to watch it unfold.

Thursday was the day I had been waiting for: my first hearing! This would be my first time seeing the Congress Members of my committee in person. The Subcommittee on Energy would be holding the hearing on “The Electric Grid of the Future .” Rohni and I would be preparing the Congress Members’ lounge, setting up the dais, and taking photos at the hearing. I was interested to hear what the members had to say on the topic of the energy grid, and President Trump’s recent declaration to try to save failing coal and nuclear plants. I listened to Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson’s (D-TX) opening statement intently, silently agreeing as she spoke.

It was interesting to hear what the witnesses had to say. Even having only been in the office a few days now, I felt a personal sense of pride as our witness, Mr. Rob Gramlich, president of Grid Strategies, LLC., was speaking. He backed up Congresswoman Johnson’s words with sound science and logical thinking.

The hearing was briefly interrupted when the Congress Members were called away for a vote, but upon their return, I got to hear them question the witnesses, and see what they had to say themselves. I was most excited to hear from Congressman from Illinois’ 11^th District, Dr. Bill Foster . Dr. Foster is the only Physicist currently in Congress. It was clear from his interactions with the witnesses that not only was he highly invested in this topic, but he is also extremely well-informed, asking questions regarding the science and details behind the grid and energy systems. I just hope that sometime this summer I’ll get the chance to talk with him.

This first week has been so full of new experiences that were exciting, frightening, fun, enlightening, and overall amazing. I’m so grateful to have the chance to prove myself in the House of Representative, and especially on the Committee for Science, Space, and Technology. I’m looking forward to nine more weeks of firsts, and know it will be over before I know it. I plan to take advantage of every minute.

Week Two: Just Another Day at the Office

As I sat at dinner for a friend’s birthday this week, I shared my news of some of my experiences in the science committee office. Just as I bit into probably the best chicken taquito I’ve ever tasted, someone remarked, “One of my favorite games to play on the metro is Spot the Intern.” We all laughed, and went on to compare stories of seeing lost and bewildered interns navigating the metro. I realized that a week ago that was me, but in only a couple weeks, I feel like I’ve settled very comfortably into my role and life on Capitol Hill. I no longer have to think about which metro stop is coming up, where I need to get off. I’m not nervous as I enter the House office building. I couldn’t be happier with the work I’m doing in the office.

When I started college, I didn’t even plan on doing physics. I loved graphic design and web development, which at the time led me to a prospective career in computer science. It wasn’t until a couple years into my academic path that I found physics. I may err on the side of indecision when it comes to my career, but really that’s only because I find so much in the world so interesting. I do wish I could do it all. When I did start physics with the intent of a career in physics for my future, I was sure I wanted to work in a high tech lab, helping create cutting-edge technology to change the world. The further I got into physics, I found more and more topics that interested me. I got concerned about how I would fare in grad school, having to dedicate years to a single project in order to obtain a PhD, still having never felt fully comfortable in the physics setting. The more I got involved in, the more I found that my skills and interests did not necessarily align with a traditional physics career in academia or a lab setting.

When I first started college, a professor of mine had often talked about finding our “Eureka!” moment. This was the moment when everything just clicked, and you would know that what you were doing was the right thing for you. I had never experienced this moment, and it had often caused me to doubt my decision to pursue physics. I still struggled in classes, I never got the top scores on exams, I enjoyed learning about physics but wasn’t as enthused or excited as many of my peers about new concepts or equations. As I came towards the end of my time in undergrad, I still hadn’t found my eureka moment, and the prospect of applying to grad schools was daunting. What if this wasn’t what I was meant to do? Would I be stuck for six years doing something I wasn’t even passionate about?

When I received a fellowship position with The Access Network, working on equity and diversity programs in physics, this started to change my perspective a lot. There was always this vague notion surrounding my decision to do physics that I could help people with my future work. I think the idea of someday making a difference is a motivation for many physics students, but bringing this to life by working with and helping real people made me realize that I don’t have to wait years and obtain a PhD to make a difference. During my time in college I got involved with lots of different programs and organizations (SPS being only one of many) that allowed me to help make a difference in people’s lives. Many of these were government funded, though the National Science Foundation, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, or other grants. As I participated in events and programs, it became clear to me how crucial it is to advocate for the importance of programs that support students, especially those from underrepresented and diverse backgrounds.

I worked hard with these programs, finally finding an area of physics where I felt not only like I excelled, but like I was making a difference. I planned and ran outreach programs. I helped host the first ever Conference for Undergraduate Underrepresented Minorities in Physics. I helped lead my Society of Physics Students chapter, American Nuclear Society chapter, and Women in Physics chapter. I knew I could never go back to working isolated in a lab and be happy. With a desire to impact lives, I considered my career options. My choice to work in science policy stems from a desire not just to make my own voice heard, but to give a voice to those who do not have the power to speak up for themselves.

This internship has started me on a pathway that I will be able to serve my country, community, and sense of self. Though coming into the internship I was possibly the most nervous I have ever been, the confidence I’ve gained in my work in only a couple short weeks tells me that I’ve made the right decision. What was only last week a nerve-wracking experience of wanting to impress the committee staff and not make a fool of myself, has now become just another day at the office. I’m excited for what the future holds, for the next eight weeks and beyond, and can’t wait to learn and experience more.

Week Three: We’re going on an adventure!

On Monday this week, our office interns all arrived excited to start the day. Today we would be going on a scavenger hunt around Capitol Hill! My only experience inside the Capitol Building had been quickly walking through on my way from the House to the Senate for a hearing last week and I was excited to see some of the art, history, and architecture of the U.S. Capitol. Our intern coordinator handed us our list, with instructions to be back by 1:30, and three hints we could text her for if we got stuck, and we were on our way!

We started out easy. Our first three hints were all within the House Office Buildings. “I need 150 black ball point pens – where do I go?” I had no idea, but one of the other interns, Rohni, remembered there was an office

supply store in the House somewhere. We ended up at Longworth and on the way to the office supply store saw a sign on the wall for Coffee/Ice Cream, our next clue – “A place to stop for ice cream.” We arrived at the Dunkin Donuts/Baskin Robins, ready to get some ice cream (it was in the 90s that day!) only to be told they don’t serve ice cream until 11am. What a disappointment, oh well.

We headed to our next stop – the Rayburn to Capitol train. Did you know that if you go to the basement of the House Office Buildings, they are all connected by tunnels? There is also an underground train that connects the House Buildings to the Capitol Building. This makes it quick and easy for Congress Members and staff to get around when they are needed for hearings and votes.

We got off the train, and headed upstairs to the Capitol Building. We had a long list of clues to find here. Some were easy. We quickly found Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer’s office. Congressman Hoyer is from my home district – MD 5, so I felt extra excited about seeing his office at the Capitol. The straight forward ones we had no trouble with. The House Committee on Rules, the Cloak Room, and The Speaker’s Balcony were all pretty simple to find, though we were all disappointed that we weren’t allowed to actually go out onto the Speaker’s Balcony – you apparently must be accompanied by staff to do that.

We made our way to the Old Supreme Court Chamber to see what we could find there. The Old Supreme Court Chamber is the first room constructed for the use of the nation’s highest judiciary body and was used by the Court from 1810 until 1860. It is no longer in use, but has been restored to its original state. It is a beautiful room with plush red carpeting and vaulted ceiling. On the back wall of the room is where we found the answer to our next clue, “If you’re not five minutes early, you’re late.” The Old Supreme Court Clock is set five minutes fast. This was a practice started in the 1800’s to help ensure the punctuality of

the justices, and the tradition is still observed today. As we left the Old Supreme Court, we found two more of our clues. Outside the chamber, you can see faint paw prints in the cement floor. According to legend, these are the prints of a ghost cat that haunts the Capitol Building. Supposedly a cat whose den was destroyed upon construction of the

building, the black cat roams the halls of the basement of the Capitol at night, and appears to visitors and staff before historic or tragic national events. Or perhaps the paw prints are simply from one of the resident rat catchers that walked through the cement as it was being set, who’s to say? Up above us, we saw Benjamin Henry Latrobe’s Corncob Columns. Latrobe was honored as the second Architect of the Capitol, having designed the original Hall of the House, the Old Senate Chamber, and the Old Supreme Court Chamber. He created the Corncob Columns in representation of America’s agriculture.

Right above the Old Supreme Court is the Old Senate Chamber. Being inside the chamber was like stepping into the past.

It was absolutely gorgeous, having been restored into somewhat of a museum, recreating the scene of many significant moments in the evolution of the United States Senate and the legislative history of the nation. We were able to find another clue in the room – Washington’s Porthole Portrait. The 1823 portrait was painted by Rembrandt Peale, who had painted Washington from life, and was purchased in 1832, the centennial of Washington’s birth, to be displayed in the Chamber.

We arrived at the National Statuary Hall, a large tow-story chamber within the Capitol that houses statues of prominent Americans. There were all sorts of stunning statues, from Rosa Parks to St. Junipero Serra to Thomas Edison. There were several statues on our list, but found none of them in the main Statuary Hall. What we did find out was that this used to serve as the main Hall of the House, redesigned after the fire of 1814. Members sat at desks arranged in tiered, semi-circular rows, facing the Speaker’s rostrum. The Speaker’s rostrum, a tiered wooden structure, occupied the flat side of the semi-circular room. The acoustics in the room were designed to allow the Speaker to be heard clearly from all around the room, however as a side effect, sounds reverberated throughout the room from all over. There are spots within the Hall where you can whisper and be heard clearly from the other side. On the tiled floor of the chamber, you can find brass plaques placed where each original Member’s desks were.

This was our best guess for one of our clues – Lincoln was here. We also found the plaque of John Quincy Adams, which was another clue on our list – John Quincy Adams opened this door and never came out. Adams suffered a stroke on the House floor, collapsing right at his desk during a debate on Military Affairs. He was taken to the personal chambers of the Speaker of the House (now the Lindy Boggs Congressional Women’s Reading Room), where he slipped into a coma and died two days later. We didn’t get to go into the room, but a Capitol staff member told us that the original couch that Adams died on is still preserved in the room.

Next we went in search of more of the statues on our list. With the help of a Capitol Security Officer, we made our way to the Capitol Visitors Center, where we saw the statues for three more clues on our list: the first female Representative, Jeanette Rankin; the only statue of a child in the Capitol, Hellen Keller; and someone who has been in space, John L. Swigert, Jr., an astronaut on the Apollo 13 mission.

We headed back upstairs, where we found the Flight 93 Memorial, another clue on our list. The plaque is in memory of the passengers and crew of United Airlines Flight 93, whose brave sacrifice on September 11, 2001, not only saved countless lives but may have saved the U.S. Capitol from destruction.

Our time was starting to run out, so we asked for help from Capitol Tour Guides for some more of our clues. One showed us the staircase the president uses before inauguration, telling us how the helicopter lands outside and the incoming President ascends the steps into the building.

Another tour guide directed us to the second floor rotunda where we could find a statue in with a part of the Berlin Wall in it. We came upon Ronald Reagan’s statue, famously quoted as saying “Tear down this wall!” in a speech he made in Berlin on June 12^th, 1987. At the base of the statue, there is a strip of stone embedded which was acquired from the demolished Berlin Wall.

We next went to the first floor rotunda for our next clue – Washington was supposed to be buried here, but he’s missing. In the center of the rotunda floor, there is a star which designates the spot where Washington’s tomb was built two floors below. The original design included a glass floor so the tomb could be viewed from above by the public, but this was never implemented as Washington’s will stated his body to be entombed at his estate, Mount Vernon.

We only had a couple clues left to find. One of them was simply the quote “Join or die.” We knew of Benjamin Franklin’s political cartoon emphasizing the importance of colonial unity, but no one we talked to could think of anything in the Capitol that related to it. We texted our intern

coordinator Cassie for a hint, who told us to go past the Hall of Columns, and look up. We made our way to the Hall of Columns in the House side of the Capitol, but still weren’t really sure what we were looking for. We didn’t end up finding whatever this clue was referring to, but we did find the statue of Father Damien. Father Damien was a Roman Catholic priest from Belgium, who devoted his life to a leper colony on Molokai in Hawaii. He dedicated 16 years to the colony, building chapels and homes for children, caring for those in the colony, and holding Mass every morning, until he died of Leprosy himself in 1884. In 2009 he was elevated to sainthood by Pope Benedict XVI.

We were out of time, and didn’t get to look for the last item on our list, it wasn’t until later that I found it in a Rayburn vending machine. One Big Az Burger. I was almost tempted to get one and try it, but thought I better not risk it.

I was so glad we got to opportunity to do the scavenger hunt. I learned so much about the history of the Capitol, got to bond with the other office interns, and had a lot of fun. (I also well surpassed my steps goal for the day!) I’m really looking forward to the upcoming intern tour so I can share some of this experience with all the other SPS Interns.

Week Four: With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility

It’s the end of my fourth week at Capitol Hill. Since I started I’ve been asked countless times how I like working there. Have I started to pull me hair out yet? Is working for the government as bad as it seems? To be completely honest, I absolutely love it. My blog posts so far have not put much focus on the work I do with the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, but that is not to say I’m not doing a lot here. All the SPS interns have been having a lot of fun this summer with parades, boat cruises, movie nights, exploring DC, and more. These things are all fun to share, but I’m being honest when I say that my favorite part of my internship is working in my office.

This week was a big week for our committee. We had two hearings and mark-up to get through, and everyone was working hard to get everything completed. I was asked to help with the hearing on Tuesday, June 26^th. This was a joint subcommittee hearing for the Research & Technology, and Energy subcommittees, entitled “Artificial Intelligence – With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility .” I was so excited that our Energy Subcommittee staff member, Adam Rosenberg, asked me to help contribute for this hearing.

Since my first semester at The University of Maryland (UMD), I knew I wanted to work in energy. I had taken a course entitled Physics for Decision Makers: The Global Energy Crisis, where we studied energy production with a focus on green and renewable energies, and how to optimize energy generation and use to preserve our ecosystem. While taking this course, I remember thinking about how I could really use my knowledge to help people and the environment, and that set me on my path towards a degree in physics. It wasn’t until my senior year at UMD that a graduate physics course, The Intersection of Policy and Technology, that it dawned on me how much more of an impact I could make through policy rather than lab research. My experiences from that course helped me prepare myself for my internship with the House.

A lot of the work I’ve done for the committee has put a lot of emphasis on my writing skills, something I don’t think many physics majors consider with enough importance. I have provided hearing and briefing write-ups for staff members who were unable to attend themselves, produced research write-ups for background information on hearings, helped prepare informational memos for science committee hearings, and even helped write an opening statement for a Congress member. This has made it clear that having a strong background in physics (or any science) is useless without the ability to accurately and articulately communicate information. I’m very grateful that the staff here has been able to provide me superb feedback on my writing pieces to help me develop my skills.

For the artificial intelligence hearing, I was first asked to provide a two-pager, proving background on the applications of artificial intelligence in the energy sector. The hearing was being led by the Research and Technology Subcommittee, but this would help the Energy Subcommittee staff contribute their side to the hearing memo. Not only was I excited to contribute to committee work, but it was great learning about the developing technologies in energy. There is so much cutting-edge technology in the works concerning energy resources, power plants, the energy grid, and more. It’s amazing the advances that have already been made. After this submission I was given the opportunity to assist in research for the opening statement of Energy Subcommittee Ranking Member, Marc Veasey (D-TX 33^rd District). While nervous about contributing to something that would be read in such an important setting, I felt I was prepared to take on the task.

When it came time for the hearing, I was both anxious and excited. I was the intern in charge of this hearing, so I performed all the usual duties to prepare. I compiled the binders for the staff and Ranking Members with all the needed information, statements, and testimonies for the hearing, I set up the Member dais with all the hearing materials, and then I did photography during the hearing. I was beaming when Congressman Veasey presented his opening statement. Hearing him speak is always a pleasure, but knowing my research and work went into the words he was saying blew me away.

Hearings are my favorite part of working with the committee, and I was so glad I got to work on this one. Getting to hear from experts first-hand from different areas of science about new and revolutionary ideas really is a unique opportunity and I feel like I’m learning so much about science in the world today. I’m looking forward to more in the future, especially on this topic, as I’m told we will have a follow-up hearings led by the Energy Subcommittee coming up in a couple weeks.

Week Five: GOALLLLLL!!!

Since joining the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, this is my first week experiencing Congress in recess. The office has been pretty quiet, and some days it feels like there is more focus on the World Cup than on work. I grew up in England, so football was a large part of my childhood, but since living in the United States I never watched much. That is all changing this year. Most of the staff members in my office filled out brackets for the Cup, and are having a competition to see whose choices do best.

I have a bit of a competitive nature, so I’ve gotten really into it. So far so good! I only missed two choices in the top 16 round, one of which was an insane upset by Russia taking out Spain (who many people expected to win it all)! I’m going with Croatia to win, which may be a bit of a long shot, but they have been absolutely killing it so far!

Between games, I’m keeping myself busy with various tasks for the committee. We have our upcoming Artificial Intelligence follow-up hearing next week with lots to be done for, and Sam and I have been busy planning out tour of Capitol Hill for all the other SPS interns. I’m so excited to show them what we do down here and we have an amazing schedule planned for them, including attending the Energy Subcommittee hearing, checking out Senator Duckworth’s office, riding the underground Capitol Building train, and more! There is so much beautiful history at the Capitol (a lot of which is in my Week Three blog post ), I can’t wait to share some of it with the other interns.

Next week we also have our tour of the Optical Society of America , a professional development workshop put on by SPS National, and a breakfast meeting with Congressman Bill Foster , and I’m sure much more!. I think next week’s activities will more than make up for a slow week this week.

As we come to the end of the week though, it’s really hitting me that the internship is already half over. I only have five more weeks to enjoy all that Capitol Hill has to offer. When I started this internship, I had planned on using it as a way to figure out if policy was really the right path for me. I graduated from The University of Maryland in May, and though I successfully completed a degree in physics, there has always been a part of me that never quite felt at place within the field. I didn’t enjoy research and lab work like most of my peers, I could not stand to work at a chalk board for hours on end, and I never felt like it offered enough consideration for human lives. I suppose this is to say that I’m not in physics for the sake of knowledge, but for the opportunity to use that knowledge to help people and make a difference. Taking a course on policy was something I genuinely enjoyed, and hoped I could make a career of.

From five weeks as an AIP Mather Policy intern, I have never felt so confident in my choice. I have thoroughly relished working with the committee, and cannot imagine a more ideal environment for my internship. Now that I have graduated, I only hope that my future career will be as rewarding and impactful.

Week Six: Make sure it dazzles

Today I am grateful for the view out my office window.

It’s an absolutely beautiful day today, with gorgeous blue skies over the Capitol Building. It’s been such an eventful week; I knew that come Friday I would be completely exhausted so it was no surprise today when I was walking around like a zombie through my morning routine. Though I love my work, and generally am always looking for more to do in the office, I’m thankful today for a quiet day.

We had two intern tours this week and with taking two days out of the office for those I was working hard to get all my work done this week. Our subcommittees on Energy and Research & Technology had a joint hearing this week called “Big Data Challenges and Advanced Computing Solutions .” I was given the opportunity to put a lot of work into the hearing and was very proud to watch it unfold, but first had to get through the rest of my week.

Tuesday was a big day! Sam Borer and I had been able to arrange breakfast with Congressman Bill Foster. We met him at the Member’s Dining Room in the Capitol Building, which was not only beautiful, but allowed us a nice quiet area for an in-depth conversation with him. He asked us about our experiences in physics, our plans for the future, and offered his opinions on various issues physics is currently facing. Hearing about his background was brilliant, and his advice he offered for our future paths in physics is invaluable. I was nervous going in, but Rep. Foster was so laid-back and easy to talk to, the whole experience was one of my absolute favorites I’ve had this summer. That evening had more fun in store when we went to The Optical Society (OSA) for a tour from Brigette Smith.

After arriving at OSA, Danielle held a professional development workshop for us, which for me was hugely helpful. Since graduating in May, I’ve been passively looking for jobs, but now that we are coming towards the end of our internships, I am getting applications in and hoping for interviews.

A few of my key takeaways were:

• Tailoring your resume for the job you want. Go through the job posting and highlight the important keywords that they are looking for in an employee, make sure you are addressing all these points in your resume.
• Selling yourself in your cover letter. Make sure you include why you want the job, why you would be valuable to the company, and a gracious thank you for their time.
• A resume doesn’t get you a job, it gets you an interview. You can’t include all you want on a resume. Make sure it dazzles so you can show them in the interview the multitude of reasons you are right for the job.

After the workshop We got to hear from the CEO of The Optical Society who, in my personal opinion, was the coolest CEO I’ve ever seen. Elizabeth A. Rogan was appointed as CEO in 2002, and has worked hard to fulfill that OSA Mission of promoting the generation, application and archiving of knowledge in optics and photonics and to disseminate this knowledge worldwide. Moreover, her dedication to diversity and equity in the field is an inspiration. We wrapped up the OSA tour with a pizza party, enjoying each other’s company on the balcony overlooking Dupont Circle.

It was great seeing Brigette’s workplace, and I was excited to get the chance to show off my own office on Thursday. We started the tour at the Science, Space, and Technology Minority Committee office, to give everyone an idea of what I did at work each day. It was the day of our Big Data hearing, so we made our way over to the Rayburn House Office Building to watch the hearing live.

There was a fantastic panel of witnesses for the hearing, and not only was it a great opportunity for everyone to see the Committee in action, but it was very informative and exhilarating to hear from these expert scientists.

With the help of my mentor Cassie, we were also able to arrange a meeting for all the interns to meet Congressman Foster before he went into the hearing to question the witnesses.

I really think this was the highlight of the tour. Dr. Foster is so knowledgeable about so many different areas of physics, and engaged personally with all the interns about the projects they are working on. He even taught us about Sonoluminescence, which is the phenomenon of light produced by bursting air bubbles within a liquid with an ultrasonic frequency applied. Taking the time out of his busy day to meet with us was wonderful, and I could tell he really enjoyed getting to talk physics with the interns for a bit. The rest of the hearing was superb, filled with fascinating and stimulating questions from the Congress Members, and well thought out responses from the witnesses. I think the interns learned a lot (I know I did!) and really enjoyed the experience.

After the hearing we went to lunch at the Rayburn House cafeteria with

some special guests for the interns to learn more about the role of science in policy. Our guests were; Sara Barber, Professional Staff for the SST Committee who is a former AIP Science Policy Fellow; Bethany Johns, AIP Government Relations Advocacy Associate; and Susan Hou, an AIP intern with the Government Relations team. Everyone had a great time over lunch getting to hear from our guests before we made our way to the U.S. Senate to see what Sam had to show us for the rest of the tour.

We didn’t spend too much time in the Senate buildings, but we did stop by Bernie Sander’s office while we were there! It was fun seeing his workplace and the Wisconsin décor on display, even though Bernie wasn’t there when we went. We made our way through the Senate tunnels to take the underground train over to the Capitol Building, where Sam would lead us on a tour of the Capitol history. We started with the Capitol orientation film, “Out of Many, One” before exploring the Capitol to see the beautiful architecture, statues, artwork, and décor. Sam was full of facts and info about all we saw, and to end the tour arranged for us to visit the Gallery of the Senate Floor, where we watched Senator Portman from Ohio present to the President Pro Tempore. By the end of the day we were all wiped out, but we ended our day watching National Treasure, to continue the U.S. History theme.

I don’t know if anything can top this week, but as always, I’m looking forward to seeing what next week has in store.

P.S. GO CROATIA!!!!!

Week Seven: An important lesson

For those following my activities, every week so far has been full of exciting events, projects, and undertakings. Well, this week was essentially the opposite. I made no plans for the week, and didn’t have much going on at work. We are one week away from August Recess, so there’s not much going on at our office for interns to work on. Added to this, I’ve been quite sick all week, so I really only worked two days. I’m thankful to have a wonderful and supportive mentor, who ensures I take the time to care for myself. This is something that I always struggled with in school, and really never came to master. Since I have no exciting news from Congress to share this week, I would like to take the opportunity to address the topic of self-care and health amongst physics students.

When I started a degree in physics, I did so with the knowledge that I was not in the best health. Throughout my undergraduate physics career, there was not a single semester in which I was not hospitalized for one thing or another. This of course, is not common, but I do not speak only to students who are fighting through chronic illness, disability, or other crises. I speak to the students who caught the flu but are too afraid to miss a day of lecture, the students who don’t see a counselor because they can’t fit it into their class schedule, the students who have haven’t slept in 3 days because they are confident their professors won’t grant an extension. The field of Physics, and many other STEM fields, tends to create an atmosphere in which students feel that if they aren’t giving their all, 100% of the time, they will not be able to succeed, and that’s simply not true.

I regret that I didn’t learn these lessons until well into my academic career. There have been times that I took exams with a fever above 102 degrees. I’ve had to run from lectures to make it to a restroom to throw up my breakfast, only to immediately return to my seat to continue taking notes. I’ve finished exams and proceeded directly to the Emergency Room for medical care. I’ve been discharged from the hospital and gone straight to class, still wearing my hospital wristband. I’ve let my grades suffer because I felt sure that “not feeling well” for weeks at a time was not a valid excuse for an extension on homework or projects. These may sound extreme, but I guarantee that students in your classes have done similar.

During my senior year of undergrad, I had the experience of one of my professors asking us to fill out a “getting to know you” type form to start off the semester. At the end of this form there was an open question, “Is there anything else you would like to tell me or that I should know.” I had just switched into this course after dropping another, in which the professor told me I would fail the class if I missed more than two lectures, with or without a valid excuse. Knowing this course was also based strongly on in-class participation, I explained my situation and that sometimes I felt too sick to follow along in class very well or participate very much in discussions, and sometimes would have to miss classes. This isn’t something that I usually addressed outright with my professors (often waiting until I ended up in the hospital to even bring it up), so I didn’t know what to expect. My professor later emailed me to let me know that he understood and to not worry about it, that of course there would be no negative consequences and I should take the time I need to take care of myself. He also told me if I ever needed any extensions or help with anything, to please email him, no questions asked. This was my first experience with a professor really telling me to put myself before my academics. This prompted me to contact my other professors in a similar manner, and shockingly (to me at least) all of them responded similarly. It turns out that professors do actually care about their student’s wellbeing.

That year was the most supported I had ever felt as a physics undergraduate. As I shared these experiences with friends in my classes, this inspired other students dealing with various problems to talk with our professors about them as well. It was such a relief for us all to know that a professor would accept an assignment late because we had just had two projects due and couldn’t go another night without sleep. Missing lecture due to a bad cold seemed detrimental, but our professors were more than happy to explain the concepts from class in their office hours. Why had we been so scared to ask for help? No one in physics wants to seem like the “slacker” in class, we all want to prove ourselves, and often feel that that takes precedence over our own selves, after all, we can worry about taking care of ourselves after landing a good job. Over the past couple years, I have seen so many more programs in physics emerging to help break down these toxic ideas. I’m so grateful to have been involved with some of these, but I know that many students aren’t involved with student groups, they don’t have a support base at their university, and they just struggle through it, unaware there is any other way.

I love physics, and I love the physics community, but this is only one of the many flaws that afflict this and other scientific fields. During my senior year I made the decision that I didn’t want to go into scientific research, instead I wanted to find a way to support students like myself who struggle, thinking that is what is expected of them, and that asking for help will just be perceived as a weakness. I want to change how the field of physics views personal challenges, and build our community into what it should be, a place for cooperative and humane scientific work, where everyone can learn and thrive.

Week Eight: Scavenger Hunts and Homeruns

Over the past week I have spent more time out of the office than in. I love my job, and it’s a little disappointing to miss out on major events going on with the committee like the full-committee hearings on Urban Air Mobility (Flying Cars!) and the James Webb Space Telescope , but this week was packed with exciting events outside of the office, and it made for a great change of pace. We toured NIST with Jesus Perez and saw his lab, the NIST Museum, and even a descendant of Newton’s Apple Tree. Next we toured NASA with Colin Flynn and Daniel Morales , and got to attend the Science Jamboree, check out some really awesome labs, and see the NASA Goddard Visitor’s Center. But the highlight of my week was spending the evening at the Library of Congress with Mikayla , Amanda , and Nathan for the Congressional Night Scavenger Hunt.

On Thursday night, Congressional Members, staff, interns, and their guests were invited to a private event at the Library of Congress. When I got the email from our staff, I was so excited. Even though I’ve lived near DC for four years now, I’ve never visited the Library of Congress before. After work on Thursday, we headed for the metro to make our way over. The grandeur of the building really didn’t hit me at first. We went inside and checked in for the scavenger hunt (we were assigned to the blue team – The Locators), and received our first clue.

All of the clues were baseball themed to commemorate the Baseball Americana Exhibition on display at the Library.They were printed onto the backs of “baseball cards” featuring Library of Congress staff members, like Mary Mazanec, Director of the Congressional Research Service. We followed the first clue to the main reading room. It is here where it hit me that this is the most beautiful building I have ever step foot in. Looking around at the Reading Room was like entering another world. Photos just can’t do it justice, and I recommend to anyone in the DC area to make some time for a visit.

At each clue location, there was a small activity for us to complete in order to get our next clue. Here we had to seek out a baseball card that wasn’t sponsored by Old Judge Cigarettes. Baseball cards were placed onto all the desks around the room, giving us the chance to walk the aisles. Once we found ours, we were given our next clue, and the hunt continued. The clues led us all over the Library. We followed the clue: “the office of the Library’s ‘manager’...” to the office of the Librarian of Congress,

where we had to complete a word search that listed all the previous Librarians of Congress. Next we found the “clubhouse” at the Library for Members of Congress, where we played a Kahoot quiz about the Library. Our team Physics Pham took first place!

We learned some really cool facts about the Library too. Did you know there are 6,487 books in the Jefferson Collection? This was the collection that started the Library of Congress, after the Capitol building was burned down in 1814, destroying the original Library.

We continued on to follow more clues. We visited the Great Hall, where we had to assemble a puzzle cut out of the Sports Page of The Bridgeport Evening Farmer from October 10^th, 1916 . It is part of the “Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers” collection kept by the Library of Congress. We next visited the North Corridor, on the ceiling of which is depicted five women representing the five senses. Here we had to decode the lyrics to a classic ball game song that was printed in braille. The song was “Take your girl to the ball game,” written in 1908 by George Cohan. The Library of Congress in their Music Division holds the sheet music for this song .

Next we headed to the South Corridor to find “a pitcher, batter, and catcher, and the rest of the team taking the field.” On the ceiling were three paintings depicting the Three Graces: Aglaia (Husbandry), Thalia (Music), and Euphrosyne (Beauty). At each end of the ceiling there are panels depicting ancient games to represent the modern games of the era. On the west end of the ceiling we found the “rest of the team” on the panel illustrating baseball. After completing our activity here, we all got our own baseball card photos at the photo booth.

Our next clue finally led us to the Baseball Americana Exhibition.

There were some really amazing artifacts here including the diary of John Smith that holds the first ever mention of Baseball from 1786, a radio recording of the classic Abbott and Costello routine “Who’s on First, and even Babe Ruth’s baseball cleats. We looked through all the displays to find the information to complete our quiz for this activity (which we got an A+ on from Norm who led the Blue Team activity). Our next clue read,

We headed straight for the Thomas Jefferson Collection, where we had to match some classic baseball slang terms to their definitions and we learned about dingers and gleeking. After finishing the puzzle, we went to find our next clue, only to receive the surprise that we had completed the scavenger hunt!

At the end of the scavenger hunt, we got to enter a drawing for a basket full of cool Library of Congress memorabilia, and we left the library with fingers crossed that we would win. Before we left the Reading Room, we got the chance to do some “research” of our own. Signe, one of the Library of Congress volunteers let us take a look at some of the books there, resulting in some great photos to commemorate the evening together. She joked with us at one point that we had picked easily the most boring books in the entire Library, but we had a blast anyway.

We ended our night taking photos outside the library, and enjoying the beautiful evening at the Capitol as the sun started to set. I had so much fun, and I’m so glad that amidst my internship I’ve been able to take advantage of such amazing experiences like this, and make such wonderful friends to share them with.

Week Nine: Physics Teachers, I Think I Love You

While sitting in my office watching NASA’s announcement of the next Space Flight Crew, I’ve been thinking about how nice it is to be surrounded by people who care about many of the same issues that I do. When something exciting is happening in the science world, our whole office stops to watch it unfold. It’s been quite an eventful week, and though I do have a couple projects in the office I’m working on, it’s still pretty quiet now that we are in August Recess. With the lull in Congressional work, I’ve been able to take advantage of some other things going on in DC this week.

Saturday started off the 2018 American Association of Physics Teachers Summer Meeting, conveniently hosted in Washington D.C. this year. I was thrilled to attend, as I worked closely with several graduate students and faculty studying Physics Education Research during my time at The University of Maryland, and knew they would be attending. The weekend at AAPT SM18 was filled with workshops. Though I didn’t get to attend any, there was some that looked really interesting. I was happy to see that they were taking advantage of being in DC by integrating plenty of science policy into the meeting. A Congressional Visit was organized for some AAPT representatives to meet with the Office of Science and Technology Policy. Though I didn’t go on the visit, I heard from colleagues that attended that it went really well.

On Sunday evening, a group of SPS Interns made a plan to attend the meeting for the Undergraduate Student Hangout and the Society of Physics Students Poster Session, but before those got underway, we enlisted as interns for Dr. Alberta Pauline Schrodenberg, solving puzzles to complete the AAPT LabEscape. LabEscape is an outreach project created by physics faculty at The University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. They run an escape room based off of a physics lab, teaching the public about the basics of concepts like polarization, refraction, pressure, and more. It was a really unique experience, and so much fun. I’m definitely already thinking about ways to implement an escape room event for my SPS chapter at UMD.

The next day it was back to work, but our intern coordinator had some activities planned for us this week. On Monday we walked over to the steps of the Capitol Building and Cassie did a photoshoot with us so we would have some nice professional photos to use for LinkedIn or headshots. It’s really great having a mentor who does so much to support us and ensure we get the absolute most out of our internships.

Tuesday included a trip over to the office of Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson. We met her Chief of Staff briefly, and her assistant took us to visit the House Floor. When Congress is out of session, the Floor is open to House staff to bring guests straight onto the floor. You can sit where Congress Members sit while voting is in session, and visit the podium where the Vice President presides over Congress. Of course, photos are not allowed as all electronics are prohibited in the House Chamber, but the memory will stay with me.

I was out of the office on Wednesday so I could attend the final day of the AAPT conference. I attended some really great sessions, including one that one of our committee staff members presented at about the AAAS Fellowships, and one on the APS Step Up 4 Women program. I really enjoyed learning more about Step Up 4 Women. I got the opportunity to help out a bit while the program was still forming, and it’s such a great project to support the advancement of women in physics by reaching out to high school teachers to inspire and foster enthusiasm for physics in their students. That night I got to spend dinner with a group of members of The Access Network who were at the AAPT conference.

I’ve been working with Access for over two years now, and have met some of the most amazing people through the organization. I was so happy to get to spend the evening with them catching up and hearing about the great stuff going on at their universities.After dinner we got to attend the AAPT Physics Demo Show. I was excited to see Stanley Micklavzina from The University of Oregon was performing. I saw one of his shows for the first time while at Green River Community College and he was my Zone Councilor. He performed for us at our Zone Meeting, and I have never forgotten it. He did some awesome demos involving light and sound. My favorite was when he had a row of people hold hands to connect a circuit and cause music to play, then he led a physics sing-a-long. He created a song about physics teachers and demo shows to the tune of The Trogg’s “Wild Thing”.

It was a long but incredible day, and I was looking forward to more the next day.

I got the opportunity to attend the Physics Education Research Conference on Thursday, where many Access Network members were organizing and presenting. The poster session had some really cool topics like the biases created in student learning through urban or rural upbringing, feedback mechanisms for improving student communication, and Examining student tendencies to explore alternate possibilities . There was a small poster session for Access sites to share what has been going on with their sites and programs. Even working as a fellow with the organization for two years, I’m still always learning new things whenever we get together. The plenary talk given by Déana Scipio was great. Each plenary talk at the PERC related to the topic of “Wonderful Ideas.” What constitutes a wonderful idea? How do students react to feedback on ideas? It was really interesting and uplifting to hear the positive ideas the speakers shared.

I guess that leads me back to today, sitting in my office and contemplating my week. I’m so glad I got to experience AAPT and PERC and surround myself with so many people working diligently to make the field of physics more collaborative and inclusive. I feel like all summer I’ve gotten the chance to be surrounded by amazing people who really care about the future of physics, and I couldn’t be happier.

Week Ten: Thank You

Why has it taken me so long to upload my final blog post? I guess because I really can’t put into words how meaningful and unforgettable this summer has been. I could never fit all the momentous experiences I had into one blog post, but as I spent my final week reflecting on the summer and preparing for my final presentation, I thought about what are some of the most important things I learned. If I could do it all again, what do I wish I’d known, what would I change?

You don’t need to be an expert on day one

At the start of my internship I was so incredibly nervous. I didn’t know how I could possibly excel in the world of politics that is Capitol Hill. What I didn’t realize is that my time with The Society of Physics Students had been preparing me for this moment. Working on diversity and education programs had taught me how to stand up for what I believe in. Through outreach I learned how to communicate science to the public. By serving as an SPS officer I knew how to stay organized, be proactive, and work efficiently. Those in SPS and AIP who saw those things in me, even when I couldn’t see them for myself selected me for this position. The faith that the SPS and AIP Government Relations team had in me helped me get through my first week, until I could see for myself that I was ready for the job, not just to perform, but to learn and grow, as expected of an intern.

Put yourself out there

I spent too much of my undergraduate career declining invitations, ignoring texts and phone calls, and remaining isolated because I had too much work to do to focus on anything else. While I was in Washington D.C. for the summer to do a job, there was too much to experience to close myself off like I had done so many times before. It was really important to learn that this internship was about so much more than the job. Working in the House Science Committee office prepared me for my future, but spending time and exploring DC with my fellow interns made the summer unforgettable. Whether it was exploring the Library of Congress with Nathan, Amanda, and Mikayla, lying under the stars at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool with Daniel and Elon, or getting sushi after a long day at the zoo with Collin, Michael, and Brigette, my most memorable moments of the summer were spent with my new friends.

Use your time at your job to it’s fullest

No one is joking when they tell you on your first day that the summer will be gone before you know it. As it turns out, ten weeks is nothing, and disappears in the blink of an eye. While working in The House of Representatives, I gained so much more than learning how to write a memo. I learned how to engage with people from every background and standing. I made contacts for my future that I can learn from, as well as created lasting friendships. I had fun every step of the way. Life really is what you make it and if you go in ready to take initiative and dive in, you will receive the benefits as well.

Know yourself and be true to yourself

One of the highlights of my summer was that it allowed me to find my place in the world. Many of us graduate from college not sure if we’re going in the right direction and just hoping we’ve made the right choices. I know what I believe in, but didn’t know how that related to my stance as a physicist. Working as an AIP Mather Public Policy intern showed me that my career and beliefs don’t have to be at odds with one another. Working in policy showed me that as a physicist, I don’t have to sit back and let the decisions for my future and the future of science be decided for me. Change is such an important aspect of our lives, and the ability to stand up for and initiate the changes you believe in should never be disregarded. As undergraduates or recent grads, our future and the future of physics are in our hands. Something in the SPS mission has always stood out to me.

This internship has undoubtedly prepared me to integrate into the professional physics community, but more importantly it has shown me that SPS prepares students to transform the professional physics community as well. Our wonderful organization has been preparing strong members and leaders of the community in order to shape the field of physics and uphold those values of SPS and AIP for an inclusive and diverse field of physics that values authentic science for the benefit of mankind.

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These are only a few of the lessons I’ve taken away. As I said, it would be impossible to reconcile the entire summer into one post, and I feel the length of this blog getting away from me. I would like to conclude by stating that whatever the reason you have for reading this post, know that any student could be in my place. Every one of us has the power to step forth, shape our own path, and make a difference. I am eternally grateful to have been given the opportunity to represent SPS and physics student nationwide throughout this summer.

Acknowledgements

My inexpressible thanks to Dr. John Mather , without whose support through the John and Jane Mather Foundation for Science and the Arts this internship could not exist. “The aim of the program is to promote awareness of the policy process among young scientists by directly engaging them in the work that goes on in the federal government -- work that is today as exciting as in any time in the past” This is as true today as it was when announced in 2009 .

To the SPS Team , Brad Conrad, Kerry Kidwell-Slak, James Merrick, Danielle Weiland, and everyone else in the SPS Office, thank you for your unwavering faith and support. Not only over the past ten weeks but also throughout the past several years while at The University of Maryland. SPS has been such a huge part of my life and I cannot imagine making it through to graduation without the support of my SPS community.

To Jennifer Greenamoyer and Bethany Johns with the AIP Government Relations Team, as cheesy as it sounds, meeting you both has been a life-changing experience. You are both such strong women fighting for what you believe in. I can only hope to follow in your footsteps and that you will be there with me along the way. Thank you for believing in me from day one.

Thank you to the House Science Committee Minority Office Staff for guiding me, teaching me, and supporting me throughout the summer. It was truly a pleasure and an honor to work with you and learn from you, and knowing that you all are fighting for science in Congress fills me with reassurance and happiness.

Finally, I can’t possibly convey what an impact my fellow interns had upon me this summer.

To Stephanie , I’m so grateful knowing that my SPS chapter is in good hands with you. I’m so pleased to have watched you grow over the past year. The physics community is better because you are a part of it.

To Daniel , thank you for making me laugh no matter my mood, for being so easy to talk to, and truly one of the easiest people to get along with I’ve ever met. I think some of my favorite times this summer were just lying on the apartment couches watching The Regular Show with you.

To Sam , I can’t imagine going through the excitement of Capital Hill without you as my cohort. From figuring out how to navigate Capitol life to frantically texting about the exciting things going on in our offices, I knew I could always count on you.

To Amanda , who is probably the coolest person I’ve ever met in my life, thank you for being a support and a confidante. You were truly made for SPS, and I hope you never lose your excitement and enthusiasm. Can’t wait to see you killing it on YouTube some day teaching the world physics through fun and exciting ways.

To Mikayla who is me in every way, I had so much fun with you this summer getting to know our endless similarities. Thank you for being such an amazing friend. Meeting some one so kind and thoughtful was a blessing, and I can’t wait to see you again. I’m so glad you are only one state away!

To Kristin , your poise and confidence is only something I can aspire to. I’ll always look at my phone and remember how you helped me keep it together after losing it, and ensured it made it back to me safely. You are such an awesome person.

To Nathan who is one of the most talented communicators I know, I will treasure our conversations. I was continually impressed this summer not only by the work you did, but the reasons you did it for. I can’t wait until we are reunited in DC, changing the world one step at a time.

To Michael , you are so creative and innovative. Your merging of art and science has been a delight to watch throughout the summer, but most memorable about you is your compassion and how much you care about those around you.

To Jesus , thank you for being such a kind and easygoing person. It was always a pleasure to talk, and I wish we had hung out more. I can only count on our paths crossing in the future. I know you will be going far in physics.

To Collin who is so silly, fun, and outgoing, getting to know you and seeing so many different facets of your positive personally was so fun this summer. You continually made me laugh and showed me to look on the bright side no matter what.

To Phoebe , for the past year you have impressed me with your work on the SPS National Council, but from this summer I will always remember you as one of the sweetest people I know. I’m so glad you have settled in the area and look forward to more experiences with you.

To Brigette , you can truly brighten any room you enter. You are such a sunny person, and whether it was discussing the habits of the epaulette shark or hearing more about your work at OSA, you are always such a pleasure to talk to.

To Krystina who is so calm and collected while being insurmountably busier than the rest of us, thank you for making time, whether it was to hang out for a movie or join me for an escape room, I loved getting to know you and hope our paths continue to cross while we stand up for physics education.

And to Elon , one of the funniest and coolest women I know, I don’t think they could have picked anyone better to show the world that there’s more to a career in physics that academia. Your positive attitude and unique view of life was a pleasure to watch unfold during this summer.

To all the 2018 SPS Summer Interns, thank you for making this summer truly the best of my life.