Career Development

Inspiring Future Scientists and Engineers

APL staff members frequently visit local schools to promote science and engineering careers.  Arrangements are made through APL’s Educational Outreach program, which has links to educators throughout the local school system.

APL scientist F. Marcotte gave an interactive presentation on Doppler radar at the Parkland Middle School, a Magnet School for Aerospace Technology in Rockville, MD.

APL recently hosted the MD Summer Center for Space Science. View the MD Summer Center for Space Science video.

A Farewell to Summer Interns, with Encouragement for Their Return

APL had another record-breaking number of undergraduate interns this summer, with a total of 113. The Lab saw the interns off with a farewell luncheon on Aug. 10, and offered some guidance on making the transition from school to the workplace. A panel of past interns and recent Lab hires answered questions on topics ranging from how to balance full-time work and graduate school and what life is like working at the Lab and living in this area.   <read more>

Arranged Tours and Career Day Visits

Visits to the Laboratory provide opportunities for high school and college students, as well as educators, to learn more about real-life science and technology careers, drawn from examples of APL work.

Howard County computer graphics and multimedia  teachers from technology academies visited the video/photography section. Staffer Steve Gribben showed some of the spacecraft animations he’s developed for APL’s NASA programs.

A group of Naval Academy midshipmen and women toured the Combat Systems Evaluation Lab for a program briefing on current ship system technologies under development.

Students in an "Introduction to Engineering" program at a local high school toured several facilities with their teacher. APL staff members gave the group presentations on wind tunnel flight tests, mass spectrometry, and spacecraft design and integration.

Groovy Science

Physicist M. Clayton’s love for science led himto a second career--growing potential engineers and scientists. He developed a series of science shows, called Clayton’s Groovy Science, which he presents at elementary schools. In these lively, interactive programs, Clayton illustrates simple scientific concepts with the flair of a magician. The presentation shows kids the relevance of science in their everyday lives. He hopes that the fun experiments he does with the kids will leave a lasting impression.

Let's write a newspaper story! An exciting, real-life writing course for elementary school students