Earning Criteria

• Earners must serve in a leadership position for a full season of a Science Discovery program, and participate in at least 80% of the meetings and events.
• Earners complete a self-assessment and written reflection on leadership and community engagement skills.
• Earners demonstrate at least 80% of the competencies listed on the supervisor’s evaluation rubric, including: Leadership, Empathy & Inclusion, Integrity & Professionalism, Communication, Teamwork, Community Engagement, Reliability, Organization, Critical Thinking, and Adaptability.
• Leadership: STEM Leader fosters a welcoming environment where team members feel comfortable asking questions and sharing their own ideas. Offers consistent guidance and support to team members. Identifies strengths and needs in team members and delegates tasks accordingly.
• Empathy & Inclusion: STEM Leader identifies, acknowledges and responds to the perspective of team members so they feel more comfortable and included. Actively listens to a peer's concerns and offers supportive, non-judgmental feedback. Modifies their explanations in real-time based on cues of confusion or excitement from community members.
• Integrity & Professionalism: STEM Leader represents Science Discovery’s mission to advance STEM outreach and education, honestly admits when they don't have an answer and models intellectual humility and curiosity. Upholds group norms and resolves conflict by working with Science Discovery staff. Models accountability for the team by taking responsibility for mistakes and correcting them when possible.
• Communication: STEM Leader clearly conveys ideas, plans and needs to team members. Provides clear explanations of scientific topics using accessible language, relevant analogies and enthusiasm. Proactively communicates with peers and Science Discovery staff about potential challenges or opportunities you observe while engaging with a specific community group.
• Teamwork STEM Leader works collectively with the team to coordinate Science Discovery programs, modeling selflessness and ensuring that community space is respected and left in excellent condition. Provides supportive and constructive feedback to team members throughout a program to ensure that it runs successfully.
• Community Engagement: STEM leader listens to the specific interests or needs expressed by the community members and suggests how future Science Discovery programs could address them. Proactively initiates conversations with community members to welcome them and share the purpose of the event.
• Reliability: STEM Leader follows through on their tasks, modeling dependability for the team. Arrives on time and prepared for meetings and events, demonstrating respect for the community members' time and commitment.
• Organization: STEM Leader develops clear systems to effectively manage materials and systems. Maintains shared resources so they are organized and easily accessible for all team members to use.
• Critical Thinking: STEM Leader takes the initiative to research, propose and implement new strategies with Science Discovery staff. Invites multiple perspectives to problem-solving discussions and approach the discussions with a learner’s mindset. Demonstrates creativity and persistence when troubleshooting problems
• Adaptability: STEM leader willingly and smoothly steps in to cover gaps and provide additional support when needed. Maintains a positive attitude when faced with unexpected challenges, working with the team to find a constructive solution.