home : New and Resources : JASON Project Press Release

College Station Student Chosen for Coveted JASON Project Internship

One of Nine Selected Worldwide to Join Field Expeditions

with Leading Scientists

For Immediate Release

Ashburn, VA – Emily Judah, a 15-year old high school student from College Station, has been selected as a National Student Argonaut and will participate in a two-year internship with The JASON Project, a nonprofit subsidiary of National Geographic Society.

One of six students and three teachers selected through an international competition, Judah and her colleagues will take part in a field expedition led by top scientists and researchers. Their work will be featured in JASON’s upcoming geology curriculum unit scheduled for release in 2010.

To prepare for their fieldwork, Judah and her fellow Argonauts – named for the crew that sailed aboard Argo with Jason, the mythological Greek explorer – completed “boot camp” in July in Washington, D.C., and Virginia, where they learned the basics of research procedures, including how scientists work in the field, the tools and instruments used to gather information and proper collection and analysis of data samples. In November, she and three teammates will travel to Pittsburgh, Morgantown, WV, and Washington, D.C., to work with scientists from the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory and the Smithsonian Institution.

“Emily is already a role model, but now she will have even greater reach and impact by joining the expedition and becoming part of JASON’s science curriculum,” said Caleb M. Schutz, president of The JASON Project. “She will be in a position to help students around the world become self-motivated and excited about science.”

After her expedition, Judah will work with JASON staff to help develop, review and eventually launch the geology curriculum unit that will be used in classrooms around the world. The geology unit will investigate Earth’s structure and composition; plate tectonics, weathering, erosion, and mountain building; threats posed by natural disasters, and mankind’s reliance on Earth’s resources.

"Prior to my JASON experience, I never realized geology was more than just rocks and dirt,” said Judah, a home-school 10^th grader. “After boot camp, geology became alive and I realized it's relevance in our everyday lives. I’ve always had a strong passion for science, especially in the medical field, but this experience has opened my eyes to the endless possibilities of careers in science outside of medicine."

            The Argonaut application consists of essay questions, faculty recommendations, a video, and multiple interviews. Candidates must demonstrate a passion for science, strong leadership skills and an ability to work as part of a team. Argonauts for the geology curriculum were selected from Mexico, Australia, India and throughout the United States.

JASON embeds the cutting-edge research of its partners – NASA, NOAA, the U.S. Department of Energy, National Geographic and other leading institutions – into award-winning science curricula. Compelling scientists from those organizations serve as Host Researchers and “headline” each chapter. Taped on location working side by side with Argonauts, researchers and Argonauts alike come to life in the classroom and in an online global community, challenging students to apply their knowledge to the same real-world scenarios the scientists face everyday.

Available in print and free online editions, JASON curricula fully integrate print and digital resources, including computer games, videos, hands-on labs and field assignments. They are designed for grades 5-8 and used throughout K-12 for differentiated instruction.

Access JASON’s free online science curricula. 

About The JASON Project

A nonprofit subsidiary of National Geographic Society, JASON works with NOAA, NASA, the U.S. Department of Energy and other organizations to develop inquiry-based science curricula. JASON was founded in 1989 by Dr. Robert Ballard, the oceanographer and National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence best known for discovering RMS Titanic and who today serves as chairman and chief scientist.

Read about the accomplishments of other home schoolers on the Congratulations! page....

TOP