STEM internship experiences with a dual-mentorship model at Palau community college: A case study
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2025
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This study aimed to explore the marine and environmental science internship experiences of five Palauan undergraduate students who had both an academic and a traditional mentor. The perspectives of students and mentors provided insights on how to better support student retention, graduation, and career pursuits in the marine and environmental science disciplines in the Republic of Palau and across the broader Pacific Islands. Intervention programs have been implemented in the United States to address the lack of diversity in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics among historically underrepresented students, but research on the outcomes has typically been limited to Black/African American or Hispanic/Latinx student ethnic-racial groups. Students who identify as Pacific Islanders generally make up less than 1% of these studies, resulting in their voices and values not being heard. This study applied a case study approach to center the voices and values of five interns majoring in marine or environmental sciences from the Palau Community College who participated in a six-week summer internship and those of their academic and traditional mentors. Five themes emerged from this research: generational, cultural disconnect, competing priorities with academia, push and pull factors, multiple identities, and perceptions of the internship experience. The interns’ views and perceptions about being a scientist changed over the six weeks of their research experience. They entered the program focused on gaining career-related experiences and building confidence through learning new scientific skills. Under this lens, they connected their technical competency with being accepted into an advanced science degree program at a university or future science career opportunities. However, they also felt discouraged in their academic pursuits due to familial, community, and financial challenges. The dual-mentorship model proved critical in assisting the interns in grounding their cultural identities and developing their science identities. The model highlighted the importance of creating intentional spaces where Indigenous knowledge can be prioritized.
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Educational psychology, Cultural Identity, Mentorship, Republic of Palau, Science Identity, STEM
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218 pages
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