Exhibit Development: Evaluation Intern (Summer)

National Aquarium’s Experiential Design Department seeks an intern to assist in exhibit evaluation of the Maryland: Mountains to the Sea gallery. Evaluation is a critical tool in the exhibit development and design process to understand what the audience is gaining from an exhibit experience.

The intern selected for this project will be involved in a summative evaluation to study the impact of the gallery on guests' experiences. Specifically, we are interested in understanding:

The results of this data will be compared to an existing formative evaluation that was collected before the new exhibit refresh was installed. Ultimately, it will help inform and improve future exhibit development and design.

The Experiential Design Department is committed to explicit learning outcomes that will lead to intern skill-building in museum professional practice.

Applicants must meet one of the following criteria:

Manager of Content Innovation, Experiential Design Department

National Aquarium’s Experiential Design Team creates environments that orient, inform, educate, and delight to inspire conservation of the world’s aquatic treasures.

We are leaders of the in-building experience which plays an important role in the overall guest experience. Our team is composed of content developers, designers, and a project manager who incorporate diverse perspectives to generate an ecosystem of awe-inspiring and on-brand temporary and long-term experiences. We work throughout the Aquarium’s campus, including exhibits, public areas, and back-of-house spaces.

Experiential design improves the guest experience throughout our campus through architecture, interior design, landscape/exterior environments, wayfinding systems, signage (print and digital), content and conservation messaging, exhibit design and elements, graphic design, interactives, motion graphics, projections, lighting elements, and emerging technologies. We are orchestrators who use a variety of media (building form, content, graphics, signage, text, color, lighting, images, video, and technology) to create environments and experiences that connect people to places, animals, and each other.

Internships at the National Aquarium provide hands-on and minds-on experiences that add value to any college education. Applying classroom knowledge, interns obtain valuable job experience and establish professional contacts.

College internship positions are available year-round in many departments throughout the Aquarium. The Aquarium makes every effort to match interns to work that complements their studies, interests, and skills. Students may apply for up to two internships per term; if more than two applications are submitted, only the first two will be considered.

The National Aquarium in Baltimore, Maryland, is a nonprofit organization that’s changing the way humanity cares for our ocean planet. The Aquarium’s award-winning habitats are home to thousands of animals representing hundreds of species of fish, birds, amphibians, reptiles and mammals. We are proud to be accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and strive to meet or exceed AZA standards in all aspects of animal care and welfare. A dedicated team of full- and part-time employees and volunteers drives the Aquarium’s mission to inspire conservation of the world’s aquatic treasures. More than a million guests visit the Aquarium each year, and millions more participate in its conservation, education and engagement initiatives.

The National Aquarium opened in 1981 as a visitor attraction and has evolved into a conservation organization that operates a world-class aquarium. Our core values—integrity, innovation, service, excellence, and engagement—form the basis for our beliefs about our organization, our colleagues and ourselves, and serve as the framework to guide our behavior and actions to achieve our mission. Through unparalleled exhibits, science-based education programs and hands-on field initiatives, the Aquarium is at the forefront of efforts to connect people with the natural world and raise awareness of the challenges facing our ocean.

By connecting people with nature, the Aquarium drives conservation action for the benefit of people, animals and the planet. The Aquarium’s mission—to inspire conservation of the world’s aquatic treasures—begins within the walls of its buildings, but it does not end there. The Aquarium protects, enhances and restores natural resources through education and engagement, habitat restoration, animal rescue and sustainable business practices, with its conservation work guided by three overarching goals—to combat climate change, save wildlife and habitats, and stop plastic pollution.

HOW TO APPLY Interested and engaged applicants should apply through our website. All questions and requests for reasonable accommodation should be directed to intern@aqua.org. A complete application includes the following:

Internships are unpaid, and there is no reimbursement for transportation or housing. This position can qualify for academic credit if approved by the respective institution.