Our Mission
ISEE prepares current and future professionals to advance in astronomy, engineering, astronomical instrumentation, observatory careers, physics, and other STEM fields through innovative programs that build valued skills and create enduring communities.

Our Work
ISEE’s expertise is in developing, leading, and evaluating programs that complement formal educational pathways, and fall into what ISEE’s calls “workforce development.” ISEE’s main focus is on building an effective workforce for astronomical observatories, including the people that make scientific discoveries, build technology, and operate telescopes. ISEE works with undergraduates, graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and professionals. Programs offered through ISEE begin with intensive, experiential workshops that are often transformative for participants, and simultaneously build skills and establish a community that will continue after the workshops. ISEE focuses on skills that are highly valued, but rarely taught: mentoring, teaching, leadership, collaboration, and the reasoning skills involved in doing science and engineering.
OUR PROGRAMS, BY AUDIENCE
Undergraduates
- All college levels and from Hawaii: Akamai Internship Program
- Junior and seniors studying anywhere in the US: AstroTech
Graduate students and postdocs
- All levels from many US locations: Professional Development Program
- 1st and 2nd year graduate students studying anywhere in US: AstroTech
Professionals
- Professionals involved in ISEE activities or partnerships: Professional Development Program
- Professionals mentoring in the Akamai Internship Program: Akamai Mentor Workshop
The Institute for Scientist & Engineer Educators (ISEE) is part of California Observatories
https://isee.ucsc.edu
Contact Us
Lisa Hunter,
ISEE Director and, UCO Associate Director for Education & Workforce Development
lhunter@ucsc.edu