Participating students were asked
"What would you tell other students about your experience with your project or the short-term summer program?"
Here are all of their responses. Please note that some comments are specific to the project the student was participating in.
It was super fun and I still felt challenged and like I was contributing to a bigger project.
The short-term summer program not only allowed for me to make a good amount of money, but it provided me with the opportunity to connect with a Harvard professor and explore her realm of study by hearing her talk about the various aspects of seismology that makes her so passionate about it. The EPS department truly is welcoming to students from all backgrounds of study and you should really take advantage of this productive opportunity to do research even if your heart is already set on something else.
I would tell them that when I was chosen for the program, I was nervous that I wouldn't be smart enough. But, I met with the programs supervisor and she(Sophie Coulson) was so helpful and nice that I no longer felt scared.
The short-term summer program is super worth it, both for the brief flexible experience of working and the introduction to EPS. (the Norway trip looks awesome)
I would say, right off the bat, that this community is very warm, welcoming, niche, and personal! I have met some funny and amazing people through the EPS open house and chats with administrators or my research group. I would say that it is a great community to start your research journey in, and that there is so much to learn and so many skills that can be transferred to other endeavors.
That they should do it! It's super flexible but also very rewarding. It was challenging at times, but overcoming those challenges is what made it a worthwhile experience. Also that it is ok to copy code
I would tell other students to definitely apply to short-term projects if they have the opportunity to. The time and workload is very manageable but rewarding. It's a great way to learn more about EPS and get a feel of what research at Harvard looks like.
It's a great experience to learn more about EPS, research at Harvard, and Harvard in general while making connections with researchers.
The program is a great opportunity to learn a lot about an EPS-related research project and connect with students and faculty of the department.
I would tell them that it is a really fun way to learn valuable skills, and that they should definitely apply.
I would tell them that this is a really great opportunity to explore their interests with a lot of flexibility and the opportunity to get to know a lot of members of the EPS department.
It's a really wonderful glimpse of experience into earth science research! I had a lot of fun and learned so much, and felt super supported by my mentor. I would definitely recommend this to anyone curious about the topics!
I would strongly recommend the program to other students as a low-time commitment way to meet faculty members, do interesting research, and gain experience.
Take the program. Enjoy meeting new friends.
This is a great way to get introduced to EPS research and faculty members while being compensated generously for your time. You have the chance to learn applicable technical and scientific skills and create connections to help you during the rest of your time at Harvard.
The short-term summer program was an unforgettable experience for me. I came in with little to no R experience, but in the span of two weeks, I've learned to analyze large datasets and make interesting findings on the COVID-19 epidemic that I'd never imagined would be possible.
It is definitely worth it to get involved, both from an academic and social point of view. The professor and the staff were very supportive and understanding and they helped me anytime I needed advice or feedback.
I would tell other students to definitely look into participating in the short-term summer program! It's a low time commitment, super flexible, and an overall great way to learn about EPS and meet some really interesting, brilliant people.
I would tell them that even if they aren't interested in EPS, the opportunity provides each student with a way to continue to develop skills, and such an opportunity provides an invaluable experience.
You get out what you put in. If you come into the program and do not want to participate that much or do not use the resources, the program won't be that engaging or helpful to you. However, if you put in the effort, you will learn a lot.
I got frustrated at times when my code was not working. When this happens to you, I recommend looking over your code and searching for the bug. If you can not find it in a few minutes, step away from your computer for a few minutes and do something else. Then, return to your computer and look at your code again and you'll probably have a better chance of finding the bug.
Was a good time, you’ll learn a lot. Very steep learning curve without good programming background
The project was a pretty hands-on introductory exercise in modeling and data science. The Professor and grad students are very helpful and generous with their time. If you want to make the most of the experience, actively reach out to other students partaking in the same project and really engage with a collaborative spirit!
I would highly recommend that they apply if they are interested in engaging with the EPS department and learning a new skill on their own schedule.
I would say that all the faculty and students were very helpful, and that the project was very flexible and a good experience.
I have recommended this program already to serve tal of my friends, demonstrating my high opinion of it.
I mainly say that you get paid to learn how to code.
Try it! It's a great way to explore coding with Python and cartopy, and it's an absolutely wonderful introduction into the EPS community.
It is a great opportunity to interact with researchers at Harvard at the front of climate science. The research in this field is so diverse and interdisciplinary, and the EPS community is super welcoming.
I'd tell them to definitely participate in the short-term summer program for various reasons:
1. It helps you learn about an interesting subject which you probably haven't thought about before or even learn more about the matters you already know and discuss it with people who are experienced in your field of interest.
2. It's a great opportunity to learn more about the EPS department and opportunities available which will be extremely useful especially if you're considering to choose a concentration related to the EPS department.
3. Even if you're interested in other fields, participating in the short-term summer programs helps you learn about something related to another field and in cases which no background is required, you'll definitely enjoy learning about new matters.
I would tell other students that it is a good experience. We were given almost free rein to update the website as we saw fit and that was fun. It was also nice to talk to some other students in the Harvard community.
Apply to the EPS short-term summer programs!! It is a great way to learn about how research works at Harvard, and you really get to immerse yourself in the EPS department!
This short-term summer program was a fun, insightful, and pleasant introduction to academic research, Harvard students, the EPS department, and summer work. Highly highly recommend.
The short-term summer program is a great way to explore EPS and see if it's a good fit for you.
It’s a great opportunity to meet other students and professors and learn about interesting topics!
its not really for beginners so unless you have a good background in python, dont do it.
Rewarding!
EPS short-term summer projects are definitely worthwhile! It was the perfect length and commitment for someone that already has some other summer commitments, but is not working full time. This short-term summer program was also a great way to get to know other Harvard undergrads, graduate students and professors.
Great! Bewildering, because I did not have experience beforehand, but so worthwhile because it sparked curiosity in an area I hadn’t understood before.
It is more than worth it. I suggested them to all of my friends. I loved it.
I would tell other students, especially future incoming first-years, that these short-term research opportunities are PRICELESS! And that they should definitely look forward to applying. I would highly recommend to them, though, that they should also work outside of the assigned tasks to develop foundations in the coding language (Python, in Climate Modeling). I think this is a really incredible way to transition into the Harvard collegiate environment and would 10/10 recommend to all.
An amazing experience that is definitely worth partaking in, especially if students are looking to explore different interests/fields. Regardless of your prior knowledge or skill, there are always individuals available to guide you through the work. Moreover, for students who may have more experience in computer programming or EPS, you'll find that you'll continue to learn new things that will only strengthen and build upon your current knowledge.
It was a great experience! I would recommend it for anyone with extra time in their summer who wants to learn python or more about EPS.
I would tell them it was an overall good experience that was a nice introduction to the EPS department.
Definitely a fun experience but you have to be self motivated
I really liked it! I would recommend it because it is definitely manageable, and it exposed me to new and useful tools.
I enjoyed the short term project and if you're interested, even in the slightest, you should apply. It will expose you to different research topics you might have not pondered before.
I would say that it's a rewarding project; and recommend them to try and interact with the faculty as much as possible if they decide to do it.
Be prepared to put in more hours than initially advertised. Not that there's anything wrong with that just be prepared for it.
It was super helpful - would totally recommend.
I would say that it is fruitful and worthwhile, and if they believe they might be interested in climate change or getting involved in the EPS department (regardless of their concentration) then they should definitely go for it and give this project or any of the other projects a shot.
I would tell others that the short term summer program is well worth doing; I met fellow classmates, grad students who act as mentors, learned a new coding language, and was met with the reward of seeing the effects of climate change.
Two weeks goes by quickly! Try to learn as much as you can in the short time span. Dr. Tziperman's notes are very interesting.
I would tell them that it was great. It was challenging, but within a supportive and helpful setting. And I got paid to learn!
The program proved to be a priceless experience to expose myself to EPS, coding in Python, and learning more about the Harvard student culture.
I would highly recommend participation in this program, not only for the project experience, but also for the networking opportunities this program provides. Whether one is experienced in programming or in climate modeling, it is guaranteed that you will learn something valuable.
Very positive, strongly recommend!
It's a great way to immerse yourself in something new without the stress of grades and tests. This experience teaches you things about research and science that you wouldn't be able to learn just inside a classroom, so if you really enjoy learning by doing, then this would be for you.
I would definitely recommend doing this short-term summer program for everyone. First, if you are interested in EPS and coding, it will give you a better understanding of the fields, provide you with the opportunity to meet the faculty and advisors of the department, and let you connect with other students. Second, if you are not aware of what you might want to study, it is a great way to discover while receiving essential knowledge, earning money, and having fun!
It was really fun and I would highly recommend it, especially if you'd like to quickly gain experience with Python!
Even if you aren’t interested in pursuing a concentration in EPS, certainly consider applying for a position as you will learn new skills and meet amazing people, all the while earning some extra cash.
I would encourage other students to participate in one of these short-term summer programs because they are a great opportunity to do some really cool work even when you have other things going on in your life due to the relatively low time commitment
