2.5   MENTORS

Importance of Using a Mentor

A mentor is someone in the scientific or academic community that is willing to provide the scientific, mathematical, and computing background necessary to complete a computational science project. THEY ARE THE KEY TO THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF A PROJECT. A mentor is often able to provide access to resources that would otherwise not be available and are a link to real-world scientific research and the scientific community.

Finding a Mentor

Finding a mentor can take some time but is well worth the effort. Students need to take an active role in the search for a mentor. Possible sources for mentors include:

• local universities and colleges;
• commercial and governmental research facilities;
• professional academic organizations;
• teachers; and,
• personal contacts.

Personal contacts can be helpful in contacting people associated with universities, research facilities, and professional academic organizations. Survey teachers, family members, and community members to determine if someone they know is connected with such an organization. Ask them for a specific person to contact and follow through with the contact. Keep a list of names, phone numbers, and-mail addresses for future resources. The initial contact may not result in a mentor, however, it can be the start of a personal network that may result in finding a mentor. If you find that you do not have any helpful personal contacts, enlist the help of your teacher in making initial contacts. Remember to use the expertise of teachers at your school.

Role of a Mentor

Mentors have proven to be particularly helpful in the following areas:

• defining a project that is feasible;
• developing an overall plan for the project;
• defining needed equations and providing an explanation of how they were developed;
• providing resources; and,
• interpreting the conclusions of the project.

They should not be expected to:

• provide a project topic;
• do the research needed for a project;
• write all of the original computer code; or,
• provide team leadership, motivation, and organization.

Working with a Mentor

Working with a mentor is a privilege and, therefore, carries with it certain responsibilities. It is the team's responsibility to communicate to the mentor their expectations and needs in collaborating on a project. Mentors' time commitment will vary with the teams' needs and with their own schedules. In identifying a mentor, try to match your team's needs with the mentor's ability to meet those needs. An initial understanding of the team's needs and the mentor's level of commitment is crucial to a successful collaboration. Scheduled meetings should be a priority for both the team and the mentor. Students need to be prepared to work with a mentor by defining and researching their topic and by generating meaningful questions. Remember: the more you know, the more a mentor can help and teach you.

EXERCISES

1. Survey parents, teachers, and community members to identify possible mentors.

Compile the results of your survey and write a team report to be submitted to your teacher.

2. Write a contact letter/E-mail message that summarizes the following:

• team introduction;
• purpose of the contact;
• specific needs and expectations; and,
• method of contact.

3. Using your contact letter/E-mail message, pursue each of the personal contacts from your survey or contacts provided by your teacher.

Record the response of each inquiry. Prioritize your mentor list based on your team's needs.

4. Set up an initial meeting with the mentor that best meets your team's needs. At this meeting you should:

• present and discuss your problem definition;
• ask for suggestions for focusing your problem definition;
• present your team's preliminary research;
• develop a resource list; and,
• set a time line for future meetings.