Meet our intern: Lucas Cortinez

The Jeff Metcalf Internship Program

A second-year student in English and Language Literature, Lucas received a grant through the University of Chicago’s Jeff Metcalf Internship Program to join our team in Berlin this summer. This program provides over 4,000 paid, substantive internships to undergraduate students. The University partners with 1,000+ employers around the world – including Newton Room – to give students opportunities to apply the skills they learn in the classroom and launch fulfilling careers in their field of interest.

Creating Accessible and Equitable Education 

A number of qualified undergraduate students applied for this year’s internship, but Lucas’ enthusiasm and experience stood out among the rest. “I applied for an internship at newtonroom gGmbH because I believe that education should be equitable, and Newton’s work towards that goal is admirable,” explains Lucas. “Newton Rooms provide the opportunity for students to explore STEM fields with resources that they might not have otherwise had access to.”
 
“By teaching students how to program robots, using flight simulators to teach the mathematical concepts required to navigate a plane, and explaining how biofuels can potentially fuel entire planes, Newton Room is at the forefront of the future of STEM education and creating the path for a better, more exciting future,” Lucas says. 

Towards a future career in social impact

During his time in Berlin, Lucas will be supporting the continued expansion of the Newton Concept by helping ensure the quality of the educational programming delivered in Newton Rooms around the world, developing engaging communications material to be shared with the Newton network, and assisting the Berlin team with upcoming projects and events.

Lucas has previously worked as a student publishing assistant at the University of Chicago Publishing Press and as a Resident Dean Assistant where he gained experience in event planning and copy editing that he expects will help him in his role at Newton. He is also looking forward to what he can learn in his new role. “Supporting Newton Room’s educational programming as a Project Management Intern will allow me to gain experience in a whole host of areas that will help me pursue an international career in social impact.”


According to Lucas, he saw the opportunity to live and work in the German capital as a unique and rewarding challenge. “It’s very exciting to be in Berlin,” he says. “Living in a new country, with a new language and culture, is a chance to push the boundaries of what I'm comfortable with. Berlin, as an international city and global hub, is an incredible place to be working in to advance my professional goals.“