Did you know that January is national mentoring month? Green Fin Studio and many of our clients are committed to providing mentorship opportunities in science and communication. The reason is simple. By providing real world education and growth opportunities to our younger, less experienced peers we are expanding the scope for excellence in science and communication.
Most people can credit their success to a person or persons who provided instruction and guidance at some point in their career. The benefits of mentorship are reciprocal. It holds value for the mentor, the mentee, the organization in which the magic happens, and the overall industry.
Yes, being a mentor takes time and energy but the benefits outweigh the costs by far. Helping others is personally rewarding and it also helps us understand how the field of environmental communication is growing, what attracts new practitioners, and where others seek out expertise.
In addition to providing internship opportunities, our team members give guest lectures in courses, participate in career panels for universities, and give talks to interested groups to connect with students and early-career scientists and communicators. Our office has hosted 20 interns over the years and helped our clients screen and manage their own internships. Looking for a mentor or an internship? Keep reading for a list of current opportunities.
C-StREAM
The Chesapeake Research Consortium’s Chesapeake Student Recruitment, Early Advisement, and Mentoring (C-StREAM) program is focused on recruiting, advising, and mentoring college students from populations who have been historically excluded from the environmental field and are underrepresented in environmental research and management professions. They are paid summer positions for students interested in natural resource management and policy development, Chesapeake Bay research, or building more inclusivity in the Chesapeake Bay region.
The 2022 C-StREAM program will offer nine summer internship opportunities hosted by the Chesapeake Bay Program Office, the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office, CRC’s member institutions, and the Maryland Hall of Archives. Applications are due February 21, 2022 and can be found here.
NCBO Internship
In partnership with the NOAA’s Chesapeake Bay Office (NCBO), CRC offers paid, twelve-week summer internships in a range of fields including fisheries management, habitat assessment, ecology, scientific field support, data analysis and modeling, and environmental policy development. The internships combine field-based experiences with administrative and technical support duties and offer a unique opportunity to contribute to large-scale, long-term ecological research critical to understanding Bay habitats and living resources. Internships are open to undergraduate students entering their sophomore, junior, or senior years of study. Select internship positions expand eligibility to recent graduates and graduate students.
Find more information and apply by February 20, 2022 at the CRC website.
GFS Internship
Come work directly with us! At our core, Green Fin Studio is a creative and committed team of passionate people raising awareness around our environment, practices and technologies that protect it, and the people that make it all happen. We are scientists, communicators, writers, marketers, programmers, artists, graphic designers working to tell our clients’ stories and help them achieve their goals.
This summer’s intern will be involved in developing communications strategies for a variety of clients. This internship will provide opportunities to develop real-world experience in marketing and communication within a small, very busy environmentally focused company. The intern will gain insight into how we apply scientific expertise to closing the gap on environmental goals, stakeholder engagement, and calls to action.
The complete announcement and details on the application process are available here. Apply by March 31, 2022.
REUs
The National Science Foundation runs a Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program with sites across the US and around the world. As an REU, you get hands-on research experience on your own project with faculty and researchers at a host institution. These opportunities are paid and let you make connections at different research institutions. Learn more at the REU webpage.
Book
Paula and Dave, the founders of Green Fin Studio, can be your unofficial mentors in the realm of science communication through their book, Speaking of the Environment! As the five-star reviews on Amazon.com suggest, the book is a great resource that can guide you through communication challenges – whether you’re just starting out or an experienced scientist/communicator.
