State of the World 2013 Event

Upcoming Events

Discussion Question 5

In anticipation of the coming class on biodiversity protection, here's your discussion question for this week:

What's the most thrilling/magical/enchanting engagement you've had with the non-human world?

And part II, is "saving nature" something we should concern ourselves with? Why, or why not?

Conservation International Summer Internship, Costa Rica

Conservation International Board Member Byron Trott has generously provided Conservation International with funding to support immersive field based summer internships for US based students. These internships are specifically intended for students interested in gaining career skills in the non-profit or conservation sector, and will offer participants exposure to management and leadership skills, in addition to an understanding of CI’s work. 

For the summer of 2013, Conservation International is offering a summer internship for two students in Costa Rica focused on sea turtle management.  These internships will apply knowledge in areas of natural sciences in terms of improving and supporting research activities in marine resource conservation in Costa Rica, fulfilling personal and professional academic requirements related to biodiversity conservation. The internships will include a three days orientation at Conservation International Headquarters in Arlington, Virginia. Conservation International will cover all travel expenses including, travel to Costa Rica, accommodations and food.  Interns must supply their own health insurance and sign a volunteer waiver. 

Interns will be paired together and will go to one of the following locations. 1) Barra de Pacuare Protected Area (a public-private reserve in the Caribbean coast). The work for volunteers is on conservation, research and education on marine turtles. This site is famous because is one of the few protected areas where you can find the leatherback, green and hawksbill turtles.  2) Playa Buena Vista Protected Area.  Work this for marine turtles 3) Matapalo Refuge- Environmental education with local communities on marine conservation 4) Montezuma Refuge. Turtle conservation and marine.  Environmental education and collaboration with local conservation initiatives with local communities.

Internship Duties

• Attend the placement activities, harvesting, replanting, removal, monitoring and surveillance of nests according to preset protocols for sea turtle monitoring
• Attend and participate in data collection on the beaches related to the tasks of monitoring species
• Assist other volunteers in the roles assigned within the project
• Introduce volunteers to the methodology and data collection practices along with the basic biology of sea turtles
• Assist in the release of baby turtles according to protocol
• Perform exhumations in the company of volunteer support
• Record and review the information to be recorded in established formats
• Engage in community outreach and environmental education

In addition, the intern will have to be responsible for the use and maintenance of tools, equipment, and facilities of the project and other activities necessary for the normal performance of the project and consider comments, recommendations and schedules of the volunteer coordinators in the project.

Basic requirements

• Must have valid passport and ability to commit to internship from July 9 to August 17. 
• Must be pursuing a college degree with emphasis on a non conservation degree
• Must be familiar with natural science, conservation or biodiversity concepts
• Must have intermediate command of the Spanish language
• Must be able to work in field conditions including physical labor and adverse weather conditions
• Must have proof of medical insurance and sign volunteer waiver 
• Prior experience working in the field is preferable but not required

To Apply:

Curriculum Vitae and recommendation/reference letter from the respective applicant

Click here to view the website and apply.

CARE Women and Agriculture Internship Opening, GA

CARE is seeking an intern to support the Pathways team.  Pathways is a women’s empowerment-in-agriculture program being implemented in six countries by CARE. The Pathways intern will support the Pathways program and organizational learning within CARE through staff capacity building, knowledge sharing, and communications activities. The internship provides an exciting opportunity for candidates interested in bringing communications and branding thinking into development programming and working on cutting-edge efforts to reduce poverty and enhance women’s empowerment and food security. Primary responsibilities for the Pathways intern include working directly with CARE technical advisors on implementing the Pathways monitoring, learning, and evaluation (MLE) plan and Pathways communication plan, with activities including supporting capacity building of country office staff, creating content for a range of online channels including the Pathways website, blog, etc. Pathways interns also get opportunities to engage with Pathways Core team staff as well as other CARE-USA staff through their work with Pathways, exposing them to the latest ideas in effective market engagement, food security, and women’s empowerment programming.

Responsibilities

• Working with CARE Pathways country office teams to capture lessons learned and develop internal learning products
• Maintaining the Pathways website and update regularly with new content
• Organizing capacity building opportunities for Pathways staff on communications topics
• Supporting planning for in-person events
• Attending virtual events and generating summaries for broad internal distribution
• Other tasks as assigned
• Regular website updates
• Bi-monthly blog posts to Pathways blog

Required

• Excelent Word, Excel, and SharePoint skills
• Average Access database skills

Desired

• Completed or pursuing an MA in international development, international business, marketing, public health, communications, or other related area
• Effective communicator, including with colleagues globally for whom English may be a 2nd or 3rd language
• Excellent writing and editing skills and attention to detail - ideally including both formal research and communications materials
• Knowledge of and a passion for international development
• Direct experience working in developing countries preferred
• Experience using new technologies and/or be technology savvy and able to manage and maximize value of web-based platforms
• Working toward or have completed an MA or PhD in International Development, Communications, Business, or equivalent
• Highly-organized and pay attention to detail
• Knowledge of branding, design, and media editing and production
• Self-motivated to maximize opportunities to add value and learn
• French language proficiency (reading, writing or verbal) a strong plus

Click here to find out more.

WWF Science Internships

2013 WWF Science Internships 
  
 World Wildlife Fund – United States is look for student research interns! These internships are designed typically for graduate students, although some may be appropriate for advanced undergraduates. Projects can be undertaken over the summer (with extensions, as necessary, into the fall semester). Most projects could also be extended over the course of one or two semesters as part of a student’s course work or thesis requirements; advance arrangements would be necessary with faculty advisors. Internships are typically unpaid unless otherwise noted, but facilities, library resources, and computers at WWF headquarters are available. Hours are flexible. To qualify for an unpaid internship, the student must provide documentation that they are receiving credit from their university, or that the work they will be performing is consistent with a course requirement. 
  
In general, our interns need solid data management and writing skills, self-motivation, an ability to work both independently and collaboratively. Specific skills (required or preferred) are listed with each project, along with the primary contact person. 
  
To apply, please email a cover letter and resume/CV to the contact individual listed for each project, with 
“INTERNSHIP” and the relevant internship number listed in the subject line. 


  Available Internships

1.       Analyzing and Mainstreaming Forest Certification 
  
Intern sought to help consolidate new knowledge and tools at the business-policy interface for forests and agricultural commodities; build and synthesize evidence that demonstrates ways to capture environmental impacts of forest certification; and, mainstream results by bringing them to the attention of potential users and decision makers. Specific areas of focus may include:

	Using standardized methods for measuring carbon and other co-benefits

	Role of various voluntary carbon certification schemes e.g. VCS, CAR

 

Overlaps with existing certification schemes 

 
The successful applicant will have an interdisciplinary background in environmental policy or and/or environmental economics. Position requires excellent research and writing skills, with a preference for demonstrated expertise in policy analysis or framework analysis. Must be able to work efficiently and independently. Experience with agriculture and certification schemes would be a plus.

Stipend: Negotiable
 
Due date for CV and cover letter: March 15, 2013
Contact: Charlie Parker,   charlie.parker@wwfus.org
 
2. Protected Area Research Intern 

Protected areas are a cornerstone of global conservation strategy. Conservation policy assumes that national parks and other protected areas are permanent fixtures on the landscape, but recent WWF research demonstrates that a contrary phenomenon is affecting protected areas worldwide: Protected Area Downgrading, Downsizing, and Degazettement, or PADDD. WWF is analyzing patterns, trends, and causes of PADDD, and their implications for the sustainability of conservation efforts. We are looking for a motivated intern to help us continue building our understanding of PADDD.

Internship responsibilities may include data collection on PADDD from existing datasets, popular, gray, and peer-reviewed literatures; administration of PADDDtracker.org (a wiki-style online database that integrates spatial mapping tools to collect and deliver data on PADDD); assistance in editing and producing content for PADDDtracker; development of new promotional material for outreach to the conservation community.
 
This internship is an excellent opportunity to interact with scientists in WWF-US and around the world; gain exposure to a wide range of conservation science and policy issues; and play an important part in contributing to our growing knowledge of the role of protected areas in conservation.
 
Minimum Requirements:
 
A successful candidate with have strong research, writing, and communication skills; excellent organizational skills, interest in conservation (particularly in global protected area systems), and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team. Knowledge of GIS, Drupal, database management, reference management databases (such as EndNote or Mendeley), and website management experience preferred. Spanish or other language skills preferred.
 
Duration: May 2013 through August/September 2013 (Minimum 12 weeks)
 
Stipend: Unpaid internship. Only enrolled students are eligible for this internship and you must be able to receive academic credit from your current academic institution.
Due date for CV and cover letter: April 1, 2013
 
How to apply: Please email a resume & cover letter with the subject line “Internship Application” to Roopa
Krithivasan at   roopa.krithivasan@wwfus.org.
 
3.       Protected Area Research Intern – Democratic republic of Congo 

Protected areas are a cornerstone of global conservation strategy. Conservation policy assumes that national parks and other protected areas are permanent fixtures on the landscape, but recent WWF research demonstrates that a contrary phenomenon is affecting protected areas worldwide: Protected Area Downgrading, Downsizing, and Degazettement, or PADDD. WWF is analyzing patterns, trends, and causes of PADDD, and their implications for the sustainability of conservation efforts. We are looking for a motivated intern to help us continue building our understanding of PADDD in the Democratic republic of Congo (DRC).
 
Internship responsibilities may include data collection on PADDD from existing datasets, archival legal documents, and popular, gray, and peer-reviewed literatures; will include review of legal documents (including microfilm) at the Library of Congress in Washington DC.
 
This internship is an excellent opportunity to interact with scientists in WWF-US and around the world; gain exposure to a wide range of conservation science and policy issues; and play an important part in contributing to our growing knowledge of the role of protected areas in conservation.