The Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant (IISG) program is offering three internship opportunities to support conservation policy efforts. Sea Grant’s national Community Engaged Internship (CEI) program aims to broaden participation in coastal, ocean, Great Lakes and marine sciences by offering paid internships to undergraduate students from under-resourced, underrepresented or indigenous and tribal populations. Through this program, IISG's goal is to engage diverse students in place-based research, extension, education or communication that respects and integrates local ways of knowing.
This year, the CEI program will offer positions with the Shedd Aquarium, National Park Service and Chicago Wilderness Alliance.
The IISG interns will be part of a national cohort of students. Each is expected to participate in all aspects of the CEI program:
- On-the-ground learning experience, including completing a project that extends the knowledge of community stakeholders to address a coastal, marine or Great Lakes issue of environmental, economic or social importance.
- Mentorship by Sea Grant and Shedd professionals, Sea Grant-funded researchers and Knauss Fellows.
- Virtual professional development sessions and training opportunities.
- Peer discussions with other interns in the summer cohort.
- Graduation ceremony to celebrate accomplishments, network with peers and other professionals (in-person meeting included, dependent on status of COVD-19 restrictions).
- Participation in pre/post evaluation.
This paid, full-time summer internship will be 8−10 weeks long, depending on the intern’s availability, starting no later than June 3, 2024. Occasional travel may be possible for all three internships, depending on travel status policies.
The application deadline for Shedd Aquarium and Chicago Wilderness Alliance is April 19, 2024 and, for National Park Service is April 26, 2024. For full internship details, eligibility criteria and how to apply, visit the Community Engaged Internship page. For questions about this opportunity, email Angela Archer at amcbride@purdue.edu.
