Internships in environmental science can be quite varied. Universities, consulting firms, and local or regional regulatory offices all offer paid and unpaid internships. Internships in environmental science on a research, business, or political platform can provide valuable experience.
Environmental science is covered as part of the curriculum for a variety of college degrees. Most colleges include environmental studies as part of their science, business, and legal programs. There are many different types of environmental science internships available in each discipline.
Internships offered by universities and research organizations can appeal to biologists and geologists in the field of science and research. Natural resource majors and agriculture students may be interested in an internship in environmental science to gain valuable work experience. Sample collection in the field and sample analysis in the lab will be part of a research-based internship. Internships in environmental science for science majors can be found in any location, but the best options are likely to be near a conservation area or a polluted waterway.
Some internships with a local consulting firm may be available for business-minded environmentalists. To learn the ropes, an environmental science major interested in the administrative or consultative aspects of the field can work as an office assistant. This is a great way to start networking and planning for success if you’re thinking about starting an environmental science consulting firm after graduation.
Law and politics internships are a popular type of environmental science internship. Writing and reviewing policies, regulations, and case studies on relevant environmental issues could be among the tasks. In most parts of the world, the local or regional government agency in charge of environmental protection hires interns for temporary, often long-term, and paid positions. Because of the long-term nature of the opportunity, graduate-level students are targeted for these types of internships. A graduate-level internship is highly likely to lead to a permanent position after the student graduates.
Many of the organizations that provide environmental science internships are non-profit organizations. Education and research take up a significant portion of their time and effort. As a result, students who want to work for a non-profit organization in the education or research fields should apply for internships.
Internships are frequently thought of as volunteer work. Paid internships are difficult to come by unless the position is for a graduate student. Hands-on training and technical experience are among the advantages of completing an environmental science summer internship during an undergraduate career. These advantages can help a student’s career development and networking opportunities.