Student Programs

Organization: The Washington State Climate Office (WASCO) at the Climate Impacts Group (CIG)

Available Internship Positions: 1

Hours: 40 hours per week (35 hours per week with CIG and 5 hours per week with the EarthLab cohort)

Total Summer Stipend: $7,920 disbursed over the 9 week internship, plus $180 total travel stipend per intern

Location:
Internship Activities: Hybrid – Intern attend group meetings in person. WASCO staff are in-person Mondays/Wednesdays, and they will have office space where the intern can work from. However, the tasks will be mostly done online, and the supervisor may be mostly remote for the internship, so remote work can be accommodated.

Cohort Meetings: In-person and required every Tuesday at the EarthLab Office located in Condon Hall

About Host Organization: WASCO supports communities and decision makers in Washington State with training, resources, and research on climate. Specifically, the office tracks current and past climate information, provides training and capacity building, creates data and information resources, and pursues applied research on climate and its impacts.

Tasks and Activities: This project will focus on creating a robust repository of climate adaptation case studies for the state of Washington. The intern will start with a small collection of case studies already on the Climate Adaptation Resources page and expand it to include more examples specific to Washington state. They will research case studies in existing repositories and through other research in the literature and create a database to house information about each case study and organize them into relevant categories based on climate adaptation practices. They will also revise a website to showcase the case studies and allow users to search for relevant information and resources.

Additional tasks include:

• Reading and sifting through existing repositories and information, conducting literature reviews
• Using qualitative analysis to categorize information about each case study to organize it in the database (likely in Excel which will require qualitative analysis skills which can be learned in the program)
• Do some web design work to ensure the information is easily accessible on a website, which may include revising an infographic on how to use case studies in climate adaptation work.

The intern in this position will collect and categorize the case studies, creating the database, and highlighted information that will be showcased on the website. This will be done with support from the supervisor. They will also do the work of determining how to display the information on the website in coordination with our communications staff. The tangible products resulting from the internship will be the database, the webpage, and the infographic displayed on the website.

Takeaways: The intern will need to learn about and understand climate adaptation work, including:

•  Building an understanding of what makes a project successful and what aspects of the work can be relevant to other projects.
• Conducting qualitative analysis to categorize projects for organization in the database and on the website.
• Learning some visual design skills to help communicate to others about what makes climate adaptation projects successful and how climate adaptation practitioners can leverage information from other projects to help them in their work.

The Candidate best suited for this position:

Required:

• Experience with excel to manage data
• Ability to communicate technical information and distill it for a broad audience, including literature review research
• Some experience with or interest in qualitative social science research methods, including categorizing information

Preferred:

• Taken coursework in climate and/or environmental science
• Has knowledge of social impacts of climate, social science, and/or climate adaptation
• Interest in design & communication of scientific information

Organization: Center for Health and the Global Environment (CHanGE)

Available Internship Positions: 1

Total Hours: 25 (20 hours per week with the CHanGE and 5 hours per week with the EarthLab cohort)

Total Summer Stipend: $4,950 disbursed over the 9-week internship plus a one-time $180 transportation stipend

Location:
Internship Activities:  Hybrid – With weekly in person meetings expected in Seattle

Cohort Meetings: In-person and required every Tuesday at the EarthLab Office located in Condon Hall

About Host Organization: The Center for Health and the Global Environment (CHanGE) at the University of Washington (UW) exists to highlight the connections between climate change and human health. CHanGE’s work is ultimately aimed at promoting the health benefits of climate action, including reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (mitigation) and preparedness and response to climate change impacts (adaptation). CHanGE also works to highlight the importance of weather and climate in population health and to provide the health sector with knowledge, tools, and capacity to incorporate climate awareness and resilience into all of its activities. CHanGE pursues its work in parallel across all three core university functions of research, teaching, and service.

Tasks and Activities: The Climate and Health Communications Intern will support the Center for Health and the Global Environment’s in developing stories and project updates, primarily to be published on the CHanGE blog. Key responsibilities will include crafting storytelling deliverables (e.g., social media marketing campaigns, blogs, infographics). The intern may also be asked to support CHanGE events, through creating flyers, RSVP pages, or providing on-site support.Interns will gain practical experience in developing stories about technical concepts for different audiences, including the general public, practitioners, and decisionmakers.

The intern will brainstorm and develop creative opportunities with the support of the supervisor(s) to showcase CHanGE in action as well as plans for future iterations of the model. This can be done through various forms of storytelling deliverables, be it blogs, informational Q&As, event planning, visual and/or motion design, etc.

Takeaways: The intern in this position will:

• Refine blog writing skills, translating complex research into actionable, accessible narratives for public audiences.
• Learn strategies for amplifying content (e.g., events, publications, and op-eds) through coordinated communications planning and design.
• Build confidence in presenting professional analyses (e.g., competitive landscape reviews).

The Candidate best suited for this position:

Preferred:

• Interest in pursuing a career in science communication or learning best practices of science communication to amplify their future work
• Interest in learning about communicating technical and/or academic concepts to a general audience
• Highly organized and detail-oriented
• Collaborative and comfortable working in team environments
• A desire to learn independently and creatively problem solve will be helpful
• Basic video editing or graphic design experience is a plus

Organization: Puget Sound Institute

Available Internship Positions: 1

Total Hours: 40 (35 hours per week with PSI and 5 hours per week with the EarthLab cohort)

Total Summer Stipend: $7,920 disbursed over the 9-week internship plus a one-time $180 transportation stipend

Location:
Internship Activities: Flexible – Supervisor will meet with the intern approximately once a week, to coordinate/plan/check-in/troubleshoot. This can be in-person in Seattle, or remotely via Zoom/Teams

Zoom/Teams: The intern will work remotely, unless they prefer to work at PSI offices in Tacoma

Cohort Meetings: In-person and required every Tuesday at the EarthLab Office located in Condon Hall

About Host Organization: The University of Washington Puget Sound Institute (PSI) provides analysis, research, and communication to advance the science of ecosystem protection. We receive major funding from the Environmental Protection Agency to support and enhance new strategies for improving the health of Puget Sound. Our team includes scientists and policy experts who work across numerous disciplines, ranging from chemistry and ecology to computer modeling. In addition to on-the-ground research, we prepare syntheses of emerging issues, conduct peer-reviews and hold study panels and workshops. Other products include digital resources such as the Encyclopedia of Puget Sound where we publish trusted and independent journalism about the science driving Salish Sea ecosystem recovery. PSI also hosts collaborations and seminars, including the Collaborative Leadership Program.

Tasks and Activities: Washington state is where collaborative governance on natural resources began, in the mid-1970s. As the new field grew, it helped to resolve a key civil rights struggle over tribal fishing rights. Since then, collaborative approaches in Washington have led to many groundbreaking outcomes, greatly influencing the rest of the nation and a burgeoning field over a 50-year history. The Collaborative Leadership Program (hosted by the UW Puget Sound Institute, and sponsored by almost 35 federal, tribal, state, and local governments; academic, public, and private individuals, organizations, and foundations) is preserving and promoting collaborative natural resource policy making by: 1) Capturing/archiving this history through oral history interviews archived at UW Libraries; 2) Distilling those interviews into documentary film co-produced by TVW; and 3) Building on that work to foster and support collaborative leadership for today’s and the next generation of leaders. See www.pugetsoundinstitute.org/collaborative-leadership-project/ for more information.

This internship will work with the Program Lead and others as the program applies the knowledge base created via the oral histories and documentary toward the third task described above, creating collaborative leaders for the future, to address today’s challenges, such as Puget Sound restoration, climate change, and social/environmental justice.

Tasks include

• Learning about the history, theories, and methods of collaborative governance
• Exploring how collaborative governance has been used to address policy challenges over the past 50 years and how collaborative leadership will be needed to address the challenges we face today and in the future
• Designing and hosting filmed conversations on this topic with other members of the Earthlab internship cohort, and other emerging leaders, to capture their perspectives as next generation leaders
• Conducting research to augment the archive and/or make it more widely available
• Extracting material from the archive that can be used for teaching and training curricula, as well as the intergenerational dialogues
• Working with the oral history archive online at the Internet Archives and/or at UW Libraries to improve/refine and make it more useful to scholars/researchers/authors/the public
• Conducting other tasks in support of the project, such as preparation for quarterly reporting and/or potential website and social media support

Takeaways: The intern in this position will:

• Build knowledge of collaborative governance as a field and conflict resolution as a skill set
• Build knowledge of the unique and important history of collaborative public policy making in Washington state, and how to apply that information to address complex challenges we face today, such as climate change
• Gain insight into how collaborative governance has led to advances in environmental protection/restoration, and addressing the unique needs of diverse populations, but also where new approaches may be needed to meet today’s challenges
• Gain the ability to craft interview questions, and conduct, edit and archive filmed oral history interviews in keeping with the principles of the Oral History Association. Acquiring/improving their interviewing skills
• Gain exposure to curriculum development, document archiving, website maintenance
• Have opportunities to interact with accomplished and interesting people representing a wide variety of public, private, and civic sectors

The Candidate best suited for this position:

Preferred:

• Interest in natural resources/environmental public policy.
• Interest in exploring consensus-based approaches to resolving complex challenges and conflicts, rather than advocating for one particular interest.
• Has experience/expertise with video editing, web maintenance, and social media software, or be willing to learn, and confident they can do so quickly and effectively.
• Is a strong and clear writer and communicator (writing sample required). This includes being comfortable speaking with a variety of people via email, but also in-person and over the phone

Organization: Northwest Climate Adaptation Science Center

Available Internship Positions: 1

Total Hours: 25 (20 hours per week with NW CASC and 5 hours per week with the EarthLab cohort)

Total Summer Stipend: $4,950 disbursed over the 9-week internship plus a one-time $180 transportation stipend

Location: 
Internship Activities: This position will be hybrid, with the expectation that the intern is primarily working in person, at least 16 hours/week. The intern will be stationed at the Climate Impacts Group office and will be able to interact with the other NW CASC and CIG interns.

Cohort Meetings: In-person and required every Tuesday at the EarthLab Office located in Condon Hall

About Host Organization: The Northwest Climate Adaptation Science Center (NW CASC) is a partnership between the U.S. Geological Survey and a Consortium of university and non-university partners. Housed at the University of Washington Climate Impacts Group, the NW CASC teams scientists with natural and cultural resource managers to deliver science to help fish, wildlife, water, land and people in the Northwest adapt to a changing climate. The NW CASC is part of a network of nine Climate Adaptation Science Centers managed by a National Climate Adaptation Science Center.

Tasks and Activities: The intern in this position will support the NW CASC communications program through writing a science spotlight story about a NW CASC-funded research project to share through the NW CASC’s communication channels (i.e., website, newsletter and social media).

Science spotlights are compelling, plain-language stories that share the findings of NW CASC research projects. The intern’s science spotlight story will live on the NW CASC website and be featured in its newsletter. The intern will write the science spotlight by summarizing a peer-reviewed journal article and interviewing the researcher/author about their project. In addition to the written piece, the intern will design an accompanying graphic to help tell the story.

The intern will also have the opportunity to participate in other NW CASC communications activities, including facilitating a NW CASC team meeting and developing social media content that shares other NW CASC science and opportunities through its LinkedIn and Bluesky accounts.

The goal of the science spotlight is to share the findings from a NW CASC research project with researchers and natural resource managers in the region, who may be able to apply the findings to their work managing species and ecosystems. Additional activities will help support other aspects of the NW CASC communications program.

Tasks include:

• Reading and summarizing a peer-reviewed journal article that has come out of a NW CASC research project
• Conducting an interview with one or two of the researchers involved in the research project
• Writing a story based on the paper and the additional information provided during the interview
• Designing a graphic in Canva or another design platform that helps communicate the story
• Developing social media content to help promote the story
• Facilitating at least one NW CASC weekly team meeting
• Conducting two networking calls

Takeaways: The intern in this position will:

• Receive training and experience in translating technical research into written and graphic formats
• Learning about regional climate adaptation efforts and connecting science with practice.
• Gain perspective on the range of skills and tasks that may be involved in professional communications positions in different sectors.
• Gain confidence in working and collaborating on a dynamic and distributed professional team.

The Candidate best suited for this position: 

Required:

• Strong written and verbal communications skills and attention to detail
• Ability to take initiative and work independently
• Taken coursework in environmental studies and/or communications Is comfortable with, or willing to learn, working on different communications platforms
• Strong interest in pursuing a career in the environmental field

Preferred:

• Experience in graphic design

Organization: The Nature Conservancy in Washington (TNC)

Available Internship Positions: 2

Total Hours: 35 (30 hours per week with TNC and 5 hours per week with the EarthLab cohort)

Total Summer Stipend: $6,930 disbursed over the 9-week internship plus a one-time $180 transportation stipend

Location: 

Internship Activities: Hybrid – Remote via zoom, 1-2 days in person per week at the TNC Seattle Belltown office and fieldwork around Washington state through the internship.*

*At this time, fieldwork dates are not confirmed, but interns should plan to be available full-time Monday-Thursday for the duration of the internship.

Cohort Meetings: In-person and required every Tuesday at the EarthLab Office located in Condon Hall

About Host Organization: The Nature Conservancy in Washington is dedicated to sustaining and enhancing a healthy relationship between people and nature. As part of the world’s largest global conservation organization, we are uniquely positioned to deliver innovative solutions to our most pressing conservation needs and leverage them at a meaningful scale assuring the quality of life for people and nature, in our state —and in our world. We are addressing the twin crises of climate change and loss of biodiversity by advancing positive and equitable change through care and stewardship of Washington’s land and water — through legislative and regulatory policy; advocating for equitable access to public funding; and by bringing together powerful and diverse partners, communities and decision-makers. The Nature Conservancy in Washington’s science team brings cutting-edge natural and social science to bear on critical conservation problems, to provide the research necessary to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends. Learn more at: https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/washington/.

Tasks and Activities: The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is looking for two UW undergraduate students to work with a team of scientists whose research informs the conservation, management, and restoration work of The Nature Conservancy in Washington State. These internships will involve opportunities for fieldwork with conservation practitioners as well as office and remote work, including data collection, data management and entry, and reporting/visualizing research findings.

Interns will be involved in one-two primary projects during their internship, with ample learning, mentorship, and networking opportunities with TNC throughout the internship:

• Project 1: Marsh vegetation monitoring fieldwork to quantify the impacts of innovative marsh restoration methods at Port Susan Bay Preserve (Stanwood, WA) as part of a team of TNC conservation practitioners and scientists. This is exciting and challenging work that requires 10-15 long field days spread across ~3 weeks in the summer at TNC’s Port Susan Bay Preserve monitoring marsh vegetation under physically strenuous outdoor conditions. This fieldwork will require transportation via UCar and interns should be prepared to leave Seattle as early as 5:00 am on field days in order to work with the tides. You will develop your plant identification and fieldwork skills as part of this team, and, time permitting, could contribute to a field identification guide for emerging species of interest at the preserve.
• Project 2: TBD based on funding, but likely biodiversity oriented

The interns in this position will work with TNC’s Science team on the two primary projects described above. Internship activities will involve a combination of collaborative fieldwork, remote computer work, and possible lab work. The fieldwork will involve frequent collaboration with the other intern and with TNC supervisors, and there are also opportunities for independent remote work on days without fieldwork.

Under the Vegetation Monitoring work at Port Susan Bay, interns will collect, process, analyze, and share data collected over the summer, in a manner consistent with their interests and experience (e.g., creating an identification guide for new species found post-restoration, developing a story map, writing a report, etc.).

Takeaways: Interns in this position will have the opportunity to:

• Gain hands-on experience with ecological research techniques in the field and lab, including processing and analyzing data, and reviewing and synthesizing scientific literature
• Build communication skills in formats of their choosing, including via writing and visual methods
• Learn from and work with a variety of conservation practitioners at TNC and beyond, including scientists and stewardship managers.

The Candidate best suited for this position:

Required:

• Must have a high interest and ability, or prior experience to participate in challenging but well-supported field-based research under difficult outdoor conditions (including physical ability to hike), including availability for day and overnight travel as indicated in the first question — this is mandatory for a safe and successful internship.
• Should be excited by the prospect of many different types of work experiences, including a demonstrated skills of teamwork and collaboration to apply in the field under a variety of potentially challenging conditions
• Must have a driver’s license and ability to travel in Washington state, preferably using the UCAR system (transportation options may be available)
• Commitment to act in accordance with TNC’s Code of Conduct which can be found at https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/who-we-are/accountability/code-of-conduct/

Preferred:

• Strongly encouraged that the interns are majoring in an environmental or biological science, preferably, has taken an introductory ecology course, has some experience and understanding of the PNW natural systems, and has demonstrated interest, with some coursework taken, in ecology, biology, environmental science, conservation, or related fields* Self-starter, able to work independently as well as on a team. Possesses strong time-management and organizational skills.
• Access to reliable internet, computer and phone for periods of remote work (office with internet available as an alternative)
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Computer proficiency, especially with spreadsheets (e.g., Excel). Experience with geospatial analysis, data analysis, or coding is appreciated but not required.

Organization: Climate Impacts Group (CIG)

Available Internship Positions: 1

Total Hours: 25 (20 hours per week with the CIG and 5 hours per week with the EarthLab cohort)

Total Summer Stipend: $4,950 disbursed over the 9-week internship plus a one-time $180 transportation stipend

Location: 

Internship Activities: Hybrid – Meet at least 1x/week in person at CIG’s offices.

Cohort Meetings: In-person and required every Tuesday at the EarthLab Office located in Condon Hall

About Host Organization: The University of Washington Climate Impacts Group builds climate resilience by advancing understanding of climate risks and enabling science-based action to manage those risks. We are widely recognized for scientific discovery, as an experienced creator of impartial and actionable science and as a catalyst for building regional climate resilience.

Tasks and Activities: Extreme heat and wildfire smoke are significant climate resilience challenges for everyone, especially historically underserved communities.  Extreme heat stressing infrastructure, intensifies health disparities, and increasing risks of heat illness for exposed populations. Wildfire smoke compounds these dangers by degrading air quality and overwhelming respiratory and cardiovascular health, underscoring the need for stronger preparedness and effective resilience strategies and planning.

The intern will work on at least one project that deals with the dual hazards of extreme heat and wildfire smoke. The goal of the internship ship is to identify effective resilience strategies, particularly for vulnerable and over exposed communities.

Tasks may include:

• Conducting a literature review on extreme heat and wildfire smoke hazards in relation to vulnerable communities
• Identifying key challenges and exposure risks of communities
• Interfacing with actors and stakeholders
• Supporting the development of a demonstration AQ and heat monitoring program
• Identifying case studies of most effective resilience strategies

Expected Products: may include but are not limited to a literature review, a policy brief highlighting key findings, a brief describing a potential air quality and heat monitoring pilot, and/or a completion of a community-engaged air quality and heat monitoring pilot project

Takeaways: The intern in this position will gain:

• Hands-on experience analyzing climate resilience challenges, especially related to extreme heat and wildfire smoke, and translating findings into actionable recommendations.
• Skills developing outputs from action-oriented science.
• Practical knowledge of climate adaptation processes, such as assessing vulnerabilities, identifying resilience strategies, and supporting local implementation efforts.
• Experience using Excel/spreadsheets to organize qualitative data, and qualitative research methods to evaluate climate impacts and inform policy and program design.
• Professional competencies in working with climate resilience actors, community organizations, or technical experts to build stronger and more equitable climate resilience.

The Candidate best suited for this position:

Preferred

• Interest in Climate resilience and adaptation
• Interest in learning qualitative social science research methods
• Interest in conducting a literature review
• Interested in climate hazards such as extreme heat and wildfire smoke
• Want to engage in community-centered climate research
• Passionate about building resilience for overburdened communities

Organization: Northwest Climate Adaptation Science Center

Available Internship Positions: 1

Total Hours: 25 (20 hours per week with NW CASC and 5 hours per week with the EarthLab cohort)

Total Summer Stipend: $4,950 disbursed over the 9-week internship plus a one-time $180 transportation stipend

Location:

Internship Activities: Hybrid – In-person at least one day a week at the CIG office.

Cohort Meetings: In-person and required every Tuesday at the EarthLab Office located in Condon Hall

About Host Organization: The Northwest Climate Adaptation Science Center (NW CASC) is a partnership between the U.S. Geological Survey and a Consortium of university and non-university partners. Housed at the University of Washington Climate Impacts Group, the NW CASC teams scientists with natural and cultural resource managers to deliver science to help fish, wildlife, water, land and people in the Northwest adapt to a changing climate. The NW CASC is part of a network of nine Climate Adaptation Science Centers managed by a National Climate Adaptation Science Center.

Tasks and Activities: The NW CASC Deep Dive Program coordinates annual, facilitated workshops that bring scientists and natural resource managers together to explore a climate adaptation issue raising significant concern and interest in the region. The Regional Climate Partnerships intern will spend the summer assessing the impact of the NW CASC’s 2026 Deep Dive on participants and exploring opportunities for participants to continue collaborating after the Deep Dive’s completion.

The 2026 Deep Dive, to be held in spring/early summer 2026, will convene roughly 100 researchers and practitioners to discuss what is known and unknown about the loss of winter in the Northwest and identify research and capacity building needs to enhance the region’s ability to address this emerging climate risk. The intern will support efforts to conduct focus groups with participants to gain insight into their experience with the Deep Dive and spark future collaborations addressing challenges and opportunities raised during the Deep Dive. The intern will gain familiarity with collaborative processes between science and practice, the development of actionable science, program evaluation and building regional capacity to address threats posed by climate change.

The intern in this position will support the completion of focus groups exploring particular perspectives on the 2026 Deep Dive (such as natural resource managers, Tribal representatives, writing workgroup members, etc.) set up by the NW CASC team. The intern will receive training and conduct these focus groups with their supervisor. As we complete the focus groups, the intern will work with a transcription tool to make a qualitative database of focus group transcripts and observations. The supervisor and intern will then collaboratively code this qualitative data to better understand different experiences participants have in the Deep Dive, develop suggestions for enhancing future Deep Dives and identify opportunities to support future efforts to continue building regional capacity. The primary day-to-day tasks for this position would shift over the course of the internship from preparing to conduct the focus groups, to helping conduct them, to setting up the qualitative database, to coding and identifying key findings.

Based on these findings, the intern will complete a memo where they will summarize their findings and suggestions for NW CASC staff implementing future Deep Dives. The intern will also develop suggestions for those working in the region to continue pursuing efforts to address challenges to the region posed by the loss of winter.

Takeaways: The intern in this position will learn about different experiences people have in transdisciplinary efforts to use science to address emerging environmental challenges. This will help them understand different perspectives people have on these processes and gain insight into how these different perspectives get incorporated into environmental scientific and policy synthesis efforts.

In the process of exploring these questions, the intern will gain experience in conducting qualitative research, facilitating focus groups, creating databases, and drawing conclusions based on qualitative information.

In their final reporting, the intern will practice skills related to identifying and communicating programmatic recommendations to an organization like the NW CASC and thinking about building up and sustaining regional collaborations to address emerging environmental risks.

The Candidate best suited for this position:

Required:

• Strong written and verbal communications skills, attention to detail and a desire to collaborate with others
• Comfort speaking in front of groups
• Strong interest in how science might support environmental decisions

Preferred:

• Coursework or experience related to social science and qualitative research
• Experience with database management

Organization: The Northwest Regional Invasive Species & Climate Change (NW RISCC) Network (within Northwest Climate Adaptation Science Center)

Available Internship Positions: 1

Total Hours: 25 (20 hours per week with NW RISCC and 5 hours per week with the EarthLab cohort)

Total Summer Stipend: $4,950 disbursed over the 9-week internship plus a one-time $180 transportation stipend

Location: 

Internship Activities: Hybrid – In-person 1x/week in Condon Hall with NW RISCC and supervisor

Cohort Meetings: In-person and required every Tuesday at the EarthLab Office located in Condon Hall

About Host Organization: The Northwest Regional Invasive Species & Climate Change (NW RISCC) Network (nwriscc.org) is a group of scientists and practitioners from regional agencies and organizations dedicated to integrating climate change science and adaptation with invasive species management and research. Northwest RISCC is a program of the Northwest Climate Adaptation Science Center (NW CASC), which is a partnership between the U.S. Geological Survey and a Consortium of university and non-university partners. Housed at the University of Washington Climate Impacts Group (CIG), the NW CASC teams scientists with natural and cultural resource managers to deliver science to help fish, wildlife, water, land and people in the Northwest adapt to a changing climate.

Tasks and Activities: The intern in this position will aid the creation of a NW RISCC Management Brief, a two-page factsheet synthesizing the management implications of a current challenge to climate-informed invasive species management in the Northwest. The audience for these factsheets ranges from invasive species managers and natural resource professionals to the general public. For examples of previous Management Briefs, please see https://www.nwriscc.org/resources/management-briefs.

Tasks include:

• Conducting at least three informational interviews with managers and researchers
• Writing three Research Summaries
• Developing an annotated bibliography
• Leading the writing, editing, formatting, and distributing of a NW RISCC Management Brief.

The intern in this position will:

• Author three Research Summaries, which will be posted to the NW RISCC website and listserv
• Create and be listed as first author of a Management Brief factsheet and accompanying communications materials (LinkedIn post, list-serv announcement, website description).

The Management Brief will be posted to the NW RISCC website, distributed to the NW RISCC list-serv and LinkedIn page, and will also be assigned a unique Digital Object Identifier (DOI) link to be posted via UW’s digital repository.

Takeaways: This internship will provide training and experience in science synthesis and translation for managers and broader audiences, with specific knowledge gained in the ways climate change and invasive species interact to impact environmental management in the Northwest. The intern’s contributions to the Management Brief will also merit co-authorship on a synthesis document with a unique DOI, which can be listed on the intern’s resume/CV. The intern will learn about boundary-spanning through participation in NW RISCC Advisory Team meetings and larger NW RISCC online events, and will have the opportunity to meet and ask questions of scientists and natural resource professionals during their informational interviews.

The Candidate best suited for this position: 

Required

• Strong writing and research skills
• Ability to work independently and with a team
• Enthusiasm for connecting research with practice

Preferred:

• Has taken coursework in ecology and/or environmental studies
• Artistic/graphic design skills, and experience with invasive species ecology and/or management

Organization: Climate Impacts Group (CIG)

Available Internship Positions: 1

Total Hours: 35 (30 hours per week with the CIG and 5 hours per week with the EarthLab cohort)

Total Summer Stipend: $6,930 disbursed over the 9-week internship plus a one-time $180 transportation stipend

 Location:

Internship Activities: Hybrid – 1-2   in person meetings/week at the CIG office

Cohort Meetings: In-person and required every Tuesday at the EarthLab Office located in Condon Hall

About Host Organization: The University of Washington Climate Impacts Group (CIG) builds climate resilience by advancing understanding of climate risks and enabling science-based action to manage those risks. CIG’s research informs decisions, influences policy and practice, and provides training and education to a range of audiences.

Tasks and Activities: The intern in this position will support CIG’s work with the City of Seattle and grassroots local mutual aid initiatives. CIG’s current collaboration with these groups has identified multiple needs for additional information and coordination. This intern will contribute to these requests by identifying and mapping support systems throughout the city (e.g., warming and cooling centers, food distributions, etc.) to illustrate available resources and locate gaps. Additional work could include analyzing interviews to identify additional needs and/or writing a resource guide to distribute to mutual aid initiatives. Together, this will support climate resiliency networks throughout the City.

Tasks include:

• Identifying resources throughout the City through online information and conversations with community members
• Mapping resources
• Analyzing qualitative interview data
• Report writing on methods and findings from spatial and qualitative data.

The intern in this position will develop a map or other usable product of climate resilience resources throughout the City of Seattle. This will include warming and cooling centers, food distribution, and other resources identified through earlier research.

Takeaways: The intern in this position will:

• Gain experience translating qualitative and spatial data into usable products for community-based organizations
• Increase their understanding of climate impacts and climate resilience work in Seattle
• Gain experience working with and integrating data from multiple sources and sectors

The Candidate best suited for this position:

Required:

• Background in social science research methods and/or theory through coursework, research, or other experience
• Familiarity writing reports or white papers for a non-academic audience
• Experience visualizing spatial data using ArcGIS, R, and/or other programs

Organization: Washington Ocean Acidification Center (WOAC)

Available Internship Positions: 1

Total Hours: 25 (20 hours per week with WOAC and 5 hours per week with the EarthLab cohort)

Total Summer Stipend: 4,950 disbursed over the 9-week internship plus a one-time $180 transportation stipend

Location:

Internship Activities: Hybrid – Meet in-person initially to define project, then work remotely to identify patterns from existing reports; weekly check-ins that can be in-person or remote. There is the opportunity to join a WOAC research cruise July 13-17 and travel for a regional meeting in August, with meals, lodging, and mileage expenses covered.*

*For the week of the research cruise the intern will be working and living aboard the RV Rachel Carson, and in the weeks leading up to the cruise there will be training and lab tasks that will take place in Benjamin Hall interdisciplinary building, on UW Seattle Campus.  

Cohort Meetings: In-person and required every Tuesday at the EarthLab Office located in Condon Hall

About Host Organization:

The Washington Ocean Acidification Center (WOAC) connects research to decision makers to advance ocean acidification science, strategies and policies to restore the health of our oceans. WOAC funds observations of marine water chemistry and plankton, forecast modeling, and assessment of biological responses of WA species to OA. WOAC partners with the Northwest Association of Networked Ocean Observing Systems (NANOOS, www.nanoos.org) to serve WOAC cruise and buoy data as well as data from our shellfish grower partners.

Tasks and Activities:

The intern in this position will utilize the Marine Waters Overview matrix to explore WOAC historical data. The matrix synthesizes 14 years of published reports to identify patterns, trends, and variations across water properties and trophic levels. Using these regional patterns as a reference, the intern will examine past WOAC data to create high-level narratives that highlight observed anomalies and trends, emphasize instances where maximums or minimums co-occur or diverge from regional observations, and use these insights to further develop a framework for ongoing reporting and synthesis.

Additionally, the intern will receive training in data collection and laboratory analysis and participate in a five-day research cruise in Puget Sound. Responsibilities during the cruise will include:

• Preparing scientific equipment
• Assisting with field mobilization
• Managing the sampling of key variables, and
• Processing collected samples.

Takeaways:

• Gain an in-depth understanding of the Puget Sound ecosystem and its variability over a decade
• Acquire first-hand experience with a range of oceanographic sampling techniques and engage with regional scientists
• Gain insights into how long-term monitoring programs operate and develop skills in working with historical datasets

A strong candidate for this position:

Required

• Ability to read scientific reports and interpret graphs.
• Attention to detail
• Use of Excel required; other data analysis and visualization skills are useful but not required.

Preferred:

• Since this is a natural sciences project, some background in oceanography, marine biology, or fisheries is useful

Organization: Center for Nature and Health (N&H)

Available Internship Positions: 1

Total Hours: 25 (20 hours per week with the N&H and 5 hours per week with the EarthLab cohort)

Total Summer Stipend: $4,950 disbursed over the 9-week internship plus a one-time $180 transportation stipend

Location: 

Internship Activities: Remote – With an option to meet at the Center for Urban Horticulture as needed

Cohort Meetings: In-person and required every Tuesday at the EarthLab Office located in Condon Hall

About Host Organization: At the Center, we believe that everyone has the right to the restorative power of nature—no matter who they are or where they live. In 2014, we began as an informal collective of researchers and community organizers working at the intersection of conservation and health equity. After 10 years of groundbreaking, translational research, we are embarking on the next phase of our journey. While research is still central to our mission, we are also working closely with decision-makers and the community to inform policies and programs that support equitable engagement with nature.

Tasks and Activities: The science communication intern will develop creative case studies, short stories, social media content, and/or StoryMaps to help engage the public and decision makers in the nature and health movement. The intern will work with the site supervisor to choose projects and media that best align with the Center’s emerging needs and with the intern’s skill sets and interests.

The intern in this position will:

• Distill scientific information into accurate, compelling, and accessible stories and case studies for multiple platforms (e.g., website, social media, StoryMaps, flyers, etc.)
• Develop an editorial calendar related to nature-based days (e.g., Earth Day, Arbor Day, etc.) and free parks days, draft social media posts
• Brainstorm and develop additional creative opportunities with the support of the site supervisor, with the possibility of other projects.
• Have an opportunity to build an understanding of the connection between nature and human health, of how redlining and systemic racism influences equitable engagement with nature
• Build writing skills, especially related to distilling research into relatable content for the public.

Depending on the Center’s needs and the intern’s skills, experience, and interests, the intern may create:

• A combination of digital and print content that distills key messages
• An editorial calendar
• Interview transcripts, and/or
• Graphics or short videos

Takeaways: 

The intern in this position will develop:

• An understanding of the connection between nature and human health, barriers and opportunities facing the nature and health movement,
• Writing skills, especially related to distilling research into relatable content for the public.

The Candidate best suited for this position:

Required:

• A passion for distilling complex scientific concepts into compelling narratives
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to tailor messaging to different audiences
• Highly organized and detail-oriented
• Comfortability giving and receiving feedback
• A desire to learn independently and creatively solve problems

Preferred:

• Comfortability reaching out to folx for interviews

Organization: Washington Ocean Acidification Center (WOAC)

Available Internship Positions: 1

Hours: 20 hours per week (15 hours per week with WOAC and 5 hours per week with the EarthLab cohort)

Total Summer Stipend: $3,960 disbursed over the 9-week internship, plus $180 total travel stipend per intern

Location: 

Internship Activities: Hybrid*

*There is the opportunity to join a WOAC research cruise July 13-17 and travel for a regional meeting in August, with meals, lodging, and mileage expenses covered.

Cohort Meetings: In-person and required every Tuesday at the EarthLab Office located in Condon Hall

About Host Organization:

The Washington Ocean Acidification Center (WOAC) “connects research to decision makers to advance ocean acidification science, strategies and policies to restore the health of our oceans.” WOAC partners with the Northwest Association of Networked Ocean Observing Systems (NANOOS, www.nanoos.org) to serve WOAC cruise and buoy data as well as data from our shellfish grower partners. NANOOS offers a range of educational curricula to foster ocean literacy and incorporate regional data in the classroom.

Tasks and Activities:

This internship is focused on outreach and increasing ocean literacy and continues NANOOS’ established Education and Outreach efforts, which are focused on promoting and facilitating the use of ocean observing data and increasing ocean literacy in our region. Most recently, working with TAF (Technology Access Fund, https://techaccess.org/), NANOOS worked successfully with Saghalie Public School in Federal Way via the Teacher Scientist Partnership (TSP) program on the marine heatwave lesson plan. The student body was very diverse and the STEM activities have engaged under-represented students in ocean science. This program wants more, and specifically on OA, yet WOAC staff are limited in time to develop such a lesson plan.

The intern in this position will learn how to develop an effective lesson plan that adheres to state academic standards and investigates regional topics using near real-time and forecasted data. They will interact with OA scientists engaged with WOAC, and reach out to our TAF partners. Their lesson plans live on at the NANOOS and WOAC websites increasing visibility and usage throughout the region.

Takeaways:

The intern in this position will have an opportunity to become familiar with existing OA lesson plans, Washington State academic standards, and using the NANOOS Visualization System (NVS) to access available data and what constitutes a successful curriculum. Then update the lesson plans so that they adhere to the standards.

The candidate best suited for this internship position:

• No required skills, but enthusiasm and good communication skills are a plus.

Organization: Climate Impacts Group (CIG)

Available Internship Positions: 1

Total Hours: 35 (30 hours per week with the CIG and 5 hours per week with the EarthLab cohort)

Total Summer Stipend: $6,930 disbursed over the 9-week internship plus a one-time $180 transportation stipend

Location: 

Internship Activities: Hybrid – In-office days are typically Mon/Wed, but remote days would also be fine.

Cohort Meetings: In-person and required every Tuesday at the EarthLab Office located in Condon Hall

About Host Organization: The University of Washington Climate Impacts Group (CIG) builds climate resilience by advancing understanding of climate risks & enabling science-based action to manage those risks. We are widely recognized for scientific discovery, as an experienced creator of impartial & actionable science and as a catalyst for building regional climate resilience. This position would be a collaboration between CIG and Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC), a non-profit that partners with underserved rural and Indigenous communities to achieve their vision and well-being through technical assistance, training, financial resources and advocacy.

Tasks and Activities:

Rural water systems are often impacted first and worst by extreme events and climate change while also often having fewer resources to plan for and manage these impacts. RCAC provides technical assistance (TA) to rural and Tribal communities across thirteen western states in a variety of areas, including the planning, operation, and maintenance of water systems. As part of this process, RCAC staff collect data on the types of technical assistance communities are requesting and various aspects of their technical, managerial, and financial capacity. In this project, the intern will be working with CIG and RCAC staff to analyze a subset of the data collected by RCAC to better understand more about the types of technical assistance water systems are requesting related to climate resilience and/or source water protection.

Tasks include completing:

• Background reading on rural water systems
• Preliminary analysis of a subset of RCAC technical assistance data
• Production of summary figures/tables sharing key findings
• Short report/document summarizing key findings and next steps

The intern in this position will contribute to analysis of RCAC’s rural water system technical assistance data and provide short report summarizing methods, key findings, and recommended next steps.

Takeaways: The intern in this position will:

• Gain a deeper understanding of climate-related challenges and adaptation strategies in rural water systems in the western US both practically and through the data analysis and GIS skills they develop through this position
• Build their skills in writing and synthesis, summarizing key findings, and making recommendations for future work in a short report.

The Candidate best suited for this position: 

Required:

• Exposure to water systems, infrastructure, and/or planning related topics (e.g., hydrology, civil/environmental engineering, water management, water quality, environmental science, planning)
• Basic data analysis skills

 Preferred:

• Basic GIS skills
• Experience cleaning/working with messy real-world data
• Experience with exploratory data analysis

Organization: University of Washington GEAR UP Achievers (Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity) and Clean Energy Institute

Available Internship Positions: 2

Total Hours: 35 (30 hours per week with the GEAR UP & CEI and 5 hours per week with the EarthLab cohort)

Total Summer Stipend: $6,930 disbursed over the 9-week internship plus a one-time $180 transportation stipend

Location: 

Internship Activities: Hybrid – Interns will complete some tasks remotely and attend in-person meetings or site visits at the University of Washington campus, the UW GEAR UP office in Kent, or partner school sites across South King County. Interns will also have the opportunity to participate in one or more of three summer camps, including an overnight camp at Nature Bridge on the Olympic Peninsula.

Cohort Meetings: In-person and required every Tuesday at the EarthLab Office located in Condon Hall

About Host Organization: GEAR UP is a federally funded program that supports first-generation and low-income students in eight middle schools across four South King County school districts through STEM programming, academic support, and family engagement, preparing them for postsecondary success.

The UW Clean Energy Institute accelerates the adoption of a scalable and equitable clean energy future that will improve the health and economy of our state, nation, and world. We support clean energy research and educational programs that support the next generation of energy leaders.

Together, these programs inspire and equip students with meaningful opportunities and skills to succeed in postsecondary education and clean energy careers.

Tasks and Activities: The intern will support GEAR UP’s efforts to integrate climate and environmental justice into STEM programming for middle and high school students across South King County by developing youth-friendly resources, piloting activity ideas, preparing materials, and mentoring students, sharing their perspective as a UW student to inspire interest in STEM and environmental fields. The intern will also contribute to the design and facilitation of a CEI-focused summer camp curriculum on clean energy and climate topics, gaining hands-on experience while learning about contemporary research in clean energy. The intern’s work will produce concrete outcomes, including a comprehensive CEI summer camp curriculum, 3–5 draft mini-activities or lesson concepts for STEM enrichment, a youth-friendly climate/environmental justice resource, and a practical Climate & Environmental Career Pathway Guide, all designed to engage students and connect classroom learning to real-world environmental issues.

Tasks Include:

• Curriculum and Resource Development
• Research and develop youth-friendly STEM activities, lesson concepts, and career resources focused on climate, clean energy, and environmental justice
• Draft 3–5 mini-activities or lesson concepts for GEAR UP enrichment programs.
• Revise materials based on feedback from GEAR UP and CEI staff.
• Align activities with student interests, local environmental issues, and school-site needs.
• Prepare documentation, summaries, or visuals to support program use.
• Summer Camp Support
• Assist in designing and facilitating a CEI-focused summer camp curriculum.
• Lead or co-lead hands-on activities, field trips, and interactive sessions with students.
• Provide mentorship, sharing UW student experiences to inspire interest in STEM and environmental careers.
• Inventory and prepare educational materials for summer camps.
• Occasional travel to partner schools or program sites for observation and support.
• Community Engagement and Program Support
• Participate in check-ins and collaborative working sessions with GEAR UP and CEI staff.
• Learn about the GEAR UP program, its federal grant requirements, and its role in supporting South King County school communities.
• Opportunity to attend selected school-site meetings, workshops, and planning sessions to understand needs and program context.
• Observe and participate in how GEAR UP collaborates with schools on college access, STEM opportunities, and climate/environmental pathways.

The interns in these positions will:

• Participate in a CEI-focused summer camp curriculum centered on clean energy and climate topics, including hands-on activities, field trips, and interactive student sessions
• Create a set of 3-5 draft mini-hands-on activities or lesson concepts that integrate climate or environmental justice themes into middle/high school STEM enrichment (e.g., air quality exploration, heat island mapping, climate storytelling activities)
• Create Youth-friendly climate/environmental justice resources, including a practical Climate & Environmental Career Pathway Guide linking content to locally relevant issues and providing guidance on high school courses, enrichment experiences, college pathways, scholarships and careers in environmental/STEM fields

Takeaways: By the end of the internship, the intern will:

• Have gained hands-on experience designing and facilitating STEM and climate-focused programming, including a CEI summer camp curriculum, hands-on mini-activities for GEAR UP enrichment programs, and youth-friendly climate/environmental justice resources, including a practical Climate & Environmental Career Pathway Guide
• Have deepened their understanding of clean energy and climate topics while learning about contemporary research in these areas
• Developed skills in curriculum development, youth mentorship, community engagement, and translating complex environmental concepts into accessible learning experiences
• Gained insight into GEAR UP’s role in supporting South King County students, including federal grant requirements, school partnerships, and pathways to postsecondary success.

The Candidate best suited for this position has:

• Passion for STEM education and clean energy, with interest in youth development, or educational programming
• Strong written and verbal communication, able to explain complex concepts clearly
• Ability to work collaboratively in teams and adapt to hybrid work and occasional travel
• Creativity, curiosity, and willingness to learn
• Comfort using basic technology tools (e.g., Canva, Teams, document editing, data collection).

Optional but helpful:

• Coursework or experience in environmental science, STEM, STEM education, or related fields.
• Experience with youth mentoring, curriculum design, or community-based projects.

Organization: EarthLab, Communications & Engagement team

Available Internship Positions: 2

Total Hours: 25 hours per week (20 hours per week with the EarthLab Communications Lead and 5 hours per week with the EarthLab cohort)

Total Summer Stipend: $4,950 disbursed over the 9-week internship plus a one-time $180 transportation stipend

Location:

Internship Activities: Hybrid with a preference for in-person on Tuesdays and Wednesdays

Cohort Meetings: In-person and required every Tuesday at the EarthLab Office located in Condon Hall

About Host Organization:

EarthLab is an institute at the University of Washington taking equitable action on climate change. We push boundaries to develop innovative research, programs, and events that connect across sectors, communities, and academic disciplines, and ultimately create positive impact for people and planet.

Tasks and Activities:

The Storytelling for Social Change Interns will build a comprehensive foundation in impact-based communications through portfolio development and hands-on support of EarthLab’s digital engagement and storytelling efforts. This role centers on creating at least four distinct portfolio pieces: a visual storytelling project (infographic or video), an Instagram-focused social media campaign, a social media analytics or competitive landscape analysis presentation, and original written content (blog or Q&A article).

Beyond portfolio development, interns will contribute to EarthLab’s digital storytelling bank, assist with content creation across platforms, and support communications operations including accessibility compliance and digital asset management. This role balances strategic portfolio work with hands-on communications experience, providing a well-rounded foundation for aspiring communications professionals.

Key Learning Outcomes:

Through this internship, you will:

• Develop strategic thinking skills by designing and proposing audience-centered campaigns and conducting analytical research
• Translate complex ideas into accessible narratives through blog writing and visual storytelling that resonates with public audiences
• Master platform-specific communication by adapting voice and content strategy across different social media channels using analytics insights
• Build presentation confidence by sharing professional analyses and receiving iterative feedback on portfolio work
• Gain practical production skills in content creation, from graphic design and video editing to coordinated campaign planning

We’re seeking candidates who demonstrate:

• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Attention to detail and commitment to quality
• Collaborative mindset and openness to feedback
• Creative problem-solving abilities
• Interest in social impact storytelling
• Basic video editing or graphic design experience is a plus but not required

Organization: TealWaters

Available Internship Positions: 2

Total Hours: 25 (20 hours per week with TealWaters and 5 hours per week with the EarthLab cohort)

Total Summer Stipend: $4,950 disbursed over the 9-week internship plus a one-time $180 transportation stipend

Location: 

Internship Activities: Hybrid – Most team meetings after initial onboarding will be hybrid however, the work will require in-person time in the UW Remote Sensing and Geospatial Analysis Laboratory (Wallace Hall, as well as field visits to wetlands surrounding UW campus and Seattle. All transportation to the field sites will be provided.*

* Most data collection with the terrestrial laser scanner will require a full 8 hours in the field. We expect 5-7 days (non-consecutive) involving this work.

Cohort Meetings: In-person and required every Tuesday at the EarthLab Office located in Condon Hall

About Host Organization: TealWaters is pioneering cloud-based tools for mapping and modeling wetlands across the United States and beyond, and new methods for modeling connections among wetlands, rivers, and other waters. Our platform uniquely identifies wetland locations and restoration potential, offering precise estimates of environmental benefits like water storage, carbon storage, and biodiversity. TealWaters provides a first-of-its-kind, comprehensive platform that integrates tools for wetland mapping, functional assessment, restoration prioritization, and decision-support all in one place. Our cloud-based system provides free access to national-scale data. We also offer customizable services for users seeking finer-resolution data and expert guidance. Our multidisciplinary team includes experts spanning 23 disciplines such as remote sensing, AI/machine learning, hydrology, ecology, geomorphology, policy, art, environmental humanities, and user-centered design. We work collaboratively with indigenous tribes, local governments, and global partners to deliver cutting-edge products tailored to specific user needs, from local managers to global organizations.

Tasks and Activities:

Two interns will complete the project.

• Intern A: LiDAR data processing and visualization techniques.
• Intern B: Story map content and communications.

The interns in these positions will create visualizations and story maps that demonstrate how terrestrial LiDAR enhances wetland mapping.

See below for more specified tasks by position:

Intern A & B Tasks:

• Develop LiDAR data acquisition protocols and field plans
• Conduct GIS-based site reconnaissance and select scan locations
• Set up control targets, collect terrestrial LiDAR scans, and capture field notes
• Organize, document and archive raw data, metadata, and versioned project files

Intern A Tasks:

• Register point clouds, georeference to control, and perform quality control
• Classify points (ground/vegetation/structures) and remove noise/water artifacts
• Generate products: DEM/DTM, DSM, canopy metrics, cross-sections, intensity maps

Intern B Tasks:

• Create visualizations: shaded relief, hillshade, slope/aspect, profiles, 3D scenes
• Write and publish a story map (content, narrative, figures, captions, credits); this task will also include interviews with TealWaters scientists
• Document methods, maintain a workflow log, and prepare a brief methods guide
• Coordinate with the supervisor; present progress and incorporate feedback

The story maps created will be published online and credited to the interns. Additionally, all the data collected and produced by the interns will be used by TealWaters to develop algorithm pipelines to integrate terrestrial lidar in fine resolution wetland and hydrology characterization.

Takeaways: The interns in this position will:

• Design field protocols and GIS-based site plans for terrestrial LiDAR in wetlands, these will be in-house white papers for TealWaters and will results in resume ready citations
• Acquire LiDAR datasets and ground control; maintain complete metadata and logs
• Process and register point clouds; perform quality control and point classification
• Produce geospatial products (DTM/DSM, intensity maps, cross-sections, canopy metrics)
• Create analysis-ready datasets for TealWaters’ algorithm development pipelines
• Develop and publish online story maps; write methods and workflow documentation

The Candidate best suited for this position:

Required

• Basic GIS proficiency: ArcGIS Pro

Preferred

• Taken coursework in GIS/Remote Sensing
• Familiarity with writing technical memos, methods docs, and story map narratives
• Strong attention to detail and data management discipline
• Comfort working outdoors in wetland environments