The President’s Alumni Summer Internship Program in Sustainability

**Update**
President Lash has just made available some financial support for these internships. Students must request exactly what they need in their application and justify the request.

The internships below are sponsored by Hampshire alumni. If you are interested in a specific internship, email Charlene D’Avanzo at cdavanzo@hampshire.edu for additional information. Applications for each internship are due March 25, 2013. Application information below.

Organization: Australis operates some of the most innovative and environmentally-friendly fish farms, with locations in the U.S. and central Vietnam. Their diversified farming base gives them the ability to supply saltwater farmed, fresh, and frozen barramundi of exceptional quality on a year-round basis.

Internship description: The intern will work as a member of the Australis fish culture team and will gain an understanding of the daily operation of the farm, and have the opportunity to understand and help manage water chemistry, fish husbandry, and other aspects of commercial farm operations. The intern should be able to lift 50 lbs.

Stipend/Dates: $500. Internship dates somewhat flexible.

Location: Turners Falls, Massachusetts

Alumnus: Josh Goldman 81F

Organization: Greenpeace, a leading independent environmental organization that utilizes bold action, cutting-edge research and creative communications to protect the earth.

Internship description: Student will work with a research team responsible for strategic and tactical research to support Greenpeace campaigns and activities, including global warming, forests, toxics, oceans, and other campaigns. Interns will be interested in applying their knowledge of environmental issues and sharpening research and writing skills, while learning about the various environmental issues Greenpeace covers from a global perspective. You will work with experienced environmental activists along with communications and grassroots experts, and will participate trainings such as non-violent direct action, corporate research, media relations, and more. The internship work program will be tailored to the student's aspirations, interests, and skills. Applicants must also apply via the GreenPeace website.

Stipend/Dates: Unpaid. The internship term runs from June 3-August 9.

Location: Washington, D.C.

Alumnus: Kert Davies 80F

Organization: Holiday Brook Farm, located in the beautiful Berkshires, produces vegetables for 150 member CSA, farmstand, farmer’s market, and some wholesale, as well as hay, firewood, maple syrup, and lots of compost. Our multi-species livestock operation includes pastured pigs, beef cattle, and sheep for Meat CSA and other venues.

Internship description: Opportunities include rotational, multi-species grazing. CSA vegetable and meat production, fencing, tractor and equipment maintenance, and CRAFT workshops. Intern should be willing to work on all aspects of our farm, from vegetables to livestock to hay. This is a great place to learn the basics or an opportunity to hone skills you've learned on other farms. Outdoor work experience during the summer a prerequisite; farm experience, no matter how minimal, is always a benefit.

Stipend/Dates: Salary based on experience, starts at $175/week. Housing is rustic cabin with electricity, private, and includes access to hot showers and bathroom. Group housing with individual bedrooms is being worked on for 2013. Growing season preferred, but will consider mid-May through August (college summer break as long as there are no "vacations").

Location: Dalton, MA

Alumna: Desiree Robertson-DuBois 93F

Organization: The mission of Social Accountability International (SAI) is to promote human rights at work through standards and capacity building. It is a leader in implantation, documenting social accountability standards, and delivering practical tools and building capacity for organizations to implement such standards.

Internship description: Working in the corporate programs and training department, the intern will be involved in developing online training materials and multi-media promotions. Depending on the intern’s skill level, responsibilities can include:

• Adapting classroom training materials to make an engaging e-learning experience
• Conducting research on effective instructional design
• Using existing audio and video assets to create new clips for promotion and e-learning
• Shooting video ‘interviews’ of SAI trainers and staff

Interns are provided with a learning path that identifies key materials for them to read to enhance their knowledge of social responsibility in the global supply chain (as time permits). They are also expected to attend staff meetings and report on what they are doing at SAI. In addition, interns are expected to help out as needed with whatever is needed.

Stipend: unpaid

Location: NYC

Alumnus: Craig Moss

Organization: Solubrite's mission is to provide solar powered lighting to people in Central America who currently lack access to affordable clean and efficient lighting. Their goal is to find the most appropriate and cost effective distribution channels to achieve our mission. They are currently distributing solar powered lamps in Nicaragua and Panama (www.solubrite.com).

Internship description: This internship is in Panama, in the indigenous zone of Comaraca Ngabe Bugle. The student will be based in the village of Soloy and stay in a cabin built for volunteers as a guest of the local organization MEDO (http://medo.awardspace.com). The nearest town, David, is 2.5 hours away by bus. Internship is perfect for a multi-disciplinarian. Work would include helping with basic capacity building, helping salespeople on the ground do their job better by listening and observing and helping them expand their reach, if possible. Other duties will be to help with client surveys and feedback. Solubrite is looking for a social person who can interact with the locals and give feedback about how the products are being sold, perceived and used, and how they could improve sales and efficiency. Student will be eyes and ears on the ground reporting observations and helping test new marketing/sales ideas. Student needs rudimentary knowledge of business and marketing. Spanish fluency required.

Stipend/Dates: Solubrite will pay for room and board/flexible.

Location: Panama

Alumnus: Marc Henrich 85F (marc@solubrite.com)

Organization: Stonyfield Farm, celebrating its 30th year, is the world's leading organic yogurt company. Its certified organic yogurt, smoothies, milk, cultured soy, frozen yogurt, and ice cream are distributed nationally. The company advocates that healthy food can only come from a healthy planet. Its use of organic ingredients helps keep over 200,000 farm acres free of toxic, persistent pesticides and chemical fertilizers known to contaminate soil, drinking water, and food. Since its founding, Stonyfield has deeply focused on leadership in sustainability and has spearheaded environmentally responsible innovations in packaging, transportation, waste reduction, and climate solutions.

Internship description: Intern will work with members of the Stonyfield Sustainability Innovation team to collect and analyze relevant data for Stonyfield's corporate social responsibility report. The report will focus on triple-bottom-line results from Stonyfield's Mission Action Program and will give the intern experience in facility energy use and associated greenhouse gas emissions reductions through renewable energy and energy efficiency efforts; water use; zero waste strategies; green chemistry; sustainable packaging; milk and non-milk ingredient impacts; organic and sustainable agriculture; sustainable sourcing; transportation and logistics; and employee engagement.

Stipend/Dates: none/flexible

Location: Manchester, NH

Alumnus: While Gary Hirshburg 72F co-founded Stonyfield, the intern will be working with Wood Turner, vice president of sustainability innovation.

Check back soon. More internships to come!

Application Process

Students must apply for an internship by March 25, 2013

Applications must include:

• Letter explaining which internship you are applying for, why the internships interests you, how it fits into your academic program, and what prepares you for the internship. If you are requesting financial support, you must specify an exact amount and justify your request.
• Resume (include relevant courses and skills)
• Letter of recommendation (from advisor, Division II or III chair, etc.)

Send your application to corc@hampshire.edu. Subject title must be “Sustainability Internship: [Your Last Name]"

A committee of faculty and staff will select suitable applications and send these to the Hampshire alum who will make the final decision.

Since most of these internships are unpaid, students should apply for financial support from the numerous sources at Hampshire. Funding for these internships may be available through Hampshire Funded Internship grants, such as CORC and CPSC, or another fund that is pending. For more information, go to: http://www.hampshire.edu/corc/hamp_funding.htm

Email questions to Charlene D’Avanzo at cdavanzo@hampshire.edu