Interning Around

I remember back when I didn't have to think too much about graduating college and applying for a job or grad school. Instead, I freaked out about getting the right internship - somewhere that would pay me, teach me new things, and look good on my resume. But hey, finding an internship like that is pretty tough, and if I don't get a job I might be on the lookout for one of those myself. So I figured this evening I would spend a few minutes giving you guys some suggestions on where to start looking for that elusive internship.

1. The Institute for Alternative Futures (www.altfutures.com) is a small think-tank that approaches health, education and environment issues from a kind of consulting-angle. They are action-oriented, and a big part of their mission statement is about changing the future. Anyways, you can research more about them on their website, but they offer a pretty sweet internship deal, especially for graduate students. If you work there full time you get $2,000/month, and if you work part-time you get $1,000/month. That is what I call a sweet deal. As a warning, I get the impression that they vastly prefer graduate students as interns.

2. The Department of Energy. Check out: http://www.energy.gov/scholarships&internships.htm
http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif

It seems like they have a variety of internship program going on, and keep in mind that the Department of Energy has tons of money to go around, although it looks like one of the programs is unpaid. But they also have a "career interns" program and a "diversity program," as well as research opportunities available at DOE labs around the US. So check it out.

As more and more summer internships begin being posted, I will keep you guys posted.

Best Green Costume Ideas

I went to a Halloween party on Thursday night and it turns out that environmentalism is beginning to provide some of us with costume ideas. For example, one of my friends was a melting polar ice cap, complete with a dying polar bear. I decided to look this trend up to see if dressing green is hip this year. . .Here is what I found:

Global Warming:
1. Dress up as a giant earth and put red, painted flames all over your costume.
2. "Dress in your favorite beachwear—bikini, speedos, nude, whatever. Don a giant sun hat and shades. Slather on lots of conspicuously scented tanning lotion. Then arrange for everyone at the party to totally ignore you until the very last minute." (idea from PopMatters blog, located at:http://www.popmatters.com/pm/columns/article/49914/last-minute-halloween-costume-ideas/)

The polar bear with bright orange floaties on:


Sadly, these were the only creative ideas I could find after scouring the net. So here are a few of my own.

1. Be a penguin. As the movie industry as discovered recently, who among us can resist a penguin? Dress it up by having little floaties on your wings, or rosy cheeks, or wear a large sombrero for protection against the sun.

2. Be a polar bear and attach a small, round piece of Styrofoam around your midsection as a shrinking ice berg.

3. Be carbon dioxide. Dress up in a grubby, smoky way and look generally malicious. You can even have a friend be oil, and one by coal, and so forth. Or, on the flip side, you guys could dress up as renewable energy sources.

4. Go as a group and all be different effects of global warming. Someone can be rising sea level (dress in blue, have little houses and stuff stuck on you), some one can be a really intense storm (crazy hair, ripped, spun around clothing, ect), someone can be drought (yellow, black colors), ect.

5. The hole in the ozone layer. If you, like me, see Halloween as the opportunity, nay, the obligation to wear something a bit skanky. But the ozone hole. Dress up in soft, floating material and then have a gigantic hole somewhere. Like right over your midrift.

6. Be a GCM - a General Circulation Model, the type of computer program that scientists use to model global warming. Just dress up as a super model, but draw a chart of increasing temperature on your shirt, or dress or whatever. Pretty hot. ha, get it?

Okay, okay. My creativity has exhausted itself. But whatever you choose to be for Halloween. Have fun!

Emily's Top Ten

I promised in my last post that I would include some information about additional environmental graduate schools. I did a little research online and found a wonderful website that already exists and contains great information about this subject. First of all, it includes a Top Ten environmental graduate school list:

1) Tulane Law School, Environmental Law Program: Just under 25% of applicants to the JD [graduate/doctorate level law degree] program were admitted.

2) Michigan Tech, Graduate Program in Environmental Policy: 50-75% of students accepted.

3) Arizona State University, Environmental Technology Program: Applicants are "pre-screened," because they must already have a good science background and have completed the necessary prerequisite courses. Thus, they are able to accept around 75-80% of qualified applicants.

4) Ohio State University, Columbus, School of Natural Resources: In 2003, the School had 47 applicants and 13 of them enrolled.

5) Cal Poly, Natural Resource Management Department: Dr. Mark Shelton told us that a very rough estimate of the percentage of applicants accepted into the FNR [Forestry and Natural Resources] graduate program would be 60%.

6) Columbia University, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences: Over the past four years, acceptance rates in the Ph.D. program have averaged about 20%.

7) Louisiana State University, School of Renewable Natural Resources: According to Dr. Rutherford, the acceptance rate is around 30%, and their program has about the same acceptance rate as other programs.

8) Purdue University, Department of Forestry and Natural Resources: Dr. Swihart submitted that the acceptance rate is around 20% for applicants whose files are complete and whose interests match at least one faculty member in the department.

9) University of Vermont, Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources: This year, the School is expecting to accept 25 of its 160 applicants, according to Dr. Wang. The School is probably more selective than many comparable graduate programs in the Natural Resource and Environmental Science fields.
10) University of Oregon, Environmental Studies Program: According to Dr. Greg Retallack, Head of Graduate Admissions, the program typically gets 120-150 applicants and admits 6-8.

The above list was from the website of a company called EnviroEducation. The rest of the article had some pretty good advice on how to actually get accepted to these school. I suggest you check it out at:
http://www.enviroeducation.com/articles/best/


In my opinion, this list is missing some of the biggies however. So here is my own Top Ten List:

1. Yale School of Forestry
2. Columbia - The Earth Institute or Masters in Environmental Science and
Policy
3. Duke - Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences
4. University of California - Berkeley, Department of Environmental Science, Policy
and Management
5. Stanford University - Earth Systems Program
6. Boston University - Program in Energy and Environmental Studies
7. Tufts University - Department of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning
8. Cornell University - Field of Environmental Management
9. George Washington University - Program in Environmental and Resource Policy
10. University of Vermont - Program in Natural Resources

Choices, choices, choices.

Here is a funny t-shirt to make you feel better. One of them says:

Grad School: It seemed better than getting a real job. (But remember that you will probably get paid more when you come out, also...)

Grad School, More and more appealing

I had my first real interview last Wednesday with an environmental consulting firm called ICF International. And although I did like the company, something about walking around all day in a suit, using words such as "management skills" and "professional development" really got to me. I mean, I am not sure that I am ready to enter that world....what if I never come out?!? This weird feeling got me thinking about graduate school, and I realized that I haven't really done a blog on environmental graduate schools in a while. But, truth is, in this field you will almost certainly get paid more if you have a masters degree. In fact, most of the upper-level entry positions that I have looked at require one.




One of my own personal favorites is the Yale School of Forestry. And even if you are not thinking of applying there, they have a a good website on possible environmental careers. Check that out at:

http://environment.yale.edu/1939/favorite_cdo_job_&_internship_sites/


Here are the Masters programs that Yale offers:
Master of Environmental Management
Master of Forestry
Master of Forest Science
Master of Environmental Science

The Masters program that appeals the most to me is Master of Environmental Management - the most policy oriented one. It prepares for careers as wide ranging as environmental management (duh), consulting and policy analysis.

So How Do I Get In?

The most important thing to know is that the online application deadline is January 7th. This means that if you are considering applying, you can plan in advance. Here is what you need to send in by January 7th.

1. A completed application form.
2. A resume or curriculum vitae.
3. A personal statement discussing career plans and the reasons for applying to
F&ES (600-word maximum).
4. One official transcript or mark sheet from each college and/or university attended. Non-English transcripts must be accompanied by official/certified English translations. A certified translation of the diploma certificate must also be provided if the transcript does not include the date of graduation and the type of degree awarded.
5. Three letters of reference (academic and/or professional). The submission of the recommendation form and a one (1) page letter is expected.
6. An official GRE, GMAT, or LSAT score report (copies will not be accepted).
7. An official TOEFL or IELTS score report if English is not a native or customary language of instruction (copies will not be accepted).
8. The application fee ($70 online, $90 paper).

The only fly in the ointment is the GRE test, which you can expect to be required at most graduate schools. Luckily scheduling an appointment for the GREs is not the same as scheduling one for the SATs - there are a number of test dates which work. But if you are thinking of applying for graduate school, the first thing you should do now (if you haven't already done so) is take the GREs. However, keep in mind that many graduate schools do not like to see a GRE score that is more than 2-3 years old. They technically are good for 5 years. I am not as familiar with LSAT or GMAT scores.



Anyways, I have to go get some work done. But stay tuned for info on more environmental graduate schools.

When you grow up. . .

I am home for fall break and just went shopping for business suits with my roommate. We went to TJMaxx, Filene's basement and Loehman's. The conclusion? Even if you go discount shopping, buying that first suit is going to take a bite outta savings. Plus, it goes against my nature to spend so much money on something so...ugly. Still, my most important interview is coming up soon - and the Career Resource Center here told me that a suit is your best bet for any job interview.

I am not sure where all of you are on your job search - but my advice is that if you want a job when you graduate - get moving. A friend who graduated last year told me that the one thing she regretted during her senior year was not getting her job search started earlier - because (new flash) getting a job is not easy. And no one wants to be job searching on the ancient PC in Mom and Dad's house for too long. There are a couple of good resources available on the web - but the first thing you should do is go to your college's career resource center. Even if you have no idea what you want to do "when you grow up," there should be people there trained to talk to you and help you figure out what your interests are - and what jobs may fit those interests. Here is one website that I found today which also has some good information on getting started.



Additionally, there are some surprisingly good videos available on youtube which give you a few minute description of career tips - particularly regarding interviews. I am attaching the link to a good one below - the nice thing about videos is that you can sit there and just passively absorb the information. Plus, many of them are amusing. Search for worst job interviews to see what I mean.

The Green Peace Prize

The big news in the environmental and energy-related sector is that the Nobel Peace Prize was given jointly to Al Gore and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC),"for their efforts to build up and disseminate greater knowledge about man-made climate change, and to lay the foundations for the measures that are needed to counteract such change". Previous to the announcement of the winners, there had been a lot of speculation about whether the prize would go to a climate change activist. For example, another possible contender was Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany. Personally, awarding the prize to the IPCC makes a lot of sense to me. The panel has worked tirelessly to uphold an ideal of the scientific process - debating each word that goes into those reports, researching and consensus-building to come to decisions. The 4th Assessment Report came out a few weeks ago and if you are interested it is easily accessible on the web.

Awarding the prize to Al Gore seems a bit more silly to me. I did some research on his environmental background and here is what I found. During his tenure in Congress, Al Gore was an environmentalist and did cosponsor a hearing on Global Warming in the early 1980s. He also launched the GLOBE program in 1994, which was supposed to use the internet to help spread awareness of global warming. However, I could not find it at all on the internet, despite considerable searching - so I don't think it is successful any longer. He also pushed for ratification of the Kyoto Protocol, and symbolically signed it, although Clinton did not. Gore also began Generation Investment Management, an investment management firm which focuses on sustainability. He also helped organize and announce the Virgin Earth Challenge. The Virgin Earth challenge is a 25$ million prize for anyone who can find a way to scrub greenhouse gases out of the atmosphere. The prize is funded by Sir Richard Branson of Virgin Atlantic.

Obviously, Gore is most famous for touring around the country lecturing on Global Warming and for his film/book "An Inconvenient Truth." The film in particular seemed to act as a catalyst for interest and action surrounding global warming - which has had some inaguably good effects. However, Gore's focus is entirely on carbon mitigation - how to stop releasing carbon into the atmosphere. I suspect that this is because it fits well with his own political goals and political career. However, even though we may regret it, the Kyoto Protocol was rejected for semi-legitimate reasons. If only we had replaced it with something more functional. Anyways, my point is that adaptation strategies need to be included in the political discussion - and this is a part that Gore has not addressed at all. Global warming is already happening and we need to talk about how to deal with it now.

The Gray Squirrel vs. Red Squirrel

And now for a smattering of news for you guys to enjoy. . .

That ubiquitous college animal, the Gray Squirrel, is taking a bit of a beating over in the UK. Personally, squirrels have always freaked me out a bit. They are a little overly friendly, and every now and again you see a squirrel which is roughly the size of a beaver and perfectly capable to giving you a stare-down. Anyways, I read a hilarious article in the New York Times today about how a Lord Redesdale has begun a local grass-roots campaign to kill every single gray squirrel in Britain (in order to prevent them from out-competing the red squirrel). He sets traps but is also in favor of whacking them over the head. His partner keeps a few dozen squirrels frozen in the freezer for snack-time. Anyways, this is relevant to me because part of my thesis is about the human-modified environment and how it encourages the spread of certain species.
Check out:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/07/magazine/07squirrels-t.html?pagewanted=1&ei=5087&em&en=ca29be6b0366297e&ex=1191816000



I also read an article from Environmental Defense about the 10 best environmental corporate initiatives of 2006. One of the coolest ones was by Cisco, which invested a lot of money in telecommunication technology in order limit plane flights taken by executives. They believe it will cut down on their carbon emission by over 10%. As with any corporate initiative, you have to wonder what the other motives are. Plus, although I like ED, I sometimes see them as a vehicle for green-washing, or advertising for big corporations. But maybe I am just being cynical.

Check out:
http://waysthatwork.blogspot.com/2006/12/top-10-green-corporate-initiatives-of.html

Green For All

The Clinton Global Initiative is an interesting non-profit coalition of policy makers and others who are committed to designing and implementing plans of action regarding climate change, education, global health and poverty alleviation. The group is worth looking up - but I was particularly intrigued by one of the programs the group launched recently, called Green For All. Although I generally don't think about race and class issues when I think about environmentalism - I should. Historically (and in this country) environmentalism has been a white and largely upper-class pass-time. There are certainly exceptions, particularly on the local level; however, a legitimate criticism of the national environmentalist movement is that it has not focused on combining environmental goals with other local goods, such as improving health or bringing in new jobs.

Green For All attempts to do something really worthwhile, something which (if it succeeds) may help our country mitigate and adapt to climate change in an integrated way. The group is co-founded Van Jones, and its goal is to bring "green collar" jobs into New York City - thus creating jobs for working class members. The idea is to exploit the opportunities in the growing green industry by stimulating the creation of new jobs.

Van Jones, is quoted on their website as saying:
“It’s time the African American community had a part in the discussion on climate change,” said Jones. “We’re not going to solve global warming just with expensive consumer choices like buying hybrid cars and shopping for organic food. People need to realize that you don’t have to be white or wealthy to benefit from going green.”

I could not agree more.

Check out
http://www.greenforall.org/