Summer Internships

On Friday, the chemistry department had a seminar about research opportunities for undergraduates. While I'm not a chem major and lab research holds very little interest for me I thought I would go just to see what they had to say and if there was anything more applicable to myself. Some was about how to get involved with professors at WWU which as I said: while interesting, I don't want to do lab research; I'm more interested in field research. A second speaker there though talked about internships through the National Science Foundation, and participating universities that were available all across the country. These internships (called REU Research Experiences for Undergraduates) are 10-12 week paid internships of $3000- $5000 with food and board paid for. Some even compensate part of your travel costs. After that I was beginning to wonder if I could find an interesting chemistry program if I looked hard enough. And then the best news yet: she mentioned there were programs other than chemistry. My reaction: !!!! what kind of programs?!? Biology, Environmental Science? Further research after the seminar proved YES!!

After looking through the National Science Foundation's lists of REU programs I found seven that I'm going to try to apply to. The first application is due in three weeks. One of the programs is even Western's, at the Shannon Point Marine Center. With that one I wouldn't even have to pay for travel :). The one I most want to get into is at the Smithsonian, but because of that it's probably crazy cutthroat with applicants much better suited than myself; why not try though?

Some other interesting options I'm considering are volunteer positions in either Northern Canada (studying polar bears) or the Virgin Islands (studying local environments). There I would pay for my stay by working for the non-profit. Most of my work would be cleaning, and helping in their stores, but after a volunteer is more familiar with the local area they get to help with school groups and visitors who come through. the Virgin Islands program sounds the more interesting of the two because it does more of what I would be interested in which is teaching about the environment, AND the place I would be working is in the Virgin Islands National Park! As you may or may not know, I have wanted to be a National Park Ranger since doing the career project freshman year of high school.

Finally, I am applying for a job at Western, the Residents' Resource Awareness Program Coordinator. A 19 hr/wk job at about $15 per hour. I would work closely with the Eco - Reps of each residence hall as well as several other program coordinators in different areas in order to make Western a greener campus. If I get it I will start working at the beginning of next school year.