The Duke University Stanback Internship Program provides Duke students with project-based learning experiences in energy, conservation, advocacy, policy, research, law and applied resource management. The Internship Program is open to any Duke student - undergraduate, graduate, and international students - who will be enrolled in Fall 2019 classes. Internships are located throughout the US, and the internship is for 11-weeks and interns receive up to $6,000 stipend.
The majority of intern candidates will be Nicholas School students pursuing the degree of Master of Environmental Management (MEM) or Master of Forestry (MF). The MEM and MF degree programs stress interdisciplinary approaches to environmental problem solving. Program specialization tracks within the degrees include conservation science and policy, forest management, coastal management, environmental economics and policy, global environmental change, and water and air resources.
This Stanback internship is limited to Duke University students only. Students from the Duke Law School, Fuqua School of Business, Sanford School of Public Policy, Pratt School of Engineering, and other undergraduate programs are also invited to apply for Stanback internships.
- The Intern’s primary objective will be to undertake policy-related research, analysis, and synthesis pertaining to a primary research project entitled: “Can Marine Stewardship Council Certification help save the North Atlantic right whale?” As time permits, the intern may also assist Marine Mammal Protection Project staff with research, comments, and letters on a wide range of issues, including defending our coasts from oil and gas exploration, developing best environmental practices for offshore wind, and protecting important marine mammal species and habitats around the world. The intern will work out of the New York office. NRDC also encourages summer interns to attend all subject matter relevant meetings and events.
- The North Atlantic right whale is on a rapid trajectory towards extinction, primarily due to entanglement in fishing gear. There is an urgent need to transition vertical line fisheries in the northeastern U.S. and Canada to new “ropeless” technology that would eliminate all risk of entanglement. Significant economic and sociopolitical barriers to gear transition exist and need to be overcome, however. Several fisheries responsible for entanglement of right whales are currently certified as sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC). The MSC therefore provides a potential gateway to apply pressure on certified fisheries to move towards more sustainable fishing practices, including the testing and adoption of ropeless gear. We are searching for a Stanback Program intern able to research and identify leverage points within the MSC certification process, either for individual fisheries or through improving overall certification standards, that may serve to advance right whale protections.
- The Intern will be required to produce a white paper summarizing the results of the primary project. Deliverables for other work areas outside of the primary project may also be required during the Intern’s tenure (e.g., analyses, presentations, blog posts, etc.).
- Strong research skills and excellent written and oral communication skills.
- Ability to work effectively without extensive supervision.
- Close attention to detail.
- A demonstrated interest in public policy.
- High degree of proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
- Legal expertise and an interest in ocean conservation.