Water resource management is complex and professionals in the field need an understanding of agriculture, natural resources, communication, social sciences and economics, public health, and planning and project management to be successful. That said, currently there is little to no training available at the undergraduate level for individuals interested in watershed outreach and management roles. The Watershed Management Research and Outreach Undergraduate Internship Program helps students from all backgrounds gain valuable experience that will help you pursue future careers in watershed management. Internships will vary in focus so students studying a variety of fields, including agronomy, community planning, engineering, environmental science, natural resource planning, plant and soil science, water resources, weather, and climate science, will have the experience necessary to be successful.
Interns will be placed in one of six locations throughout the North Central Region of the US. Students will apply through one central application and note their top choices for internship placement of the institutions/locations listed:
- University of Illinois – 1 intern located in Champaign or Galesburg Illinois (This internship will focus on agricultural conservation outreach and the Illinois Nutrient Reduction Strategy)
- Iowa State University – 1 intern located in Ames, Iowa (This internship will focus on planning events and creating accessible and engaging water quality resources for an adult audience)
- University of Missouri – 1 intern located in Columbia, Missouri (This internship will focus on water quality sampling and limnology)
- South Dakota State University – 1 intern located in Aberdeen (This internship will focus on agricultural conservation and climatology)
- University of Wisconsin-Madison – 1 intern located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (This internship will focus on watershed management education, K-12 water literacy, and urban agriculture with youth in Milwaukee)
Internships are paid and full time over the summer. Please note, compensation may vary slightly state by state and Illinois will be providing a higher hourly pay rate but will not be providing subsistence support.