Your parks have climate stories 

 

This paid summer internship program was initiated in 2012 by the National Park Service National Capital Region
 Urban Ecology Research Learning Alliance (UERLA) and George Mason University’s Center for Climate Change
Communication (4C). The internship program is designed to create opportunities for students of diverse academic and personal backgrounds to gain skills and experience in the synthesis, interpretation, and development of science communication products while increasing knowledge about climate change and its effects on parks. 

 

Over ten weeks, we train and place undergraduate and graduate interns in National Capital Region national parks to develop materials and programs that communicate the impact of climate change on natural, cultural, historical, and recreational resources in the parks. Our interns have developed a variety of products ranging from park ranger communication toolkits to park-specific webpages. Samples of internship products can be found on this we

 

UERLA is a Research Learning Center that translates complex research results into readily understandable information—
supporting research, education, and technical assistance for 16 parks in the National Capital Region. The center provides science communication outreach to park managers and external audiences via websites, workshops, and publications.
UERLA also maintains research and education partnerships with universities, not-for-profit, education, and other federal agencies. 

 

George Mason University’s 4C conducts unbiased public engagement research—and helps government agencies, associations, and companies apply the results of social science research— so that collectively, we can stabilize our planet’s life sustaining climate and prevent harm from climate change. The George Mason University Principal Investigator is  Dr. Edward Maibach. The 2022 National Park Service Internship Project Manager is doctoral student Margaret Orr.