The planet faces large challenges in mitigating climate change. Most data indicate that the Earth is warming faster than predicted. The pace is accelerating such that major land features are contributing to sea level rise. Ocean currents and consequent weather patterns are being disturbed. The biota is threatened in some areas at an alarming rate. Since the 1970s, environmental education has become an important vehicle for raising public awareness. Efforts at the K-12 level of public education are one of the most critical endeavors toward increased awareness of climate change phenomena and many school systems now have an Environmental Education curriculum. An informed public becomes an activist public.

Eligibility:

SEAS graduate students or PitE undergraduate students

Award: 

1 award per year of at least $3,000

Selection Criteria: 

Applicants must be engaging in work that furthers the field of environmental education or with a demonstrated interest in furthering the field of environmental education. The fund prioritizes internship awards for students working with nature centers, community engagement, and citizen involvement organizations, or other environmental educational institutions.

While not a requirement to apply, favor will be given to applications with a focus on a K-12th grade student audience. Internships otherwise unfunded or with a very limited stipend amount will be given favor among applications compared to those already funded at an hourly rate and for which the award would be a supplement (*if the offered internship is compensated, applicants should explain in their materials the total amount of expected compensation. If the internship is unfunded, state this in the application materials).

Application Process: 

Applicants must submit answers to the following questions (500-word maximum) along with a current CV/Resume and internship offer letter as a single .pdf to [email protected] no later than 5 pm on Wednesday, March 19, 2025.

1. What in your view is the value of Environmental Education in resolving the challenges we face with Climate Change?
2. Design a lesson in Climate Change assuming you had unlimited resources in a K-12 or a Museum/Outdoor Nature Center setting.  State your reasons for the effectiveness of the lesson design approach.

Applicants must also submit:

• Current resume
• Offer letter for an upcoming internship or field-based opportunity

The SEAS Scholarship Committee will review applications and select one (1) recipient for the award. 

Deadline: 

March 19, 2025