Oregon PSM

2012 WWF Social Science Internships 1-14

The following social science internships are available at World Wildlife Fund in Washington, DC. They are designed typically for graduate students, although some may be appropriate for advanced undergraduates. Projects can be undertaken over the summer (with extensions, as necessary, into the fall semester).

Most projects could also be extended over the course of one or two semesters as part of a student’s course work or thesis requirements; advance arrangements would be necessary with faculty advisors. Internships are typically unpaid unless otherwise noted, but facilities, library resources, and computers at WWF headquarters are available. To qualify for an unpaid internship, the student must provide documentation that they are receiving credit from their university, or that the work they will be performing is consistent with a course requirement.

In general, our interns need solid data management and writing skills, self-motivation, an ability to work both independently and collaboratively. Specific skills (required or preferred) are listed with each project, along with the primary contact person.

To apply, please email a cover letter and resume/CV to the contact individual listed for each project, with “INTERNSHIP” and the relevant internship number listed in the subject line.
1. Protected area downgrading, downsizing, and degazettement (PADDD) in North America (see other posting for info)
2. Protected area downgrading, downsizing, and degazettement (PADDD) in Africa, Asia, and Latin America & the Caribbean
3. Local Climate Action Assessment Intern
4. Moabi Intern
5. Climate Change & Constituency Building Intern
6. Associated Infrastructure Project Intern
7. Science-Policy Intern – Integrating ecosystem services into decision-making
8. Conservation Science Network internship
9. Fuller Science for Nature internship
10. Water and climate change adaptation intern
11. Linking Human Welfare and Conservation in Coastal East Africa
12. CSP Communications Intern
13. Reef conservation and governance database intern
14. Linking Birding to Birds
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11. Linking Human Welfare and Conservation in Coastal East Africa

Description:
Intern(s) sought to collate and map spatial ecological and socio-economic data and investigate relationships across such data.

The initial work will entail creating a database of socio-economic and health data using the available Living Standards and Measurements Survey (LSMS) from the World Bank and the Demographic and Health Surveys administered by USAID. The work will include downloading data, cleaning data and combining data with biophysical datasets housed at WWF. The landscapes of particular interest for this project are Northern Mozambique and the Greater Ruvuma Landscape (Tanzania and Mozambique).
The intern will then utilize this database to test and investigate relationships across the data in conjunction with scientists focused on understanding the impacts of WWFs work in these landscapes.
There is the potential that the intern can use an ArcGIS-based modeling tool (InVEST) to understand the relative values of ecosystem services on this landscape and input directly into a monitoring and evaluation plan for this landscape. Other possible work includes carrying out impact evaluation studies (depending on facility with R statistical package).

This is a great opportunity for a student with GIS skills and interest in learning the latest scientific and field-based approaches for linking our understanding of conservation and human welfare in a part of the world where these relationships are critical for the future of both people and nature.

Stipend: Possible, or unpaid for university credit
Due date for CV and cover letter: March 1, 2012
Contact: Please send cover letter, CV, and contact information for two references to:
Brendan Fisher, brendan.fisher@wwfus.org