Ocean Policy Research Internship – Sandy Hook, NJ
Organization: Clean Ocean Action
Position Title: Ocean Policy Research Intern
Location: Sandy Hook, NJ
Hours & Compensation: Minimum of 40 hours per week. Monthly stipend of $750 and travel expenses (commuting excluded) are paid.
Position Dates: 10 weeks, with start date as early in May as possible.
Application Deadline: Accepted until position is filled.
Posted On: February 15, 2013
Organization Overview:
Clean Ocean Action is a leading national and regional voice working to protect waterways using science, law, research, education, and citizen action.
Our successful campaigns:
- Improve programs and laws that protect public health at swimming beaches.
- Reduce plastics and litter that pollute waterways, spoil beautiful beaches, and harm or kill marine life including turtles, whales, seals, birds, and fish.
- Protect coasts from oil and gas drilling in the ocean, including Maine to Florida.
- Establish the nation’s first Clean Ocean Zone to start
a national chain reaction for all coasts. - Reduce toxins in waterways to ensure fish and shellfish
are free of pollution and safe to eat. - Educate and motivate citizens from the small to the tall.
Clean Ocean Action (COA) is a broad-based coalition of 125 active boating, business, community, conservation, diving, environmental, fishing, religious, service, student, surfing, and women’s groups. These “Ocean Wavemakers” work to clean up and protect the waters of the New York Bight. The groups came together in 1984 to investigate sources, effects, and solutions of ocean pollution. What follows is a description of the network.
Under the guidance of COA’s Board of Trustees, COA’s staff researches pollution issues affecting the marine environment, then formulates policy and campaigns to eliminate each pollution source. The staff then coordinates and organizes the Ocean Wavemakers (Participating Organizations, Concerned Businesses, Educators for a Clean Ocean, and Concerned Citizens) to use their individual experience and expertise to help. Press events, rallies, writing letters, making phone calls, testifying at public hearings, and distributing literature are just some of the ways members of the coalition become involved.
With eight ocean dumpsites closed, powerful new clean water laws on the books, and a greater public awareness of the ocean and its improved health, it’s clear the system works.
Description:
This full-time internship position with Clean Ocean Action (COA) is an exciting opportunity for a college or graduate student to gain valuable experience by working on a wide variety of policy, science, and legal research topics.
The summer 2013 Policy Intern will be responsible for creating and compiling a series of research memos and materials on a discrete number of topics that relate to Clean Ocean Action’s local, regional, and nation-wide ocean advocacy initiatives. As a result of the devastation from Superstorm Sandy, this work will also incorporate COA’s new program, Waves of Action, which plays an important role in the continuation of coastal recovery.
The work will be done under the supervision of the COA Coastal Policy Attorney and in consultation with the Executive Director, Staff Scientist, and campaign staff.
Responsibilities:
The Policy Intern will be responsible for preparing thorough, well-written, annotated, research reports (which contain policy and advocacy action recommendations) on a series of issues, including (but not limited to):
- New York Harbor, New Jersey, and Long Island Dredging
- Offshore Oil and Gas,
- Coastal Water Quality,
- Coastal Development,
- Climate Change Adaptation and Hurricane Resiliency,
- Barnegat Bay,
- Marine Debris, and
- Stormwater, CSO, and Non-Point Source Pollution.
- Organizational and communication skills
- Writing experience
- Enthusiasm for the environment
- Graduate or undergraduate student.
