Climate Accountability Internship: Documenting Disinformation-Cambridge, MA.

UCS is a leader in communicating about climate change science, impacts and solutions. As you know, we are feeling the impacts of a warming world every day. From rising seas to extreme heat, climate change is here and is caused by the emissions from fossil fuels when we burn gasoline to drive our cars or coal, oil, or gas to heat our homes and power our lives. We also know there are active efforts to purposefully distort the science and sow confusion. We are seeking to document this history in new, compelling ways that helps connect the dots between the disinformation campaigns and the advancement of the scientific understanding of the consequences of climate change.

In addition, we are also collaborating with top scientists around the world to embark upon research that will, for the first time, calculate the contribution of the world’s major carbon producers—coal, oil, natural gas and cement companies—to climate change. In so doing, we can determine how their products are contributing to the damages from climate change we see today and in the future.

UCS is currently developing a multi-year campaign to bring together these two streams of research to raise awareness of the major carbon producers, their historical emissions and the efforts to misinform and distort the science on climate change.

Through the Climate Accountability Project, the intern can expect to learn: how to conduct background research, specifically looking into corporations’ and other entities’ efforts to distort the science on climate change; how to develop and implement a multi-year campaign; and how a science-based organization can use robust research to inform public awareness and decision-making at corporations and in government. The intern will be able to put into practice outreach, research, and strategy development skills.

Responsibilities

The Climate Accountability Intern would assist with the campaign efforts, such as background research, developing outreach strategies, and implementing specific campaign elements. Activities may include, but are not limited to:

• Conducting background research into the history of climate denial campaigns;
• Compiling information into compelling and informative fact sheets, visuals, or other products;
• Contacting and cultivating relationship with external partners
• Implementing public awareness efforts on climate change disinformation campaigns;
• Engaging UCS supporters through email action alerts and social media;
• Implement outreach activities—events, online outreach, etc—for the release of related UCS scientific analysis;
• Participate in the development of campaign strategies

Qualifications and experience
Current college or university students and recent graduates are eligible to apply for this competitive internship. Individuals from demographic groups underrepresented in science and environmental advocacy and from public universities are especially encouraged to apply. Position requires demonstrated skills in online and publication research, preferred expertise with corporation, policy, and investigative research. Some experience with outreach and on-line organizing tools preferred, experience on corporate campaigns a plus. The position also requires strong organizational and writing skills and the ability to work independently and as a member of a multidisciplinary team. Work requires demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with professionals who may be expert and/or prominent in their fields. Microsoft Office knowledge is required.

At UCS, comparable training and/or experience can be substituted for degrees when appropriate.

Compensation, Hours and Location: This is a 6-8 month, benefits-eligible, full-time internship based in UCS’s Cambridge, MA office, starting in June 2014. The salary is $13-15 per hour, depending on qualifications. UCS offers excellent benefits and a rewarding work environment, and is an equal opportunity employer continually seeking to diversify its staff andto broaden opportunities for individuals from demographic groups that are historically underrepresented in the sciences and in environmental advocacy.Information about the organization is available at http://www.ucsusa.org

 Please submit a cover letter, salary requirements, how you learned about the position and resume via email to [email protected] and include “Climate Intern” in the subject line. Email materials in Word or PDF format only. No phone calls please. Deadline:May 11, 2014 or until filled.