Program Description
The Pacific Internship Programs for Exploring Science (PIPES) operates as an umbrella program for four internship opportunities. PIPES works to coordinate a collaborative program for all participating PIPES student interns each summer. Each summer all the PIPES student interns participate in a 4-day orientation and a 10-week internship program focusing on tropical ecology, evolution, natural resources management, and environmental education and outreach. Interns work on mentored research projects with mentors from university, Federal, State, and Counties agencies, as well as non-profit organizations. The opportunities available through PIPES are:
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Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU): The University of Hawaii at Hilo’s Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Program is a National Science Foundation (NSF) funded internship program. Each summer 10 student interns participate in a 4-day orientation and a 10-week research focused internship program focusing on tropical ecology, evolution, and natural resources management. Interns work on mentored research projects with university and local agency researchers. The focus of this program is to give those students who have limited or no research background the opportunity to gain invaluable experience in the exciting field of conservation biology. The program goal is to connect under-represented undergraduates, especially kama’aina (born and raised in Hawaii) and those of Native Hawaiian ancestry, to internship opportunities to explore the scientific research process and to explore career and graduate school opportunities for the future.
*The Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program is awaiting notification for continued funding. Selection and notification of 2010 participants is expected in May. Please contact the PIPES office at uhintern@hawaii.edu for more information.
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University of Hawaii Hawaiian Internship Program (UHHIP): The UH Hawaiian Internship Program (UH-HIP) was developed in 1997 in response to the observed lack of local representation within Hawaii’s conservation workforce, in particular a lack of Native Hawaiian descendants. The program goal is to connect undergraduates who are kama’aina, especially those of Native Hawaiian ancestry, to internship opportunities with agencies and organizations responsible for research, management, and education relating to environmental issues in Hawaii and the Pacific region. Our vision is that more Native Hawaiian and local students will enter into fields of study and ultimately careers related to the natural resources of this state. We do this through working with our partners to coordinate a 4-day orientation and a 10-week project-based summer internships for successful applicants with host agencies throughout the state. Interns are generally hired by their host agencies for 10 weeks at 40 hours per week. Funding for some positions are also provided through Alu Like, Kamehameha Schools, EPSCoR, Hawaii Cooperative Studies Unit (HCSU), the Center for Microbial Oceanograhy: Research & Education (CMORE), and the Hawaii Institute for Marine Biology (HIMB).
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Micronesia and American Samoa Student Internship Program (MASSIP): Since 1994 the University of Hawai'i Sea Grant Extension Service in collaboration with the University of Hawai'i at Hilo has offered a summer internship program for undergraduates from the U.S.-affiliated Pacific islands. The goal of the program is to encourage more Pacific island students to explore environmentally related careers through this internship opportunity. This program was developed to address a growing concern in the region regarding the limited number of students from Pacific islands entering environmentally related fields. This program is supported by the UH Sea Grant, the USDA Forest Service Institute of Pacific Island Forestry, and the agencies which host interns. Potential opportunities this summer exist in Kosrae, RMI, Saipan and American Samoa, though other locations might also be available. Students from U.S.-affiliated Pacific Islands who are currently attending UHH accepted into the program would be flown to their home island for 10 weeks to take part in a project-based internship mentored by agency researchers in the Pacific. Roundtrip travel from and back to Hawaii as well as a stipend are provided by the program.
- Research Experience for Teachers (RET ): RET, or Research Experience for Teachers, is a National Science Foundation funded program directed at giving local science teachers experience working with research projects, and the opportunity to translate their research experience into classroom practice for their students. The program consists of two parts, a research component with a research mentor and a developmental component in which an easily translatable curriculum is devised, shared, and possibly incorporated with other teachers. A separate application is required for acceptance to this program.
Program Activities
During the 4-day orientation and 11-week internship, a PIPES Intern is expected to complete the following:
- Write a project pre-proposal
- Participate in a 4-day pre-internship orientation
- Work full-time (40 hours/week) for the 10-week duration of the internship with the designated faculty or agency researcher
- Attend Friday meetings (for those in Hilo only)
- Submit regular progress reports to PIPES Office
- Attend the Hawaii Conservation Conference
- Complete a written final research report
- Participate in a final intern presentation symposium
Program Eligibility
To qualify for PIPES you must be:
· an undergraduate student (Note: for REU, you must be a continuing student in the fall after your internship);
· a U.S. citizen, national, or permanent resident;
· be in good academic standing (minimum overall GPA of 2.0); and
· Interested in pursuing a career related to tropical conservation biology.
Those with any of the following are particularly encouraged to apply:
· little or no research experience and attend schools with limited research opportunity;
· Enrolled full-time at a minority-serving institution (see http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/edlite-minorityinst.html);
· First generation college students (neither parent has a bachelor's degree);
· Are knowledgeable and/or familiar with Hawaiian ecosystems;
· Students of Native Pacific Island or Native Hawaiian ancestry and Hawaii residents; and -Kama’aina students attending four-year colleges or universities who are majoring in natural science, marine science, agriculture, geography, geology. Non-environmental majors are allowed by permission. Students attending two-year colleges who plan to attend a four-year institution following the internship and students who have graduated within six months of the program start date may also apply.
Preference will be given to those candidates who plan to pursue a career in Hawaii and who have a strong dedication to our island environment and culture.
Program Benefits
Interns benefit by:
- Gaining employment and research experience and skills related to natural resource management and tropical conservation biology;
- Making contacts in Hawaii’s conservation field, as well as interacting with many other environmental educators;
- Working with a host mentor on a specific project related to tropcial conservation biology, environmental education, management, or resource management;
- Understanding how their internship experience and studies relate to local Hawaii needs and identifying potential careers;
- Developing networks of professional contacts for future career searches, both through university mentors, agency partners and through peers;
- In most cases, earning academic credit for their internship experience and final report.
Program Application
2010 PIPES Applications now available! All application materials due by Friday February 12, 2010.
