Hi MARMAM community,

I would like to announce internship opportunities with Atlantic Marine Conservation Society for the upcoming fall and winter based out of Long Island, New York.

Sea Turtle and Marine Mammal Internship Program 

 

Atlantic Marine Conservation Society (AMSEAS) is a 501 © 3 not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting conservation of our marine environment through action. Our overall goals are to: understand the overall status of sea turtle and marine mammal populations in the Northwest Atlantic, investigate stranding occurrences in relation to wild population status, understand the impacts of development and human activity on wild populations and strandings, and to increase public participation in conservation efforts. Some of our action items to reach these goals include data research, surveys and health assessments, involvement in the Specially Trained Animal Response Team, response to entangled and out-of-habitat animals, necropsies, beach monitoring, public outreach, and education. The following internship opportunities are just some of the ways in which students can become involved with AMSEAS and gain experience within the marine mammal and sea turtle stranding network.  

 

Application Instructions: 

1.      Apply by filling out an application on our website: http://www.amseas.org/volunteer/  

 

2.      Send a cover letter, resume, and have three letters of recommendation (two being academic) sent to either response@amseas.org, or to PO Box 932, Hampton Bays, NY 11946 

 

*These are unpaid internships. Earning course credit for these opportunities is required to be considered as an intern. 

Conservation Research Program

Join our conservation efforts through a Conservation Research Internship. Conduct beach monitoring events including beach clean ups, cold stunned sea turtle monitoring, and seal surveys. Work with previously collected data to help bring a better understanding of the animals and debris found within Long Island’s marine habitats, 
            Specific projects include: 

 

1. Pinniped Population Documentation: Work with the team to conduct boat- and land-based seal surveys. Observe and record environmental conditions and animals sighted. Take photographs to identify any animals sighted down to the species level.  
2. GIS/ Database Management: Develop database for storing stranding, survey, and satellite tracking data. Map strandings real time for monthly stranding trend review, and keep the team up to date with real time stranding trends. Map satellite tagged animals and input data from tags into the database. 
3. Wild Population Surveys: Work with biologists on data collected from aerial, land, and boat-based surveys. Maintain data entry for these trips, learn about conducting and leading each type of survey, and work with photographs collected from surveys to count animals and identify natural or human caused injuries.  
4. Marine Debris Documentation: Lead two beach cleanup activities per week, one north shore beach one south shore beach. Educate the public on the harms of marine debris and data collection techniques. Record data from each site, compile at the end of internship to compare amount collected at each site and difference in items collected. Create marine debris content to be used on AMSEAS website and presented at educational opportunities.  

 

Skills important to the internship are attention to detail, the ability to work individually or as a part of a team, and the ability to train and lead small groups for beach monitoring efforts. 

Our objectives are to train students to successfully monitor the beaches of our local marine environment and collect data to help gain a better understanding of these individual landscapes and their properties. Students will also receive training in what to do in the case of marine mammal and sea turtle sightings and strandings. This internship will provide students with firsthand knowledge on the impacts of marine debris on our environment, will allow them to quantify and qualify the marine debris specific to individual beaches, and how to involve our communities in taking action to make a positive impact. Data collected will contribute to efforts in mitigation. 

 

Education Program 

Work with our Education and Outreach Team to promote an informed community that is aware of our marine environment and its inhabitants, our human impact, and how to impact the environment in a positive way. Help us with our outreach efforts by conducting community beach clean ups, and education programs geared to a variety of ages through an Education Internship. 

Skills required for this internship include the ability to communicate in writing and in public speaking, and a basic knowledge of environmental science. 

Our objectives are to provide students with hands on education experience in a variety of outlets and audiences. Students will train to communicate with and teach local communities about our marine environment, the marine mammals and sea turtles inhabiting our waters, the anthropogenic threats that they face, and how we can work together to help create a healthier environment. Students will not only have the opportunity to grow in their ability to educate the public but will also learn more about our ocean's need for conservation, and how to promote conservation as a part of this marine mammal and sea turtle stranding response team. 

 

Stranding Investigation Program 

 

Work with our Field Response Team to conduct stranding investigation efforts, including necropsies for the marine mammals and sea turtles that wash up on our shores through a Stranding Investigation Internship. 

 

            Focal areas include: 

1. Response: Response to a specific species or taxa (i.e. Sea turtles, or more specifically Loggerhead sea turtles).  Complete all data collection required for those animals, and compile cause of mortality tables.  
2. Necropsy: Perform necropsies on a specific species or taxa. Collect a variety of samples to assist with the overall findings.  
3. Communications & Outreach: Analyze data associated with responses, strandings, and necropsies. Compile tables and charts of findings for communication purposes. Compare current results to findings from previous years. 

 

Skills this internship requires include the ability to work as a member of a team, participation in lecture-based training and flexibility regarding some of the hands-on experiences like necropsy events, which do not have much notice due to the nature of these events.  

 

Our Objectives for students include learning basic methodology of strandings tools and procedures, gaining practical experience in applying tools and techniques during strandings, developing communication plans to disseminate strandings findings and trends, , growing in knowledge of marine mammal and sea turtle anatomy, and a variety of roles within stranding investigation process. 

 

Communications and Business Program 

 

Work with the AMSEAS team to further spread the efforts of marine conservation through an internship with our Communications and Business Program. Help spread the word by using social media and marketing platforms to reach a wide variety of audiences.  

 

Skills this internship include are the ability to effectively and professionally communicate with the public through social media, effectively communicate as a team within all aspects of AMSEAS, and gauge public interest in relation to conservation efforts.  

 

Our objectives for students include improving general communication skills, identifying and developing engaging ways to promote marine conservation, analyzing the trends in communications with a wide audience, and developing marketing plans to further conservation efforts.  

Best,