Environmental Studies (ENST) students are actively engaged in many local field work opportunities with organizations such as Scenic Hudson, Green Teen, the Trevor Zoo, the Poughkeepsie Journal, and the Poughkeepsie Farm Project. Students can receive field work credit from their study abroad semester as well as for work done during the summer. Students work with the Community-Engaged Learning Office to identify opportunities relevant to their area of concentration in the major. Local field work opportunities include:

Cary Institute for Ecosystem Studies—Openings for biology, chemistry, and ecology students (juniors and seniors only) who are interested in doing research in their laboratories, assisting scientists, or preparing educational materials on ecology. Interns can also write articles for their newsletter or prepare a dozen biographical summaries of speakers who will appear at the Forum of Opportunities in Ecology.

Dutchess County Department of Parks and Recreation, Bowdoin Park—Work in the fields of history, nature, or recreational administration; help research and organize nature or history exhibits and develop programs for school-age children. Will tailor the experience to students’ interests.

Dutchess County Recovery Agency—Students interested in environmental waste management and recycling can participate in a variety of activities. They can conduct tours at plants, create and update brochures, and create videos. Experience with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, and Adobe is a plus.

Dutchess County Soil Conservation Unit—Can use students to help with mapping.

Environmental Management Council—Coordinated by the Cooperative Extension Service, the council is involved in toxic waste management, water pollution, and other environmental and planning issues. One unit only.

Hudson Valley Materials Exchange—Program to encourage businesses to assess their waste and identify materials in the waste stream of use to other businesses. Students could develop a database and recruit businesses as members. A car is necessary.

Hudson Valley Sloop Clearwater—Organization, founded by Pete Seeger, whose purpose is to lobby for a safe and clean Hudson River and to protect its scenic beauty. Interns can develop databases; prepare educational materials; or do research to develop presentations about issues such as PCBs, recycling in libraries, incineration, and going out to talk to area groups.

Land Trust Alliance—Office that coordinates and assists all of the land trusts in New York State. A student could participate in lobbying, preparing a newsletter that provides an exchange of information between the trusts, or on other special projects.

Mohonk Nature Preserve—A nonprofit environmental center would like a student to help with educational activities.

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation—Students have done research on environmental law, drafted environmental impact statements, and participated in research and planning projects. If proficient, students may work on mapping projects. Must be elected for one unit.

NYS Association for Re-education, Reuse, Recycling, Inc—Assist editor with the statewide newsletter, help produce the membership directory and perform research developing a bibliography and encyclopedia or printed materials on a recycling topic to be determined.

Our Lady of the Resurrection Monastery—Work on the farm with the livestock and gardens, or work with Brother Victor in his writing and publishing business.

Poughkeepsie Farm Project—Assist local farmers with horticultural-organic farming.

River and Estuaries Center—Located in Beacon, the Center is in its early stages of development and eventually will house educational and research facilities.

Scenic Hudson, Inc.—Work as a community service intern where you will work with local communities to find out their wishes for developing newly acquired riverfront properties and planning public policy for these properties. Assist staff in organizing volunteers to participate in trail building days, festivals, riverfront cleanups, and the annual Earth Day/lobby day in Albany. Positions in finance are also available.

Otherwise, work as a public information intern—drafting news releases and action alerts. Perform research tasks to help in the formulation of credible informational packages. A background in photography and graphic arts are a plus.

Sprout Creek Farm—Opportunity for students interested in environmental or scientific education to work with elementary school children in a nontraditional setting. Imaginative curriculum.

Stonykill Environmental Education—Conducts environmental and nature programs for elementary school children. Assist in teaching, exhibit preparation, and/or preparing audiovisual slides for educational programs. English, history, and science majors are needed for various projects.

Trevor Zoo—A student is needed to help with animals and to conduct research on nutrition to determine the correct dietary needs of the animals. Weekends needed.

Vassar Exploring Science Education Program—Assist in the teaching of a natural history program to elementary students. Develop and present follow-up activities in the classroom. Need to be free mornings from 9–12.

For more opportunities, see the Vassar Community-Engaged Learning Office.

ENST students can participate in a range of Vassar-approved study abroad programs, many of which can be accepted as credit for the major. Some relevant programs are highlighted below, and for further information, please contact the Office of International Programs.

Environmental Research Institute

The Environmental Research Institute (ERI) is a research and public outreach wing of Vassar’s Environmental Studies Program. Its mission is to provide opportunities for faculty and students to conduct research on Earth’s environmental systems, to promote fieldwork, and to foster engagement with the local community.

The ERI provides funding to support student and faculty research involving environmental sciences.

Environmental Studies Class of 1942 Funding

Environmental Studies provides student funding, on a competitive basis, through the Class of 1942 Endowment, in support of students engaged in Environmental Studies or its mission at Vassar. Funding is available for independent projects or internships and requires faculty mentorship or internship supervision.

More details on the Class of 1942 Environmental Studies Student Funding (must be logged in on a vassar.edu account).

Environmental Studies also provides faculty funding, on a competitive basis, in support of the Environmental Studies program, its students, or its mission at Vassar. Funding is available to advance the intentions of the Class of 1942 Environmental Studies endowment, in order to support teaching and research in support of the program and its aims.

More details on the Class of 1942 Environmental Studies Faculty Funding (must be logged in on a vassar.edu account).

Student research support

• On-campus research related to environmental science (ERI)
• Off-campus research related to environmental science (ERI)
• Research funding or internship support related to environmental studies (ENST)

Students may seek funding to support research or internships related to environmental science (from the ERI) or related to environmental studies more broadly (from ENST). Students may apply for support to do unfunded supervised internships (of at least 8 weeks), cover research expenses, attend field camps, do research at environmental field stations, or carry out an independent project under the sponsorship of a faculty mentor at Vassar.

Vassar Fellowships

For a general impression of available fellowships at Vassar, please see the Office for Fellowships and Pre-Health Advising. The office coordinates the application process for fellowships requiring institutional support and provides information and assistance in the search for funding possibilities during the undergraduate experience, as well as for study after Vassar.