I am currently a junior at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana. I am majoring in Environmental Studies with minors in both Philosophy and Anthropology. Over the last three years I have taken an array of courses covering topics in ecology, biology, botany, oceanography and resource management. Two of these courses, Environmental Sociology and Plants and Human Affairs, sparked my interest in the relationship between humans and the environment. This interest has inspired me to seek opportunities researching environmental stressors of ecosystems and their sociopolitical impacts on communities. Through service learning and volunteering, I am involved with several Louisiana organizations that have presented me with the chance to engage in fieldwork, data collection and analysis of both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. The Louisiana wetland system is one of the most dynamic and important ecosystems, as it serves as bird breeding grounds, storm buffers and is the source of a large portion of our nation’s shrimp and …show more content…
Ultimately, my goal as both a student and an employee is to engage in work that helps predict, prevent, and mitigate environmental catastrophes. To accomplish this goal, I need to equip myself with the hard skills and tools needed to make a difference. Interning for the Smithsonian would provide me with the opportunity to immerse myself in the technological and scientific proponents of environmental studies. Through this internship, I hope to establish the specific skills in various lab and scientific processes. Learning the scientific and analysis portion of ecology is important to constructing a well rounded understanding of the practice. With my worldliness in field study of various ecosystems, I would be able to nurture and expand my current abilities outside of an academic