The Early
Career Scientists Internship Programme is now open for applications. The closing date for applications is Monday 17 April 2023.
Find out more and apply for an Earthwatch Internship
To find out about the Internship watch the Next Generation Internship video on YouTube.
The Early
Career Scientists Internship Programme
The Government of Jersey's Natural Environment Team and
Earthwatch Europe have partnered to provide the Early
Career Scientists Internship Programme.
The programme is for Jersey students over the age of 18 who are studying for a degree in science, geography, environment or
agriculture studies or a related field.
The Internship is a paid, 8-week Jersey-based summer internship. Interns undertake an allocated environmental research project. The programme also includes participation in an Earthwatch online Community Science Camp.
The Early Career Scientists Internship Programme contributes to the Government Plan 2020 to 2023, putting children first and protecting and valuing our environment.
The programme helps to develop local skills and provide valuable research on Jersey environmental projects. It also enables future environmental leaders to realise their potential and ensure long-lasting, positive impacts on our community and the planet.
Application process
The Early Career Scientists Internship Programme is currently open for applications. The deadline for applications is Monday 17 April 2023.
Find out more and apply for an Earthwatch Internship
Future applicants to the Internship programme must be:
- over the age of 18 by the time of the placement
- a registered student undertaking a degree in science, geography, environment or agriculture studies or a related field
- Entitled or Entitled for work in Jersey
- available to participate in an Earthwatch Science Camp
- for an informal discuss, email wildaboutjersey@gov.je
Support and advice for completing your application is available from Skills Jersey. You can email them at skillsjersey@gov.je.
2023 projects
The internship programme aims to inspire the next generation and help them understand human impacts on the environment, and what actions they can take to protect our natural world.
The research projects and training and will be focused on one of Earthwatch’s key environmental focus areas:
- creating thriving places to live and work
- enabling sustainable agricultural land management
- enhancing the health of our coasts
- reducing pollution in our water bodies
Students should choose their preferred project and provide information and evidence on why they would be successful in carrying out this research during the application process. The projects are:
Develop an education and awareness campaign to increase water saving and prevent wasted water: Every Drop Counts
Monitor visitor pressure across 2 Jersey Ecological Sites of Special Interest (SSI)
Investigate the benefits of flowering conservation cover crops for native insect pollinators
Investigate the distribution of Ixodes ricinus (sheep tick) and the extent of infection with Lyme Borealis in Jersey
Earthwatch Europe
Earthwatch is an environmental charity with science at its heart. They:
- connect people with the natural world
- monitor the health of our natural resources
- inform the actions that will have the greatest positive impact
They work together with scientists, businesses, civil society and policy-makers to drive the change we need to live within our means and in balance with nature. To find out more visit their website Earthwatch Europe.
Projects carried out by Early Career Scientist Intern
Investigation into the prevalence of palm oil across the Government of Jersey 2022
This project was part of the initial investigation into the use of palm oil across the Government of Jersey. The results from this project fed into the document 'An initial investigation into the use of palm oil across Government of Jersey'. This is part of the response to the States Assembly voting for the amended proposition P.99/2021 Actions to mitigate the use of palm oil.
An initial investigation into the use of palm oil across Government of Jersey
Monitoring the effectiveness of purple dewplant removal using the foam stream 2022
Non-native invasive species have detrimental effects on native biodiversity if left unmanaged. The Natural Environment team previously managed the non-native invasive plant, purple dewplant (Disphyma crassifolium) by labour intensive hand-pulling. Other methods such as herbicides and burning are not an option due to the sensitivity of the sites.
Recently, the Land Resource Management team purchased a foam stream to remove the purple dewplant. This was so that a large area could be removed in a reduced amount of time.
This research project monitored the effectiveness of the foam streamer. The study found that both hand pulling and foam streaming are effective for purple dewplant removal.
Previous projects carried out by Next Generation Interns
Protected Tree Survey 2021
As part of the Jersey tree strategy consultation a project was undertaken to survey all trees listed under the Government of Jersey's List of protected trees. Each tree was located via the mapping programme ArcGIS. A physical survey was then carried out to determine if the tree was still present. The tree was photographed and geo spatially tagged. This project helped inform the proposed Tree Strategy for Jersey which aims to set guiding principles on how Jersey will protect, manage, restore, and enhance Jersey trees to ensure that future generations inherit more and healthier trees than we have now.
Pollinator Project 2019
Piloting Jersey’s
Pollinator Project that tested the UK Pollinator Monitoring Scheme and its feasibility in to be carried out in Jersey. The research provided valuable data on how Jersey moves forward when monitoring pollinators locally, specifically focusing on insects such as hoverflies, beetles, flies, butterflies and moths. The methodology was also adapted to be shared with schools so that they can get involved in real citizen science measuring the success of managing, creating and restoring habitats for pollinators.
Young people and the climate emergency 2019
Young people and the climate emergency consulted with young people aged 15 to 21 on their views of climate change. An online survey was created, as well as holding face to face sessions. The research findings feed into Jersey’s plan to address climate change emergency, which was recently declared by the States Assembly. The young people’s consultation is the first step in responding to climate emergency.
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