Every morning at 8:15, I climb aboard crowded Bus 1, scan my Clipper Card, and head towards the Financial District for another fabulous day at Environmental Defense Fund. I can’t believe it’s already been three weeks since my internship began. Everyone has been so friendly and welcoming, and the office is amazing (views of the Bay Bridge!). Right now I am working in the Research and Development Pod within the Oceans program. It is refreshing and invigorating to be working an environment with such intelligent, motivated, and passionate individuals. The staff at EDF works hard to help interns learn about the organization and their goals, and is always throwing out invitations for group lunches or weekend get-togethers. They even have an office book club and hiking group! I’m in heaven.
View from my desk!
After meeting with Rod, my supervisor, we clarified that my projects for the summer will be addressing and characterizing key challenges in fishery management and designing potential behavioral interventions for those challenges, and carrying out a governance analysis of Japan to determine the feasibility for fisheries reform. Last week I participated in a workshop with EDF’s Mexico team, who is currently working on designing behavioral interventions to combat illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing in the Corvina fishery in the Upper Gulf of California. I’ve also joined conference calls with offices and research groups from around the country and have done lots and lots of reading. Probably the most challenging thing about this internship is sitting at a desk for 7 hours a day! I guess I never realized how much I move around while studying at home.
Every year Rod and the EDF intern ambassadors lead a hike at Point Reyes National Seashore. We were joined by the interns working at Root Solutions, and I ran into a familiar face in the parking lot 🙂 It was great catching up with Mindy and hearing about her life in the bay and her internship experiences.
Me and Mindy
Rod was an awesome tour guide! Throughout the hike, he pointed out several different types of plants and animals and gave us fun facts about the area– the sea foam we found along the shore is caused by wind and wave action that churn up dissolved proteins, and salts from aquatic plants and organic matter. Also, the San Andreas Fault runs through the park, so during the hike we actually walked across two continental plates!
Sea foam
I’ve also been trying to take advantage of living in this awesome city! My mom came to visit two weekends ago and we did lots of fun, touristy stuff; went on a double-decker Big Bus tour, visited the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Ghiradelli Square…Last weekend I went to the Pride SF parade, and my best friend came to the city and took me to a Giants Game. So fun! This weekend I’m meeting up with two other interns, Tracy and Charlotte, to grab dinner and watch the fireworks. Happy 4th of July everyone!
Go Giants!