My time at EDF this summer offered me so many new opportunities from exploring a new career interest to gaining perspective on what it’s like to work at a large nonprofit organization. As I reflect on my experiences, I’m reminded of how grateful I am to everyone who supported me and made this such an incredible learning experience.

What did you accomplish with your host organization? What was the impact of your work?

Although my time at EDF was brief, I was able to lay the foundation for future outreach initiatives. The stakeholder maps I developed are now being utilized by the Blue Carbon team to develop their engagement strategy in the marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) space. This plan will guide their interactions with key stakeholders in the Northeast, helping to shape a vision for more responsible, community-centered mCDR engagement.

Describe the benefits of this experience for you professionally and personally? 

This experience significantly shaped my professional and personal growth. Engaging in meaningful conversations with mentors and peers allowed me to gather insights and advice on navigating the challenges of working in environmental policy and marine science. EDF’s large, multidisciplinary team structure provided the opportunity to connect with experts across a variety of fields, from fisheries management to climate resilience and policy advocacy. Through these conversations with individuals from different teams, I gained a broad range of perspectives on how various departments approach problem-solving and entering new climate spaces.

Did your experience provide any unexpected discovery, self-reflection, or epiphany? 

My experience definitely led to unexpected insights – prior to this internship, I had never engaged with or knew much about marine carbon dioxide removal. I’ve since gained a deeper appreciation for the complexity of the field and the thoughtful consideration experts are giving to it. While mCDR is a nuanced and sometimes contentious topic, it excites me because of the challenges it presents and the dedication required to explore innovative ocean solutions. I found that it offers an equally challenging and rewarding opportunity to reflect on past mistakes of other industries and work toward reaching our climate mitigation goals in new and more equitable ways.