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.

This summer, I had the opportunity to work at the Environmental Defense Fund, where I researched the political landscape of marine/ocean carbon dioxide removal (mCDR/oCDR) and assisted EDF in further developing their mCDR strategy. During my time at EDF, I was part of the Blue Carbon Team, which operates within the larger Ocean Sciences Team. With the guidance of my supervisor, Mattias Cape, I began my internship by familiarizing myself with mCDR, starting with diving into the latest peer-reviewed literature to understand the basic technologies. Significant funding and resources are focused on understanding the ecological impacts of mCDR on marine ecosystems, but it is also important to assess the social and economic effects on communities if these technologies are deployed.