Student Sustainability Internships

The Chancellor's Advisory Committee on Sustainability is sponsoring several sustainability interns to work on a variety of projects to accomplish its sustainable development and environmental management goals for 2007. Academic credit may be possible. Continue to check here for further updates.

The Following Internships are Currently Available:

1) Earth Week Coordinators (POSITION FILLED)
2) Stanley Hall Education and Outreach (PENDING)
3) Focus the Nation Coordinators (POSITION FILLED)
4) Green Room Development (PENDING)
5) Green Building Materials (POSITION FILLED)
6) "The Local" Coordinators (POSITION FILLED)
7) Re-USE Renovation/Demolition Waste Triage (POSITION FILLED)
8) Re-USE Satellite Stations (POSITION FILLED)
9) RSSP Education and Outreach (POSITION FILLED)
10) Sheet Mulching (POSITION FILLED)

Stanley Hall Education and Outreach

Positions: 1

Job Description: Stanley Hall is looking for a self-motivated and energetic student to focus on the day-to-day operations of Stanley Hall. This student will also provide education, design outreach, implement programs, and suggest operational changes that can help make Stanley Hall more sustainable and to possibly help make Stanley Hall LEED EB (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Existing Building) qualified. This student will develop programs to help the building inhabitants reduce their environmental impact and also identify "low-hanging fruits" to target for projects. Student must be willing to work with many stakeholders including staff, students, and faculty.

Preferred Skills: Students with previous experience in the environmental field are preferred. Student must be proficient in Microsoft Excel, Word, and Power Point. Experience with Illustrator or Publisher is preferred as well.

Payscale: $10/hour, 200 hours

Contact: Laura Moreno, lmoreno@berkeley.edu

Application: Submit application and resume by 5 pm on October 10th, 2007.

Green Building Materials

Positions: 1 ---- FILLED

Job Description: This internship will research and prepare reference material and specification samples for sustainable materials to be included in the campus-wide Construction Design Standards, reference material that is used to develop specifications for campus building projects. The intern will work closely with the Project Manager and the design team to provide reference materials to be used in the development project specifications to assure that campus capital projects are implemented to the highest green building standards reasonable. The intern will work within the Project Management unit of campus Capital Projects under the direction of Judy Chess, Program Manager for Green Building Programs, LEED AP.

This internship will develop materials for two specific capital project initiatives:

1. "Classroom Renovation Program in Support of Teaching and Learning", a campus program that invests over $1M annually to improve campus general assignment classrooms. The materials research will add to a growing emphasis in this program on green building measures that already include waste reduction, management and recycling, and energy efficiency.
2. "Durant Hall Renovation Project," a $10M renovation of historic Durant Hall. Project specifications will be developed this year. The intern will do research about green building materials that will be used to provide the architect and project team information about green building materials that can be incorporated into the project specifications. The internship may continue into 2008-2009 to assist with tracking the use of green building materials during the project construction phase in support of the campus green building policy.
   

Requirements: The Green Building Materials Intern will be capable of working independently, meeting commitments and deadlines, and will have excellent communication skills. Demonstrated experience or interest in building science, architecture, engineering, construction or related disciplines is required. The minimum work commitment is 25 hours/month. Academic credit may be possible with an academic sponsor.

• Excellent writing, speaking, and research skills.
• Ability to work independently.
• Demonstrate interest and experience in the subject areas.
• Upper division undergrad or graduate student.

Payscale: Pay range $15-20 hour commensurate with experience. Position begins October 1 2007 through May 2008 and may be extended through summer 2008 to continue with involvement in project construction phase.

Contact: Judy Chess, jchess@cp.berkeley.edu

Application: Submit resume and a letter of interest electronically to Judy Chess by October 3rd.

• Help administer surveys and analyze the data to determine the effectiveness of the Green Room Series
• Identify changes that can be made to increase effectiveness
• Advertise the Green Room Series so as to have a greater impact on the campus community
• Contact campus departments to inform instructors about the Green Suite.
• Work with course instructors to help integrate a tour into their curriculum.
• Other Administrative duties.

Positions: 1

Background: "The Local" is a cooperatively run produce stand providing fresh, local, organic produce from the farmer's market to the campus and surrounding community. This new installation on the Berkeley campus was made possible by members of the Sustainable Food Systems group of the Sustainability Team, and the Bus Stop Co-op (a stand on Oregon and Sacramento: Tuesday 3-6 PM, Thursday 2-6 PM, Saturday 2-6 PM). The stand is located at Kroeber Fountain every Wednesday from 11am to 3pm, and opening on Wednesday September 19th on Upper Sproul Plaza outside MLK. The Local increases access to healthy fruits and vegetables at very affordable prices while educating consumers about the importance of how and where our food is grown, and the environmental and social impacts of our food choices.

Job Description: Organize the purchase, pick-up, and transfer of the produce from the Tuesday evening Berkeley Farmer's Market to refrigeration space and to the stand on campus. The Coordinator is responsible for organizing volunteer shifts and roles at the stand, and outreach and recruitment of new volunteers from within the campus and surrounding community. The Coordinator will be the main point person for communication and collaboration between ASUC Sustainability Team, "The Local," and other student groups, entities, and community organization.

Payscale: 5-10 hours/week, $800 for one semester.

Contact: Maren Poitras, maren_poitras@berkeley.edu

Application: Contact Maren Poitras by September 27th, 2007.

Re-USE Demolition/Renovation Waste Triage Intern

Positions: 2

Background: Re-USE has been serving the campus community as a materials exchange center for six years. In that time, Re-USE has diverted over 40,000 pounds of reusable material from the landfill, with an estimated value of over $50,000. Diversion of reusable materials is a more environmentally effective method of waste management than recycling, because the embodied energy and resources used in a product find another life without additional processing or resources devoted to it. Re-USE has been working toward a diversion goal of 20-30 tons annually.

Proper material management during renovation and demolition projects on the UC Berkeley campus is a vastly neglected area of potential waste diversion on the UC Berkeley campus. Materials deemed less than valuable or too difficult to move are either thrown away or demolished with the building itself. Given the time and labor, reusable materials (everything from furniture to paper clips) could be easily transferred to various community organizations. Materials including glass, plastic film, wood, metal, electronic waste, and old media can be properly recycled. We hope with this internship to prove that handling these materials in a more sustainable manner should be an integral part of any demolition or renovation project on campus.

Job Description:

• Collaborate with project manager in variety of renovation and demolition projects.
• Identify, transport and stage recyclable and reusable materials.
• Contact and forge business relationships with community organizations accepting recyclable or reusable materials.
• Hold community events to sell/donate reusable materials.
• Work with Campus Recycling and Refuse Services to dispose of recyclable materials.
• Record and catalog tonnage of all types of recyclable and reusable materials diverted from the waste stream.

• Currently enrolled at UC Berkeley
• Valid California State Driver's License
• Excellent writing, speaking, computer skills.
• Ability to work independently
• Comfortable lifting at least forty pounds
• Strong interest in waste triage and management

• Background or previous work or study in environmental area
• Experience in waste management, source reduction, and reuse preferred.
• Experience with physical labor

Re-USE Satellite Stations

Positions: 2

Payscale: 5 hours/week, 35 weeks until end of Spring Semester, 2008. $10-11/hour. Starts immediately.

Background: The goal of this program is to promote the concept of reuse to the campus population and to divert reusable materials from landfills. Reuse saves money and resources on labor, freight, and reprocessing and is thus environmentally preferable to recycling. Since UC Berkeley is seeking to reduce its waste stream into landfills, it must employ the diversion technique of reuse, which has been highly underutilized on this campus in the past.

Job Description:

• Coordinate with building managers to approve, design, and select a location for the centers.
• Launch new stations in buildings in consideration for green building status.
• Generate publicity campaign and specific host-building outreach to ensure sufficient awareness among students, faculty and staff.
• Maintain the Re-USE website, which will serve as a guide to the locations and inventories of various stations.
• Conduct various levels of cleaning, inventory, and general maintenance at new and existing sites.
• Regularly visit, clean, maintain, and retool individual stations as needed.
• Report results of the pilot study to CACS in April 2008.
• Attend regular Re-USE meetings/events.

• Background or previous work or study in environmental area
• Interest in waste management, source reduction, and reuse preferred.
• Experience with web design

Contact: Jonathan Wright 515.759.9036 or Lisa Bauer at 510.643.4612

Application: Submit a resume and a letter of interest electronically to reuse_contact@berkeley.edu by Friday, September 29^th, 2007.

RSSP Education and Outreach

Background: Residential and Student Service Programs (RSSP) is part of the Division of Student Affairs. The department provides an array of student services and programs that includes student and family housing, residential life, childcare services, new student orientation, information technologies, housing facilities, and residential and campus dining services. More information can be found online at http://www.housing.berkeley.edu/

We are seeking a self-directed and enthusiastic student to help assess current practices and define new practices that can help transform the RSSP administrative building into a more complete "Green" Building - and possibly qualify as a LEED EB (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Existing Building).

Job Description: Perform an audit of operational, organizational and personal sustainability practices underway within the Residential and Student Services Building (RSSB). Identify areas where RSSP could improve sustainable efforts, educate appropriate parties and make recommendations; perform outreach and distribute program information. Assist in the implementation of recommended programs and practices. Serve as a student liaison to help plan department-wide sustainability events.

Preferred Skills: Currently enrolled with course work in engineering, sustainability, public administration, public works administration, or other related program. Proficiency in MS Office suite; experience with design software (e.g. Adobe) desired. Excellent oral and written communication skills. Ability to work independently.

Payscale: $11/hr. for 300 hours (approx.10 hrs/wk)

Contact: Jennifer Lipscomb, lipscomb@berkeley.edu, Residential and Student Service Programs, 2610 Channing Way

Application: Submit resume and cover letter to Jennifer Lipscomb as soon as possible: the deadline has been extended to the end of October.

Sheet Mulching

Positions: 1

Background: The main reason to sheet mulch is it suppresses weeds without subjecting the soil and people to pesticides (pre emergent or directly applied chemicals). Although these are the major reasons, there are many secondary benefits that include but are not limited to:

• Nutrients that are present in weeds are reintroduced to soil (weed composting)
• Assists in building a healthy soil web
• Eliminates pesticides from reaching underground aquifer, Strawberry Creek & Bay.
• Reduces labor and maintenance costs
• Encourages favorable soil microbial activity and worms
• Enhance soil structure.
• Improve plant vigor and health, which should make plants more resistant to both pests and diseases.
• Reduces the need for irrigation by maintaining a constant cooler temperature and higher moisture content. (Water conservation)
• Enhances appearance of landscape
• Reduces erosion.

Job Description: The coordinator would need to coordinate and map areas to be sheet mulched. Take soil samples (before and after) and send them to be analyzed. Soil analysis depends on available funding. Research sources and track costs of compost, mulch, and cardboard. Record labor and materials spent. Schedule areas to be mulched. Identify types of weeds that are present before and after sheet mulching has occurred. Intern would need to coordinate deliveries of materials to job sites, per Theron's instructions. Monitor progress of mulching, with picture documentation before and after mulching has occurred. Assist in selecting work sites. Participate in sheet mulching which would include delivery of cardboard, spreading of mulch. Develop guidelines for sheet mulching on campus.

Preferred Skills:

• Class C driver's license (clean record).
• Ability to spread mulch (wood chips) and
• deliver recycled cardboard to job sites.
• Students with previous experience in the environmental field are preferred.
• Student must be proficient in Microsoft Excel, Word, and Power Point. Experience with Illustrator Publisher, or web design programs is preferred.
• Prefer a well organized person who works well collaboratively but generally with little supervision.
• Needs to document the process – especially the cost of labor and materials.

Payscale: $10.00 per hour , max. 108 hours.

Contact: Theron Klos, teklos@berkeley.edu or at 510.642.7408

Application: Submit application and resume by October 10th, 2007 by 5 pm to Theron Klos.
sheetmulching_App.pdf