In 2011, we received funding through a USDA Higher Education Challenge (HEC) grant to support the development of internships in the area of natural resources and climate change. The goal of the HEC grant is to train leaders in climate change and natural resources through experiential and field-based learning. 

Student: Eric Larson, Geosciences major, Climate Change Studies minor     
For his internship with the US Forest Service, Eric quantified multi-decade trends in streamflow of select watersheds in the Northern Rockies. 

Student: Tim McNally, Geology major, Climate Change Studies minor     
For his internship with the US Forest Service, Tim quantified the multi-decade trends in precipitation in select towns throughout Montana.

Student: Taylor Hopkins, Resource Conservation major, Climate Change Studies minor
For his internship with the Montana Department of Natural Resources, Taylor researched the carbon balance of biomass utilization. 

Student: Lea Boslser, Environmental Studies major, Climate Change Studies minor.
For her internship with the Clark Fork Coalition, Lea conducted their annual “carbon audit” and researched statistics and information on the water/energy nexus in the Clark Fork Watershed.

Student: Aleta Jokisch, Ecology and Organismal Biology major, Climate Change Studies minor
For her internship with ClearSky Climate Solutions, Aleta helped develop a strategy for the University of Montana’s Carbon Offset Initiative. 

Student: Kip Beckwith, Resource Conservation major
For his internship with the Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute, Kip interviewed several wilderness managers about the environmental changes they have seen over time and developed a case study report.

Student: Jenny Miller, Environmental Studies major, Climate Change Studies minor.
For her internship with the Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute, Jenny served as a Wilderness, land ethic, and climate change educator engaging 7th and 8th grade students in wilderness and climate change education, hands-on activities, writing/art, wilderness weekend hikes and field trips.  

Student: Owen Weber, Environmental Studies major, Climate Change Studies minor
For his internship with the Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute, Owen inventoried ecosystem services market opportunities and policy incentives to support an international initiative to protect Private Lands with Wilderness Character.

Student: Jennifer Meidinger, Geosciences major, Climate Change Studies minor
For her internship with the Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute, Jennifer worked on a Leopold Institute project collaborating with an American Indian scientist engaged in efforts to protect ecological flow benefits from water in the American Southwest.

Student: Charles Gale, Resource Conservation major, Climate Change Studies minor
For his practicum with the Bureau of Business and Economic Research, Charles compared the use of large scale biomass facilities to small residential biomass furnaces in terms of their emissions, costs, heat output, and biomass use.

Student: Tucker Seitz, Wildlife Biology  major, Climate Change Studies minor
For his internship with the Great Bear Foundation, Tucker assessed the impacts of climate change on three bear species: the polar bear, grizzly bear, and spirit bear (also known as a Kermode bear).

Student: Julia Snieder, Wildlife Biology  major, Climate Change Studies minor
For her internship with the City of Missoula, Julia set up a long term monitoring project on Mt Sentinel and Cherry Gulch to assess the effects of climate change on plant communities in the Missoula Valley.

Student: Marine Johnson, Applied Science major, Climate Change Studies minor
For her internship with Riverworks, Marine helped to advance green building in the Missoula community by managing and promoting green project certification documentation for select projects.

Student: Benjie Silva, Business Management, Climate Change Studies minor
For his internship with the Sustainable Business Council, Benjie helped to research, market, and facilitate green business practices. 

Student: Morgen Hartford, Environmental Studies, Climate Change Studies minor
For his internship with the Missoula Greenhouse Gas Energy Conservation Team, Morgen developed a strategy to promote more LED lighting in the neighborhoods.