The BioDiversity Project is an internship program with the tri-part goal to: 1) increase K-12 student interest in environmental science, 2) provide environmental science workforce training for UArizona students, and 3) increase the diversity of voices involved in environmental and sustainability decision-making. Their diverse cohort of interns come from various majors and backgrounds and receive mentorship and training in environmental education, translational science communication, culturally-responsive pedagogy development, diversity and inclusion in environmental fields and organizations, and resilience-based leadership development. Interns are then responsible for compiling and creating educational materials for K-12 partner teachers in local Title 1 schools.
As the program seeks to expand, the Campus Sustainability Fund is providing funding to support their personnel to provide even further leadership development, workforce readiness, and equity training components to undergraduate interns.
For the 2023-2024 year, a total of 30 undergraduate student interns from 14 different majors across seven colleges participated as interns. Student interns attended 34 seminar/training sessions, which included guest speakers from Saguaro National Park, the Desert Museum, the Sierra Club, Tucson Audubon Society, Sky Island Alliance, and more. The program’s capacity to cultivate community- oriented environmental and social sustainability increased this past year. Notably, 97% of interns felt that the Bio/Diversity Project helped them achieve their academic or professional goals and 93% felt confident in their leadership ability after participating in the program.
