The Archbold intern program offers career training in ecological research, environmental education, and land management for undergraduate students, recent graduates, and graduate students. Interns receive a stipend and gratis housing and meals. Research interns develop independent research skills and learn the culture of science. Education interns participate in environmental education activities and develop new ones. Land management interns plan and implement prescribed burns and habitat restoration projects.

Program Survey. During the 1990s, Archbold’s intern program trained over 100 college/university students. In 2000, we initiated a survey of 1990s interns (see <http://www.archbold-station.org/abs/internvol/internsurvey.htm>) to measure the program’s effectiveness (future interns will also be surveyed).

Of the 31 respondents, 30% were graduate students (Master’s or Ph.D.) working on their theses/dissertations and 70% were undergraduate students (or recent graduates). Of the undergraduates, 77% continue in a Master’s/Ph.D. program. At least 33 publications in scientific journals and at least 48 presentations at scientific meetings were based on intern research projects conducted during the 1990s. Archbold was the sole source of financial support for 58% of interns, and some interns received additional financial support from private organizations (29%) and state (13%) or federal government (3%). Some (32%) interns returned to Archbold to collaborate with staff scientists on new or continuing projects, and almost all (97%) remained in contact with Archbold Staff or other Archbold interns.

Interns gain new, and improve existing skills while at Archbold. Figure 1 (this page) shows the percent of intern survey respondents who gained or improved various skills during their internships at Archbold. These are professional interactions (PI), experimental design (ED), data analyses (DA), off-road vehicle use (VU), data management (DM), report writing (RW), computer skills (CS), prescribed burning (PB), presentation skills (PS), literature searches (LS), GIS (GI), grant writing (GW), research collections (RC), CPR (CP), First Aid (FA), curriculum development (CD), multi-media (MM), exotic plant removal (PR), and GPS (GP).

Archbold continues to provide students with excellent opportunities for professional development. Following are some comments about our program from former interns.

Additional information about Archbold’s Intern Program is on our Web-site at <http://www.archbold-station.org/abs/internvol/internships.htm>.