Urban Ecology Institute

Duration: Mid-May through August

Location: Boston, MA

Housing: Will not be provided. Student is responsible for finding housing.

For more information: Urban Ecology Institute

Qualifications
Background in environmental studies, ecology, or botany. Good communication skills and energy to work with groups of students. Strong interest in social and environmental justice issues.

Funding
Available through the Center for the Environment Summer Leadership  Fellowship Program; see application instructions.

Background
The Urban Ecology Institute (UEI) is an NGO in Boston that works with communities to build healthy and safe cities since 1998. The organization works by improving  science and civic education with middle and high school students to help better understand, advocate, and transform natural resources. UEI works with scientists, educators, and attorneys to research urban ecosystems and provide information to residents, policymakers, and to schools to help meet their mission. There are many people that volunteer and participate in UEI every year working to transform neglected urban resources in Boston’s communities.

The institute offers three programs: Urban Ecology Field Studies, Natural Cities, and Community Forest Partnerships. The Urban Ecology Field Studies works with students from urban public schools to help educate them about the scientific process and the realities of their “urban habitat” by doing field studies in their local communities. The Natural Cities program works to inventory the urban ecosystems surrounding Boston. Community Forest Partnerships help to transform communities through restoring community social networks, and providing environmental and public health benefits through community forests.

The Greater Boston Urban Forest Inventory (GBUFI) is a volunteer-based inventory of Boston’s street trees that is generating data needed to understand, manage, and assess the value of our urban forest. Using handheld computers and GIS software, volunteers are collecting detailed data on the city’s street trees that will be used by the City of Boston and the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation to dramatically expand the capacity of city and state agencies to manage and improve Boston’s urban forest.