From Colin Cronin '09:
The last couple months I have been working at Earth Economics, an environmental non-profit in downtown Tacoma. The organization's philosophy is that of ecological economics, which looks at the interdependence between human interaction, economics, and ecosystems. It differs from environmental economics in that it draws from outside social sciences, natural science, and the humanities. Its focus is how to operate an economy within the ecological constraints of the earth's natural resources, placing a heavy emphasis on natural capital. The organization is engaged in a wide range of projects, but usually their work usually focuses on quantitative valuation of ecosystem services (essentially putting a price tag on the services provided by ecosystems) and providing technical expertise to both the public and private sector.
The organization has many local and regional projects (many in Washington State and some in Oregon), but also some international ones (including in Ecuador and China). If you are eligible for work-study, then you will receive an hourly wage. Otherwise, the internship is unpaid. Intern duties are mainly research on current projects to assist the staff. The ability to work independently and creatively are critical. Generally, interns are given a general task and the actual execution is left up to the intern. This is a great opportunity for developing analytical, research, and writing skills. It is one of the few places I have been able to find in Tacoma that has substantive international work. In addition, the atmosphere is fairly laid back. You can visit their website to learn more (http://www.eartheconomics.org/)
Colin Cronin
