Natural History Institute, Media Arts Internship, Summer 2023
Every summer, The Bill Lane Center for the American West offers many opportunities for Stanford undergraduates (including graduating seniors and co-terms) to work with organizations throughout the West. Through these internships, students can explore careers in natural history, conservation, land use, museum curation, resource management, energy and more.
All internships are full-time and last ten weeks during the summer. They are fully funded by the Lane Center.
The Lane Center has placed over 200 interns in positions across the West since 2005. As such, we have developed strong relationships with host organizations and work hard to ensure interns have successful and enriching experiences.
For more information about our internship program, please visit our FAQs page, or email Education Manager Corinne Thomas.
Read more about past interns' experiences here.
Stipend Information:
The Bill Lane Center will provide a base stipend of $7,500 with additional funding for student financial aid and cost of living adjustments for the internship location, if applicable.
Description of the Organization and the Internship:
The Natural History Institute (NHI) is a nonprofit that provides leadership and resources for a revitalized practice of natural history. NHI integrates art, science, and the humanities to promote the health and well-being of humans and the rest of the natural world through workshops, field experiences, a speaker series, and art gallery.
The intern is responsible for collaborating with the Executive Director, Program Director, and the Community Outreach and Collections Manager in expanding and elevating the media arts elements of the Natural History Institute’s outreach and program efforts.
This work will be focused on digital photo, video, website, and social media. Work to be done includes revamping a digital image repository, contributing to the NHI YouTube channel, organizing specimen images on the NHI website, and capturing footage and images relevant to NHI’s initiatives.
Internship Work Environment:
This is an in-person internship only and 20-30% of the work will be outdoors.
The intern will be part of a team which includes the program coordinator, the community outreach and collections manager, and the development director.
A car would be helpful.
Location: Prescott, Arizona
- Organize a digital image library for staff
- Assist in producing NHI videos in the field and post-production.
- Provide recommendations and training on videography techniques
- Develop guidelines and recommendations for social media campaigns
- Assist in the design of web pages dedicated to species accounts
Bill Lane Center internships are part of Cardinal Quarter opportunities and students from all disciplines are encouraged to apply. The opportunities are full-time (35-40 hours a week) for 10 consecutive weeks during the summer. Specific start and end dates can be coordinated directly with the supervisor.
Please note:
- Students are not permitted to engage in another full-time internship, job, or volunteer opportunity (whether funded by Stanford or otherwise) during this full-time, summer internship.
- Student athletes should confirm the impact of any awarded stipend on their athletic eligibility by contacting the Compliance Services Office prior to committing to a research project or internship.
All undergraduates, including graduating seniors, are eligible. Coterms are eligible only if they hold undergraduate status.
For more helpful application advice, please visit the BLC’s FAQs page.
Application Guidelines for this Internship:
Students of all years are encouraged to apply for this opportunity.
Possible majors or interests may include Media Arts, Science Communication, Biology, Earth Science, and Marketing.
Upperclass students or mature students are preferred due to the nature of independent living.
Required Skills:
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Strong media arts skills: photo, video, social media
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The ability to work in a highly collaborative environment
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The ability to work independently
Desired Skills:
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Strong video production background
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Familiarity with biological and ecological concepts
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Facility in developing social media campaigns
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Strong organizational skills
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Natural history background or interest
Selection of applicants:
Complete applications are screened and finalists are contacted for an interview with staff from The Bill Lane Center for the American West. The top candidates for the position are forwarded to the organization for direct interviews with their potential supervisors and other staff.
Host organizations will then notify the Lane Center of their preferred candidate and that applicant will receive an internship offer from the Bill Lane Center by email.
The applicant is expected to respond promptly (within 48 hours) via email to the offer or the offer will be rescinded.
Once an applicant accepts an offer, they should promptly notify all other Stanford and non-Stanford programs to which they have applied that they have accepted another offer and withdraw their candidacy from those other opportunities.
