Phoebe Lease ’21

In the summer of 2020, I was a science communication intern for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Office of Ocean Exploration and Research (OER). This was made possible by Smith’s Agnes Shedd Andreae Fellowship. Over the summer, I worked with OER’s science and communication teams to write short, general audience-friendly essays about new ocean exploration technology. Although my internship was remote due to the pandemic, I still had an amazing experience and was able to hear about upcoming ocean expeditions, watch scientists edit deep-sea footage of cnidaria (think jellyfish) and learn a LOT about oceanography.

“The environmental concentration and CEEDS have provided me with a pathway and support to take chances in STEM, both inside and outside the classroom.”

I was also able to do an interterm internship with Future Coalition, thanks to Smith’s Praxis fund. As a research intern, I was immersed in Future Coalition’s ongoing campaign to transition financial institutions out of the fossil fuel industry. I was able to explore many different fields including climate finance, commercial bank policy, corporate responsibility, regenerative economy, indigenous climate movements and more. The research our team did will help shape the future campaign work of Future Coalition and its partners.

As an American studies major, I had taken some classes that involved climate communications and policy, but was always hesitant to go too far out of my humanities comfort zone. The environmental concentration and CEEDS have provided me with a pathway and support to take chances in STEM, both inside and outside the classroom.