The goals of the Science Barge program are to educate students and the public in Yonkers and the greater New York area about sustainable development, renewable energy, and to advance understanding of integrated systems for food and energy production. The Barge features a 1,300 square foot greenhouse where tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, lettuce, and other crops are grown using recirculating hydroponics and has already received national acclaim. The greenhouse is powered by a renewable energy package that includes solar, wind, and a generator running on biofuels. Tours are available to school and youth groups, as well as the general public from April 25 through October 31 Monday through Friday, with public programs and tours on weekends and evenings. For more information, please visit http://groundworkhv.org/sciencebargepage2.html or our Idealist posting at http://www.idealist.org/if/i/en/av/Internship/132084-278

Groundwork Hudson Valley is looking to fill internship positions on the Science Barge: education interns and a technical assistant. We are looking for enthusiastic and reliable applicants with an interest in sustainability and environmental issues. Applicants who feel that they could perform a combination of the job descriptions below are encouraged to apply!

• The Education Assistant will work in the outdoor classroom and in the greenhouse, facilitating hands-on, sustainability centered education programs. Interns will lead activities for students covering biology, earth science, and physics topics. Activities range from helping students design planting experiments, to performing water quality monitoring tests, to creating solar-powered appliances and harvesting produce. Interns may also be trained to monitor and perform routine maintenance in the greenhouse. Some weekends, interns will lead tours for the general public. Interns will work side-by-side with the Science Barge staff to ensure that they learn about the technologies on the barge and can effectively communicate the benefits to visitors. Interns will also have the opportunity to develop methods to evaluate the effectiveness of the Science Barge programs, including educational performance rubrics and visitor questionnaires. Background and interest in education preferred. Background and interest in hydroponics and biology a plus. Interns are expected to work Monday through Friday from 9:30am-1:30pm for the entirety of any one internship session.
• The Technical Assistant will work with the Barge Director monitoring and maintaining the renewable energy systems. Scheduling for this position is flexible but a minimum of two days per week is preferred and weekend availability is required. We are looking for someone with a background in photovoltaic panels, computer programming and environmental engineering.
• Grant Writing: We are also looking for someone willing to dedicate some of their time researching and writing grants for the Barge. Additional funding could be used to subsidize school groups who cannot afford to pay full price and go towards general maintenance of the Barge.

Session Dates
April 25- June 30
June22- August 28
August 24- October 31
Sessions include initial training periods. High school internships are unpaid; college and graduate interns receive a stipend of $100 per week.

To Apply
For the Education Assistant postion please send a resume and cover letter by email to devon@groundworkhv.org. For other positions please reply with a resume and cover letter to emily@groundworkhv.org. Applicants are encouraged to apply early, as positions are limited.