E.E. Just Conservation Fellow, Spring 2027

SC AQUARIUM • Charleston, SC

2d

About The Position

The E.E. Just Fellowship at the South Carolina Aquarium is a stipend-based program intended to increase the workforce participation of people of color in conservation and animal science. It honors African American biologist and Charleston native E.E. Just (1883–1941) and recognizes that minority representation in the conservation workforce does not reflect the populations represented by the Aquarium.

Conservation Fellows work with the Aquarium’s conservation team to connect people with water, wildlife, and wild places beyond the Aquarium. Fellows engage community members and Aquarium partners on one or more institutional priorities: plastic pollution; community resilience related to climate change and sea level rise; and sustainable seafood. They learn how environmental data can raise awareness and support advocacy, and how to build trust and collaborative relationships with students, university faculty and staff, neighborhoods, public officials, businesses, and nonprofit organizations.

The fellowship is primarily offsite, with up to five workdays in Charleston; travel expenses for work-related travel are covered. Fellows regularly interact with conservation staff in person and virtually. Virtual engagement is available for enrolled students. The program runs for 13 weeks in Spring 2027, from January 18 to April 18, with exact dates subject to change. The commitment is 10 hours per week for enrolled students, and compensation is $14.50 per hour.

Requirements

• Be a college junior or senior in Spring 2027 pursuing a degree in a natural science or related field.
• Be enrolled at Savannah State University, an HBCU.
• Be passionate about conservation and environmental issues.
• Be comfortable speaking to groups and audiences of all ages.
• Have excellent organizational and written and verbal communication skills.
• Have excellent computer skills, especially Microsoft Excel.
• Be able to work well independently, as part of a team, and remotely.
• Be willing to learn and try something new.
• Be able to work weekends and evenings as needed.

Responsibilities

• Assist with conservation program events and activities.
• Work with the university community to build relationships, learn about concerns related to flooding from climate change and sea level rise, and tailor an Aquarium citizen science project to address those concerns.
• Conduct individual litter sweeps and collect data.
• Organize a Good Catch educational event and dinner featuring local, sustainable seafood.
• Work with food and beverage and seafood communities to engage new Good Catch partners and raise awareness about the sustainability of local seafood.
• Contribute to projects in the Aquarium’s Citizen Science app, including SeaRise, the Good Catch Seafood Survey, and the Litter Journal.
• Create an awareness project related to sea level rise.
• Work with and analyze citizen science data as needed.
• Promote conservation activities within their social network.
• Create a project to communicate findings to a general audience.
• Assist with other duties as required by the department.

Benefits

• Work-related travel expenses will be reimbursed.
• Opportunity to earn a reciprocity pass to local attractions and Aquarium tickets.
• Students may pursue college credit through their home institution and should contact their department chair in advance.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: No Education Listed