Pepperwood’s Conservation Science Internship Program provides career development, mentoring, and training opportunities to the next generation of environmental scientists and stewards. The program primarily serves students from traditionally under-resourced communities. We partner closely with the Santa Rosa Junior College’s Math Engineering Science Achievement (MESA) program to recruit and support interns. New funding has allowed us to expand our program to engage students from Sonoma State University, University of California, Berkeley, and other regional institutions.

Pictured left is CSI intern, Viviane Fuller with Wildlife Specialist, Steven Hammerich. Viviane is gaining hands-on training with wildlife camera methodology, maintenance, and data processing, and is working closely with Pepperwood staff and collaborators from the North Bay Bear Collaborative to collect field samples and build a better understanding of black bear population dynamics.