Environmental Outreach Assistant

Environmental Outreach Assistant, Center for Earth & Environmental Science. 

The Center for Earth and Environmental Science (CEES) at IU Indianapolis is an environmental research center that engages in applied research, education outreach, and community-based environmental stewardship. CEES is looking for IU Indianapolis students interested in working to help facilitate the Center's mission in these three core areas.

Environmental Outreach Assistants (EOAs) will assist with Center stewardship activities, education outreach programs, and may also be involved in field and laboratory research, as well as assisting with general tasks related to the day-to-day running of the Center. 

In particular, the Center needs students to assist with the campus Bird Window Strike Project - a new stewardship initiative that was begun spring 2023. CEES is gathering data concerning the frequency and occurrence of bird-building collisions on campus. The data collected will help inform solutions to reduce collisions and make campus more bird-friendly. EOAs involved in this project will assist with data collection, including regularly surveying various buildings to look for birds; when found, dead birds are photographed and collected. Note: this project involves handling dead birds; protective equipment is provided. 

Other stewardship activities are part of the Center's Service Learning program, which provides opportunities for students to engage in environmentally-oriented community service projects (such as invasive species removals and trash clean ups) in partnership with organizations from the greater Indianapolis area. EOAs help facilitate these events and serve as peer mentors to project volunteers. Specific tasks associated with the Service Learning program include (but are not limited to): handling volunteer paperwork, care and maintenance of tools used for service learning activities, and serving as a peer mentor to student volunteers.

EOAs may assist with laboratory work associated with the Center's Edge of Field project (an investigation of impacts of various agricultural practices on water quality) and field work at the Lilly ARBOR (a restored riparian forest adjacent to campus). Specific tasks associated with research activities include (but are not limited to): assisting with forest vegetation surveys, including measurement of tree parameters (ARBOR project), filtering water samples (Edge of Field project), and possibly assisting will collection of water samples from agricultural field sites (Edge of Field project).

Tasks associated with the Center's education outreach include traveling to fairs and festivals and other venues to provide hands-on environmentally-themed STEM activities for the education/enjoyment of the general public. EOAs may also assist CEES education staff with development of education modules for outreach events.

Candidates must be willing to engage in outdoor work, laboratory work, and administrative tasks related to the various core areas. Candidates should have a good working knowledge of Microsoft Excel.

Before a candidate can be offered a position they must submit to a background check provided by the university and meet the university’s requirements for programs that involve contact with children.

The Bird Window Strike Project requires early morning and/or evening availability (to survey routes). Service Learning events take place primarily on Fridays and Saturdays (and occasionally on Sundays) in Spring and Fall, as weather permits.

Because many CEES activities occur off campus, a car and valid driver's license are useful (but not required). 

Through their work in this position, students will become acquainted with the following profiles:

Communicator. Students will learn how to be better communicators by building relationships with peers and the local community. Students will develop their ability to convey complex science concepts to non-scientists (adults and children) during outreach events.

Problem Solver. Students will collaborate with peers, IU Indianapolis faculty and staff, and community partners to facilitate the Center's research and environmental stewardship programs. Students will gain experience handling the unexpected problems that arise when conducting research or outreach and stewardship events. Students will confront challenges, engage in critical thinking, and work with others to determine a range of possible solutions and make decisions as to which course of action to follow.  

Innovator. Students will investigate methods for presenting science information in an engaging format. Students will assist in the design of education modules and activities for the Center's outreach programs.

Community Contributor. Students will help build relationships with the community by assisting with environmental stewardship activities taking place in green spaces throughout Indianapolis/central Indiana. This position will provide students with skills to help communicate with others how our choices impact the environment.     

To apply: Please send an email expressing your interest, along with your resume to vrschmal@iu.edu 

These positions are for undergraduate students ONLY. 

Graduate students should not apply.