The Internship Experience: Pat Brown

By Pat Brown, Manufacturer, Rising Fish

During my last semester as an Environmental and Sustainability Studies student at the University of Utah, I wanted to find an internship opportunity that aligned with my interests and career goals. I am passionate about the health and conservation of our local waterways, so working with Fish For Garbage (FFG) seemed like the perfect opportunity. As a research intern, I have been able to gain a strong understanding of the impact litter, especially plastic, has on aquatic ecosystems and waterways. From my research, I helped to create an educational landing page for the organization’s website that explains why anthropogenic litter is harmful to waterways and the importance behind the FFG mission. One of my favorite things about this internship is that my work was published on the website, so I have deliverables from my experience that I can share and take with me. 

The Importance of Communicating Scientific Research

The internship allowed me to build critical career skills through collecting and analyzing a large amount of research-based information. I researched countless scholarly articles covering the biodegradability of plastics, toxicology of plastics, microplastic pollution, interactions and effects of pollution on wildlife and aquatic species, waste management practices, and future strategies to improve our pollution situation. I had to search for the most current and relevant scientific research available and make that information easily accessible to the public. This was a surprisingly difficult process because this was my first time writing for a general audience that may not have any scientific background. Being trained in research writing, I had to think differently presenting scientific and technical concepts, in order to make them easily understandable for everyone regardless of their background. Throughout this experience, I was able to realize just how important this process is. 

As I begin to consider graduate programs and careers in a science-based field, it seems crucial to develop the skills necessary to communicate scientific information in a way that is easily understandable by all. Bridging the communication gap between the scientific community and the general public has been an important professional skill that I have gained through this internship. 

A Bonus Experience

 I also had the opportunity to be a contributing member during monthly board meetings, which was a first-time experience for me. During board meetings, I felt like I had a voice and that my opinion was heard and respected by everyone on the board. Participating in meetings may have been my favorite part of the internship because my involvement extended beyond being just an intern. I was able to see firsthand everything that goes into making a nonprofit organization like this function, and I learned more than I could have imagined before starting my internship. I was inspired by how much effort, teamwork, and pure passion this group of individuals puts forth to organize events and opportunities for community improvement.

Effects of the Pandemic

Another aspect of the internship was to participate in outreach and events to connect with the community. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all in-person events and gatherings were canceled. Opportunities would have included tabling at an FFG booth during events to promote the organization’s mission and share the findings of my research. I also planned to volunteer at two of the cleanup events scheduled during the spring semester, which would have included collecting trash, managing volunteers, event planning, and other day-of logistics. Even though I was looking forward to helping out with events and outreach, this internship was still a great experience. 

Most importantly, I was able to build some critical career skills. I learned how to make scientific information readily available to the public, how to communicate in a professional setting, work as a team member toward a common goal, how to accept constructive feedback on my own work, and I naturally became much more organized. All of these things have been very helpful in preparing me for a career while learning about issues I’m passionate about – and a bonus was that I got to make some great friends along the way. I’m so grateful for this opportunity to participate in the operations side of a nonprofit in a meaningful way and to make a lasting contribution that I can be proud of. 

Check out the landing page Pat created with educational information for the community and his research article on anthropogenic litter (coming soon).