My internship with Environment Maryland
Throughout my life I’ve always cared about the environment and been passionate about protecting it. Raised in Baltimore, I have been deeply impacted by my interactions with aquatic ecosystems.
One such experience has been visiting St. John, part of the U.S. Virgin Islands. The coral reefs host a vibrant menagerie of marine life, such as parrot fish, angelfish, and green sea turtles. The water is so clear that you can see to the bottom below, whether it be a stingray or a lost snorkel fin.
Not to be outdone by other St. John beaches and bays, Leinster Bay is home to an abundance of seagrasses which welcome sea turtles. With its scarcity of cruise ship tourists, Leinster is the perfect place for the shy sea turtles to feed. As a keystone species, the prosperity of sea turtles at Leinster and in the waters surrounding the island indicates the health of the ocean ecosystem at St. John. To witness the humble grace of a sea turtle in its natural habitat is truly unforgettable. As sea turtle populations dwindle in numbers, these chances to swim alongside sea turtles become even more rare.
Returning to my hometown of Baltimore, I was struck with the stark juxtaposition of the Inner Harbor and those St. John reefs. Historically, the Inner Harbor isn’t safe for swimming due to such extensive pollution. Between poor solid waste management and agricultural runoff, the greater Chesapeake Bay watershed is in dire need of major environmental interventions. As a vital brackish ecosystem that provides humans with an abundance of resources, it is our responsibility to better manage the Bay for the sake of the wildlife and ourselves.
Although we still have a long way to go, there have recently been substantial measures to conserve the Bay. One of these initiatives is Maryland oyster restoration, where groups like the Horn Point Oyster Hatchery grow and plant oysters to replenish oyster populations. During college, I volunteered with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation to help maintain oyster gardens in the Baltimore Harbor.
Through my personal experiences in St. John and Baltimore, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in environmental conservation efforts. We shouldn’t just preserve our oceans on remote islands, all of our world’s waterways and marine life deserve protection. This is why after graduating from the University of Maryland, College Park, I enrolled in a Master of Science program in Environmental Policy and Management from the University of Denver. Since my Masters program is conducted virtually, I have the opportunity to do a local internship in Baltimore to apply my studies to real-world experiences in the environmental field.
When searching for local non-profit groups, I stumbled upon Environment America’s Maryland chapter. At Environment Maryland, I have been working with Environment America’s clean energy team on their solar on superstores campaign. During the fall, I have communicated with various environmental groups in Maryland to garner support for the campaign. The nationwide sign-on letter was published on November 5, 2021, calling on Walmart to install solar panels on viable rooftops and parking lots by 2035. Clean energy initiatives like these will help reduce the growing risk of climate change. We must work to mitigate the harmful effects of global warming, as it continues to impact critical ecosystems and communities, aquatic and otherwise.
Since I am originally from Maryland, it was especially important for me to work with a local organization that contributes to the greater Maryland community: interning with Environment Maryland allows me to have hands-on experience in my local Baltimore, as well as throughout Maryland. I hope through this time with Environment Maryland that I will form lasting connections with colleagues who share the same dedication to environmental conservation as I do and gain the skills necessary to work in the environmental nonprofit sphere.
