WASHINGTON – The Environmental Working Group just completed its latest summer as a partner in the Stanback Fellowship Program through Duke University, which provides undergraduate students for internships in several of the organization’s program areas.
Through the partnership, EWG plays a key role in helping develop the focus and skills of students who represent the future of the environmental and public health movements. Participation in the program is highly competitive, and students who secure internships have already shown remarkable talent and accomplishment.
The program is a partnership between Duke’s Nicholas School of the Environment and nonprofit environmental organizations.
This summer, five fellows joined EWG through the Stanback program, including four undergraduates, Nadia Barbo, Malai Escamilla, Jilly Senk and Emma Rose Shore. One second-year student at Duke’s School of Law, Mary Peyton Brown, also joined EWG for the summer.
Jilly Senk worked on EWG’s Healthy Living team. She particularly enjoyed writing articles for the EWG website. Senk also conducted research for a project on the impact of different cleaning products on the marine environment and contributed to EWG’s Guide to Healthy Cleaning.
“My experience with EWG was rewarding, because I was able to use science to contribute to causes I find extraordinarily meaningful,” said Senk. “I developed so many new skills I will use for the rest of my career, from research to science communication to leadership.”
Nadia Barbo joined EWG’s Science Investigations team for the summer. She dedicated most of her fellowship to working on a manuscript on PFAS in locally caught fish. For this project she researched fish consumption advisories, reviewed the Environmental Protection Agency’s PFAS Action Plan and recent lifetime health advisories, and combed through scientific literature that helped inform her work.
“At EWG I was able to explore many toxicology subjects while having a project of my own that allowed me to strengthen my research and analytical skills,” said Barbo. “I also enjoyed working with a stimulating team who challenged and supported me as I explored my professional interests.”
Mary Peyton Brown worked as EWG’s legal fellow. She contributed to EWG’s comments for the North Carolina Utilities Commission’s new carbon-reduction plan, researched relevant employment law updates for EWG’s organizational needs, and studied how the EWG VERIFIED® program works from a legal standpoint. She also conducted extensive research on the recent Supreme Court decision West Virginia v. Environmental Protection Agency to help inform EWG’s response to the decision.
“This summer I got a crash course in learning how an environmental nonprofit is run. My wonderful advisor and EWG’s general counsel, Caroline Leary, helped me learn how abstract legal concepts are applied and dealt with in the real world,” said Brown.
“The chance to do this type of work at an environmental nonprofit has been an incredible first exposure to the environmental law field,” she added. “I’ve learned so much to take back with me to school this fall. From learning energy law to employment law, as well as getting tons of great career advice from everyone at EWG, I couldn’t have asked for a better summer experience.”
Malai Escamilla spent her fellowship working on EWG's Communications team. During the summer she wrote many blogs for the EWG website, including one with tips on how to stay healthy over the Fourth of July weekend. She also tracked media mentions and assisted with a mapping project of harmful algal blooms.
“This internship has been an incredible experience," said Escamilla. "I’ve really felt like a part of the team and I learned a lot throughout the process.”
In addition to the Stanback fellows, EWG was also privileged to work this summer with five other talented interns: Kayla Anderson, Anne Bruecker, Tilda Davies, Julia Martiner and Camille Moore.
“Every year we have consistently excellent interns and Stanback fellows – and this year was no exception,” said Ken Cook, EWG president and co-founder. “It’s a pleasure to work alongside these bright and talented students who are the future of environmental and public health advocacy. They contribute greatly to the organization.”
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The Environmental Working Group (EWG) is a nonprofit, non-partisan organization that empowers people to live healthier lives in a healthier environment. Through research, advocacy and unique education tools, EWG drives consumer choice and civic action.