Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 3, 2026
14:44
Field Collection and Laboratory Maintenance of Canopy-Forming Giant Kelp to Facilitate Restoration
Published on: June 7, 2024
Community-based internships to address environmental issues: a model for effective partnerships
Fran T Close1, Jeanne Marie Zokovitch Paben, Anika Foster
1Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, FL, USA.
Summary
This community internship program empowered underserved communities with environmental health knowledge. Equitable partnerships between universities, law firms, and community groups benefited all involved.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Community-Based Research
- Environmental Justice
Background:
- Environmental burdens disproportionately affect minority and low-income populations.
- These communities often experience greater adverse health effects from local polluting facilities.
- Community experiences are critical for public health officials and researchers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To offer graduate students practical experience in community-based environmental health settings.
- To equip communities with tools to address environmental concerns and protect public health.
Main Methods:
- A 12-week internship program paired graduate students with community-based organizations (CBOs).
- Interns worked on projects addressing environmental health and justice issues.
- The program involved partnerships between universities, environmental law firms, and CBOs.
Main Results:
- 22 graduate interns contributed to environmental health awareness and education initiatives.
- Internships fostered unique collaborations between academic institutions, legal professionals, and community groups.
- Equitable partnerships facilitated mutual learning and capacity building.
Conclusions:
- Collaborative community-based initiatives yield benefits for all participating partners.
- The internship program's success was attributed to partner contributions and dedication.
- Lessons learned can guide the development of similar beneficial partnerships for underserved communities.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Community Based Intervention
Community-based interventions in mental health represent a paradigm shift from institution-centered care to treatments embedded within the fabric of local communities. By prioritizing inclusion and leveraging existing societal structures, this approach fosters a supportive environment conducive to addressing mental health challenges while promoting individual dignity and agency.
Foundations of Community Mental Health Programs
Central to the success of community-based interventions is the...
Foundations of Community Mental Health Programs
Central to the success of community-based interventions is the...
00:58Symbiosis
Symbiotic relationships are long-term, close interactions between individuals of different species that affect the distribution and abundance of those species. When a relationship is beneficial to both species, this is called mutualism. When the relationship is beneficial to one species but neither beneficial nor harmful to the other species, this is called commensalism. When one organism is harmed to benefit another, the relationship is known as parasitism. These types of relationships often...
01:30Environmental Applications of Microorganisms
Microorganisms play a pivotal role in maintaining ecosystem balance by recycling essential elements such as carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus, as well as supporting processes like bioremediation, wastewater treatment, and biofuel production.Microbes in Elemental CyclesIn the carbon cycle, microorganisms decompose organic matter, releasing carbon dioxide via aerobic respiration. This carbon dioxide is subsequently used by photosynthetic organisms to synthesize organic compounds, closing the...
00:46Bioremediation
Bioremediation is the use of prokaryotes, fungi, or plants to remove pollutants from the environment. This process has been used to remove harmful toxins in groundwater as a byproduct of agricultural run-off and also to clean up oil spills.
01:26Microbial Interactions: Cooperation
Microbial cooperation involves beneficial interactions in which different species work together for individual or mutual advantage. These interactions can profoundly influence ecological dynamics and evolutionary processes, and they are essential to many pathogenic and symbiotic relationships.Nematode–Bacteria CooperationA striking example is the relationship between the Gram-negative bacterium Xenorhabdus nematophila and the parasitic nematode Steinernema carpocapsae. Juvenile nematodes...
01:19Methods to Assess Microbial Communities
Microbial communities, comprising bacteria, archaea, and eukaryotic microorganisms, inhabit diverse ecosystems and play crucial roles in environmental and biological processes. Their diversity is defined by three main parameters: species richness (the number of distinct species), species abundance (the relative quantity of each species), and species evenness (how uniformly individual species are distributed in various locations). These factors together shape the structure and ecological balance...