Are you an undergraduate at the University of Florida looking to inspire the next generation to care for our planet?

When it comes to helping care for our planet, it’s all hands on deck. Leaders from all disciplines are needed to tackle the immense challenge of protecting the Earth for current and future generations.

Thanks to a grant from the Smallwood Foundation, the Scientist in Every Florida School (SEFS) Environmental Leaders Fellowship will bring together students from diverse majors and backgrounds and provide them with the knowledge, skills, confidence, and network to advocate for the planet as they take on leadership roles in their respective careers. In particular, we especially encourage students from backgrounds that are underrepresented in environmental fields to apply to take part in this unique leadership program.

This Fellowship is an excellent opportunity for UF undergraduates to gain experience in environmental research and civic engagement as well as public outreach and K-12 education.

A cohort of four Fellows will attend seminars featuring environmental experts, receive mentoring from professionals in environmental fields, assist with K-12 science programming through our Scientist in Every Florida School program, network with peers, and take part in a multi-day field experience focused on environmental challenges across Florida.

Learn more about our first cohort at the following link: Inaugural TESI Environmental Leaders Fellowship

Benefits of the Program

Selected Fellows will leave the program with the following:

• Stipend of $2,500 ($1,250 awarded in Spring 2024; $1,250 awarded in Summer 2024)
• Spring Break field experience (March 2024)
• Enhanced understanding of environmental issues
• Hands-on experience in K-12 science education and outreach
• A broad skill set in different approaches to tackling environmental issues
• Professional and leadership skills focused on research, education, and civic engagement. Fellowship experiences will culminate in a final project produced in tandem with Scientist in Every Florida School.
• A network of colleagues they can connect to as they emerge as leaders in their respective fields

Program components

• Seminars: These discussions will feature environmental professionals from a variety of fields.
• Scientific conferences: Fellows will have the opportunity to attend a scientific conference and practice their networking skills.
• Mentoring: Fellows will receive mentoring from professionals working in K-12 education and outreach.
• Classroom visits with SEFS: Fellows will have the chance to prepare and teach environmental science lessons to K-12 students.
• Spring break field experience: Fellows will gain hands-on research experience and have opportunities to engage and connect with professionals, researchers, and other stakeholders tackling environmental issues from various perspectives.
• Final project with SEFS: Fellows will take part in a project that contributes to K-12 environmental education.

Program expectations

The SEFS Environmental Leaders Fellowship kicks off in January 2024 and concludes in August 2024. Fellows are required to participate in all program activities which include:

• Attend the SEFS Environmental Leaders Fellowship orientation (January 2024)
• Attend regularly scheduled meetings with mentors, group meetings, and seminars
• Complete journal entries throughout the Fellowship
• Participate in Spring Break field experience (Week of March 11-15, 2024)
• Participate in K-12 teacher professional development workshops (June and July 2024)
• Complete a final project with SEFS
• Participate in SEFS classroom visit shadowing and outreach delivery

To receive the $2,500 stipend, selected students will be asked to dedicate an average of three hours per week (similar to a one-credit course) to Fellowship activities throughout the 2024 spring and summer semesters. Some weeks (i.e. spring break field experience, scientific conference) will be more time intensive, while others will be less so.

Fellowship timeline

November 19, 2023: Application deadline
January 2024: Fellowship orientation
January 2024-May 2024: Seminars featuring discussions with professionals from a variety of environmental fields and a scientific conference.
January 2024-June 2024: Classroom visits with SEFS
January 2024-July 2024: Regular meetings with a program mentor as well as group meetings with the other fellows and facilitators.
March 2024: Field experience. Locations TBD.
June-July 2024: SEFS K-12 teacher professional development workshops
July 2024: Final project showcase and Fellowship wrap up

Program eligibility

Freshmen, sophomore, and junior University of Florida undergraduate students from any major (science, pre-law, communications, political science, etc.) with an interest in learning about environmental topics and working with K-12 students. Students from underrepresented groups in STEM are especially encouraged to apply.

Selected Fellows must be in good academic standing in accordance with the University’s policies and must be enrolled full-time at UF. Fellows must also comply with all University regulations, rules, and codes of conduct governing students on campus.

Deadline:

Apply by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, November 19, 2023 to be considered.

To apply:

Please apply online by visiting the following link: https://go.ufl.edu/sefsenviroleaders

*If you would like to first preview all questions, visit the following link to view a PDF version of the application: PDF Application

Fellowship Team

Brian Abramowitz

K-12 Education and Outreach Coordinator, UF Thompson Earth Systems Institute’s Scientist in Every Florida School program
Email: babramowitz@floridamuseum.ufl.edu

Lexi Bolger

Graduate Coordinator, SEFS Environmental Leaders Fellowship
Email: abolger@ufl.edu

Rebecca Burton

Communications Manager, UF Thompson Earth Systems Institute
Email: rlburton@floridamuseum.ufl.edu

Megan Ennes

Director, UF Thompson Earth Systems Institute & Assistant Curator of Museum Education, Florida Museum of Natural History
Email: mennes@floridamuseum.ufl.edu

Stephanie Killingsworth

K-12 Education and Outreach Coordinator, UF Thompson Earth Systems Institute’s Scientist in Every Florida School program
Email: skillingsworth@floridamuseum.ufl.edu

Sadie Mills

Program Coordinator and Educator, UF Thompson Earth Systems Institute
Email: smills@floridamuseum.ufl.edu

Mariela Pajuelo

Assistant Scientist, UF Thompson Earth Systems Institute
Email: mpajuelo@floridamuseum.ufl.edu

Funding Sources

Smallwood Foundation