COSEE Island Earth has developed an innovative partnership with University of Hawaii's School of Communications to offer a media internship for undergraduate students at UH. Students participating will get course credit and a scholarship from the School of Communications.

A portal to the work of the interns so far can be found here...

The University of Hawai’i at Manoa is home to some of the nation’s most preeminent marine scientists and maintains research facilities that attract researchers from all over the globe. The University is also home to an innovative and multidisciplinary School of Communications that fosters creative and original productions via its state of the art media labs and high caliber journalism program. The goal of this pilot program is to develop the skills of Communications students in producing science related content for journalistic and/or multimedia endeavors AND to develop the skill of researchers in communicating effectively to the media.

Communications Students studying journalism, multimedia or organizational communication will have unique access to marine science research from which to draw material to produce "portfolio ready" pieces. These opportunities might include:

Scientist Shadowing & Program Shadowing - Communications students may be partnered with a research team on Coconut Island where they will shadow them during a typical day. Programs might include, work at the marine mammal pen or “Super Sucker” project (a project to mitigate invasive algae in Kaneohe Bay). Communications students may be paired with a scientist or other HIMB professional. Students may attend outreach events and lectures etc. to observe and participate in events that express scientific findings to the general public.

Tours of Research Facilities - Communications students may participate in tours of research facilities on Coconut Island, at the University of Hawaii and at other organizational partners. By touring research facilities communications students will get a better feel of the places they could potentially work if they pursue science media. The students will also have the chance to learn more about scientific processes and gain a better understanding of terminology to translate scientific findings into stories.

Field Expeditions - Communications students may have the opportunity to assist in fieldwork. Possible programs may include HIMB field research on Kaneohe Bay, monk seal rescue and monitoring, HOT (Hawaiian Ocean Time-series) cruises and expeditions with other organizational parterns. By assisting in fieldwork, communications students will see research that is currently happening and what it entails to report in the field. Students will also gain hands-on experience focusing on immediate issues pertaining directly to the Hawaiian Islands.