Mentoring Pacific Island Students for Conservation Careers

The Pacific Internship Programs for Exploring Science (PIPES) link undergraduates to environmental careers and mentor the next generation of scientists, educators, and managers for Hawaiʻi and the Pacific. PIPES uses formal and informal educational frameworks to deepen a sense of kuleana (responsibility) and provide opportunities for engagement in research and conservation practices in a higher education setting. Each summer, 30 to 40 students participate in an intensive, full-time, paid internship program for 10 weeks; 580 undergraduates have completed the program to date. These immersive experiences in science, natural resource management, environmental education, and Hawaiian values help ground interns in the intent of their daily work and provide rich opportunities to develop a deep connection to field sites and organizations.