Internships

Summer interns with the Center for Environmental Farming Systems come from all over the country and world to work with faculty members on focused research projects conducted at CEFS' 2,000-acre research farm in Goldsboro, NC. The internship program also includes weekly classroom learning activities.

2010 Summer Sustainable Agriculture Internship Program

(June 7 – July 30, 2010)

Research Interns Background

Interns scouting a row of tomato plants for pest management.

We are seeking highly motivated undergraduate students with a strong interest in sustainable agriculture. Summer Sustainable Agriculture Interns will learn about the concepts, practices and cutting-edge research on various aspects of sustainable agriculture. During the core eight-week period (June 7 – July 30, 2010), interns will learn about sustainable agriculture from expert faculty and staff at CEFS, through various field activities, discussions, and field trips to local farms and markets. Each intern will also work closely with a CEFS faculty mentor once a week on an individual research project. Please see below for an example of a typical week's activities. It is also expected that each intern will complete a written report and a PowerPoint presentation of his or her research project in the last week of the internship program.

Goals

For a student completing the CEFS Sustainable Agriculture Internship Program, the goals are to:

Describe sustainable agriculture and community food systems from a broad systems perspective
Evaluate a variety of agricultural systems and practices for their sustainability
Improve professional development and collaborative learning interactions with farmers, extension agents, researchers, non-governmental organizations and the community
Understand the scientific research process and leave with knowledge and techniques of data collection and analysis as they relate to sustainable agriculture systems
Appreciate the challenges, constraints and benefits of sustainable agriculture

Background of CEFS

The Center for Environmental Farming Systems is a cooperative effort between N.C. State University, N.C. A&T State University, and the N.C. Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services. CEFS is nationally and internationally recognized for its excellence in sustainable agriculture research and is looking forward to having the opportunity to share our knowledge and resource base with research interns in 2010.