Internships
Want to know about some exciting volunteering activities you can do in your summer? Well you've come to the right place...
Volcano Observatory Opportunities
by Stefan LachowyczThere are three volcano observatories with established volunteer programs, described below. It might be possible to arrange something with other volcano observatories where our volcanology group has contacts, e.g. SERNAGEOMIN/ OVDAS (Chile) or PHIVOLCS (The Philippines).
Hawaii Volcano Observatory - home page volunteering info - The most well established program, but unlikely to take non-US citizens. This is a relatively well-run observatory with unparalleled opportunities to gain experience in volcano monitoring, although typically only in one specific sub-discipline. Unfortunately, apparently only US citizens are permitted to drive US government vehicles, so citizens of other countries are unlikely to be accepted as volunteers (especially during the summer when they have more applicants to choose from). As a result, no students from our department have volunteered here recently, so we don’t have any info beyond that available on their website. Hawaii probably lives up to the hype, including that about high living costs.
Montserrat Volcano Observatory - home page - Internship focussed on a specific research project, rather than general volunteering. The internship scheme here is slightly different from volunteering at the others, in that you are expected to work on a research project fairly independently. You can either write a research proposal or choose a project on offer (writing a proposal probably improves your chances of getting a place); prior research experience isn't essential. Interns usually help the observatory staff with fieldwork, so even with a desk-based project, you wouldn't be stuck in an office the whole time. Internships are normally for 2 months; they only take a couple of volunteers at any time, and most will apply for the summer months, so early application is recommended. Currently the details of the scheme are not available on their temporary website. Montserrat is great if spending a couple of months on a small Caribbean island suits you, but it is surprisingly expensive (less so if the observatory can offer accommodation, which it has done in the past). Previous interns: Stefan Lachowycz ([email protected]), Harriet Rawson ([email protected]), Emma Nicholson.
Centre of Exchange and Research in Volcanology (Colima, Mexico) - home page volunteering intro volunteering application info - Variety of work and fieldwork with independent research opportunities. Run by an English volcanologist who's a lecturer at the Universidad de Colima, volunteers at this centre do most of the collection and processing of monitoring data from Colima Volcano. The work can be quite demanding (you're expected to figure a lot of things out for yourself, and things go wrong all the time!), but it is possible (and encouraged) to do research for a 4th year project alongside helping out. Colima doesn’t really have many attractions, but is relatively wealthy and safe for Mexico, and the Pacific coast and Guadalajara are short coach rides away. Living costs are much lower than the main alternatives, although the volunteer house is rather basic. Volunteers able to commit to 2 months or more are preferred; apply early for a position during the summer. Previous volunteers: Stefan Lachowycz ([email protected]), Daniel Frost, Elspeth Robertson, William Hutchison ([email protected]), Erica Webb, Philip Kennedy, Oliver Lamb, Matthew Hammond.
Hawaii Volcano Observatory - home page volunteering info - The most well established program, but unlikely to take non-US citizens. This is a relatively well-run observatory with unparalleled opportunities to gain experience in volcano monitoring, although typically only in one specific sub-discipline. Unfortunately, apparently only US citizens are permitted to drive US government vehicles, so citizens of other countries are unlikely to be accepted as volunteers (especially during the summer when they have more applicants to choose from). As a result, no students from our department have volunteered here recently, so we don’t have any info beyond that available on their website. Hawaii probably lives up to the hype, including that about high living costs.
Montserrat Volcano Observatory - home page - Internship focussed on a specific research project, rather than general volunteering. The internship scheme here is slightly different from volunteering at the others, in that you are expected to work on a research project fairly independently. You can either write a research proposal or choose a project on offer (writing a proposal probably improves your chances of getting a place); prior research experience isn't essential. Interns usually help the observatory staff with fieldwork, so even with a desk-based project, you wouldn't be stuck in an office the whole time. Internships are normally for 2 months; they only take a couple of volunteers at any time, and most will apply for the summer months, so early application is recommended. Currently the details of the scheme are not available on their temporary website. Montserrat is great if spending a couple of months on a small Caribbean island suits you, but it is surprisingly expensive (less so if the observatory can offer accommodation, which it has done in the past). Previous interns: Stefan Lachowycz ([email protected]), Harriet Rawson ([email protected]), Emma Nicholson.
Centre of Exchange and Research in Volcanology (Colima, Mexico) - home page volunteering intro volunteering application info - Variety of work and fieldwork with independent research opportunities. Run by an English volcanologist who's a lecturer at the Universidad de Colima, volunteers at this centre do most of the collection and processing of monitoring data from Colima Volcano. The work can be quite demanding (you're expected to figure a lot of things out for yourself, and things go wrong all the time!), but it is possible (and encouraged) to do research for a 4th year project alongside helping out. Colima doesn’t really have many attractions, but is relatively wealthy and safe for Mexico, and the Pacific coast and Guadalajara are short coach rides away. Living costs are much lower than the main alternatives, although the volunteer house is rather basic. Volunteers able to commit to 2 months or more are preferred; apply early for a position during the summer. Previous volunteers: Stefan Lachowycz ([email protected]), Daniel Frost, Elspeth Robertson, William Hutchison ([email protected]), Erica Webb, Philip Kennedy, Oliver Lamb, Matthew Hammond.