Green politics at IOP

An environmental call to action issued by Harvard President Drew Faust accelerated this year, with a pledge to reduce campus-wide greenhouse gas emissions and with an October celebration of sustainability efforts.

Green efforts continue to roll in from the Harvard community. The Harvard Kennedy School’s Institute of Politics (IOP), for example, just announced five new internships that promote civic action on the environment. The traditional Director’s Internship Program sponsors paid summer work and learning experiences lasting eight to 12 weeks.

This summer, two of the new IOP sustainability interns will go to the Alliance for Climate Protection in San Francisco. One IOP intern each will go to the Office of Sustainability and Environment for Mayor Greg Nickels in Seattle, to Resources for the Future in Washington, D.C., and to Riverkeeper in Tarrytown, N.Y.

“We are proud to join President Faust’s campaign for sustainability and Harvard’s commitment to preservation of our environment,” said IOP Director Bill Purcell. “Our Director’s Internship Program is one of the most important ways we provide Harvard undergraduates a chance to participate in public service, and this initiative significantly increases opportunities to gain experience in this critical area.”

IOP now sponsors more than 50 summer internships for Harvard undergraduates planning careers in politics or public service. Applications are available Jan. 1 and due Feb. 19. Keep an eye on the IOP Web site, http://www.iop.harvard.edu.

If you have a Harvard sustainability program to highlight, contact the Harvard University Gazette at corydon_ireland@harvard.edu.