— by COASST Intern: Jenna Green —
Have you ever wondered who is replying to your emails under the “COASST Intern” title?
My name is Jenna Green, and I am currently a senior majoring in Biology at the University of Washington. I’ve had the pleasure of being an intern at COASST for over a year. During my time here, I’ve collected many photos from my experiences, and I’m excited to share them with you to give a glimpse of what goes on behind the scenes!
Interns spend between 4 to 8 hours per week working in the University of Washington’s Fisheries Sciences Building where the COASST office lives. We typically have around 8 undergraduate interns each academic quarter who are vital to supporting the many moving parts of this citizen science program. Miniature profiles on each of us are up on the website every quarter if you want to get to know us a little better! There are many things that keep us occupied. Our tasks include inputting survey data into the COASST database, matching photos to bird records,scanning mailed surveys, replying to participant emails, advertising for upcoming trainings, sleuthing for any missing information, and caring for our office pet, an axolotl named Dinka – likely the most entertaining task!
When we have had enough computer time, we grab our clownfish key ring and head downstairs to the COASST “lab”. In the lab is where we fill and ship supply requests, make survey kits, and occasionally, where we chop and tag beached birds for the COASST teaching collection. We also do weekly freezer checks, making sure our bird feet, wings, and heads are all in the right spots and staying cold!
Even during the summertime when most of us don’t have college classes, interns are still working hard to help run COASST. My favorite part about COASST during the summer is being able to respond to emails and do data entry out in the sunshine next to Lake Washington, which is right outside our building!
One of the best parts of working in the office is getting to be desk-mates with our amazing Participant Coordinator, Allie and Science Coordinator, Florence. My personal favorite “task” is distracting them by asking for advice on my future plans, getting help with my resume, or chatting about fun activities they’ve done recently!
Once a week, all of us interns meet to discuss recent COASST updates, upcoming projects, and most importantly, intern presentations. Every quarter we have a presentation theme, such as seabirds, marine mammals, odd bird species, or a topic of our choice. These presentations give interns the chance to share our interests and build confidence in our presentation skills in a supportive, low-stakes environment.
Being a COASST intern offers a unique behind-the-scenes look at how a large citizen science program operates, while also providing valuable hands-on experience, mentorship, and community.
The work we do helps support COASST participants, and we all love it so much.
