Opportunities

AIHEC hosts the TCU Climate Resilience Student Research Program, a 12-week summer experiential learning opportunity through which undergraduate students participate in identifying and addressing climate change and energy issues in their respective American Indian and Alaska Native communities. The program is designed for TCU Indigenous students who are passionate about taking action to address climate change affecting Tribal lands and supporting Tribal leadership in all areas of Nation-building affected by climate challenges. Students acquire an understanding of the range of approaches, tools, and ethical guidelines for climate research, a grounded understanding of different types of climate change and energy data, and the different ways to organize research and planning for climate change adaptation and renewable energy. Previous projects have included climate change impacts on water resources (e.g., lakes, rivers and snowfall), vegetation (e.g., forests, gardening and farming), soil and the effects of those resource changes as related to culture and community.

Students meet weekly with mentor support. Near-Peer Mentors provide student support toward an understanding of climate change, and serve in a role-modelling capacity, providing perspectives related to Indigenous knowledge and ways of knowing. The Near-Peer Mentors work in close collaboration with a Professional Development Mentor. The Professional Development Mentor leads twice-weekly workshops, describing topics relevant to climate change, and potential student career pathways in that area.

In this program, students will:

• Experience first-hand the roles and impacts of applied research in supporting Tribal Nations and Indigenous peoples more broadly in their adaptive responses to climate change challenges.
• Work on environmental science projects supervised by and in collaboration with local and national research scientists.
• Receive training in the use of tools and instrumentation necessary to monitor and address climate issues, particularly those impacting food security, energy independence, and the management of water resources.
• Work with a diverse set of teachers and mentors who will support their understanding of climate change, with a strong focus on Indigenous and local knowledge and perspectives.
• Participate in career and personal development workshops toward a career pathway in which they can continue their climate change work professionally.

Program Coordinator:  Lisa Vandever, [email protected], 928.225.8802

Funding for the program is provided by the Bay and Paul Foundation.

Applications are now closed