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I began my internship with the Orange County Environmental Protection Division (EPD) back in early August, working with the Compliance Support and Strategic Engagement (CSSE) Program. I am a senior at the University of Central Florida pursuing both a B.S. in Environmental Studies and a minor in Strategic Communication.
In the two months since interning here, I have been able to attend an all-staff meeting, shadow several programs (such as Green PLACE and Development Review Program), and create content for Orange County’s social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook. This is especially true for the EPD’s Pollution Prevention (P2) Week. Whether it was filming a property clean-up, creating informational graphics about secondhand shopping, or documenting our Fix It, Don’t Pitch It! event on September 27, I’ve had the opportunity to combine my knowledge of communications and environmental studies to improve as a science communicator.
Aside from my usual tasks at the office, it has been a pleasure to accompany the Green PLACE team for a variety of activities. This ranges from filming educational videos on invasive species, conducting property inspections, and documenting day-to-day tasks such as clearing trails, treating invasive ant piles, and setting up educational signs. I even had the chance to ask in-depth questions about the land acquisition process that is so central to this program. Seeing more of the behind-the-scenes work got me excited about some of the current projects coming out of our division.
Despite being relatively new, I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at EPD thus far. I am grateful to my supervisor Christina Morgan and all the other EPD team members that were willing to share their knowledge. I look forward to future shadowing opportunities and completing more projects!
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