Accepting student applications for upcoming NHEC NM Environmental STEM Institute, Aug 6-15 2021

The National Hispanic Environmental Council (NHEC) is pleased to announce it has resumed holding its "Environmental STEM Institutes".    
With nationwide Covid vaccination available, adhering to all CDC and state guidelines, and with the full knowledge/participation of NHEC's federal agency funders, NHEC has restarted the program for 2021. To be clear -- this means the Institutes will be in-person, not virtual.  Therefore, to participate students must be fully vaccinated; submit a copy of the CDC card providing proof of vaccination; and follow other CDC and NM State covid guidelines. 

NHEC is accepting applications from top undergraduate college STEM students (and a limited number of high school STEM seniors entering college in Sept) for its upcoming 17th annual NM Environmental STEM Institute, to be held August 6--15, 2021.  NHEC's NY and CA Institutes will be held later in the fall.
The NHEC Institute is an intensive, science-heavy, hands-on, 10 day residential environmental STEM program.  Taught by NHEC's skilled Instructors, most with Ph.D's, the Institutes feature multiple high-level presentations on environmental/natural resource issues, environmental science principles, and related methodologies. The Institute will be held at sites in beautiful northern and southern New Mexico, including Albuquerque, Las Cruces, and Santa Fe.  NHEC’s federal sponsors -- the U.S. Forest Service, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and U.S. EPA -- are actively participating in planning and on-site.  Students will explore diverse ecosystems in national forests, national parks, and other public/private lands; federal research laboratories; and more. Also included are almost daily “Environmental Field Studies”, where students conduct air, water, soil testing, plant/vegetation surveys, tree mensuration, and more, with professional-grade science equipment.  Other learning includes conducting tests in a federal research lab; sessions on federal internships/jobs in enviro/natural resource STEM fields; mentorship by scientists/staff -- especially those of color -- from Institute sponsors and others; and much more.
Overall, the Institutes are designed to help build the next generation of diverse/of color scientists and professionals in environmental and natural resource science fields, an area within STEM that still remains severely underrepresented for people of color.      
Students should note that the Institute’s federal sponsors will be on-site to actively meet/recruit students for new federal opportunities emerging in internships and jobs, science and technology, climate change and environmental justice, and more.   
Please see the attached Fact Sheet and Selection Criteria for more information on the Institutes, NHEC, and how to apply. Qualified students should act promptly on this unique opportunity, as slots go fast. As with previous Institutes, NHEC covers all costs -- airfare, meals, housing, more -- for those selected to attend.  There is no fee to apply and no fee to attend.  Students will be competitively selected from across the U.S. and Puerto Rico. 
 
Eligibility -- Students must have a minimum 3.0 GPA; love science and be passionate about the environment; pursuing a science degree in an environmental, agricultural, or natural resource major; possess  science-relevant academic coursework; and possess relevant environmental experience(s), past or present.  Students must either be US Citizens or Legal Permanent Residents to be selected.  

Please see the attached FAQ for more application details!

2021--nm_institute--fact_sheet.pdf
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