Our Summer Intern Bids Farewell

The SE Climate Science Center had the privilege of hosting a student intern this summer. Paige Breen, a rising junior at Yale University, spent a good part of the summer working on a number of important projects for the SE CSC. She also exemplifies the terrific talent and energy of a young person interested and committed to the challenges of global change.
Here, she shares with us some of the insights and impressions she gleaned from her experience this summer.
1. Tell me what you are studying at Yale?
I am studying the relationship between climate change and energy from many different angles. I find this topic so intriguing because I get to look at it from several different angles–everything from a political and legal perspective to a science and technology one.
2. What prompted you to seek an internship with the SE CSC?
This summer, I was interested in looking at what was going on concerning climate change in my hometown, Raleigh. I saw a news story about the Southeast Climate Science Center’s Grand Opening back in January, and wanted to learn more about the Center. It looked like a great combination of many different disciplines and the perfect way to learn more about how many different groups are addressing climate change.
3. What projects did you most enjoy working on?
I liked any project that required me to research what various groups throughout the US are doing related to climate change. Luckily, many of the projects I worked on fall into that category; the Global Change Monitoring Portal, for example, involved looking into climate-monitoring programs and their stations, and, in a broader sense, searching for newsletter items and news stories demanded that I peruse a lot of relevant and current information related to climate change.
4. Did the internship change your future plan of study? If so, how?
While interning at the Southeast Climate Science Center, I realized how important it is to have a solid understanding of the science behind climate change. Although I’m still trying to figure out what that means for my future studies, I think it will mean studying geology more in-depth.
5. Did you find the internship useful, and if so why?
This internship was very useful! Before interning, I was not quite sure what kinds of careers people interested in climate change usually had. This summer, I saw what a great variety of options are available for those interested in climate science and what kind of work each option might entail. Now I have a better sense of what my career could be like and how to prepare for it.
 6. Is there anything you might have liked to spend more time working on?
Although I am not very experienced with computer coding, I enjoyed learning a bit to put the newsletter together. I might have liked to work on other projects that required me to test and stretch my ability with computers.
7. How will you spend the rest of your time before heading back to school?
After I figure out my exact plans for my course of study, I’ll need to work on putting together a “shopping list” for courses next semester at Yale (we finalize our course schedules a week or so into the semester). I’ll also be studying for the GRE, relaxing a lot, and spending time with friends and family.
Thank you to Aranzazu and the Southeast Climate Science Center for this wonderful opportunity!