Internship Impacts

BU URBAN Trainees partner with government, non-governmental, and private sector organizations to tackle urban environmental challenges together. Host organizations present real-world data and problems that could benefit from a fresh and dedicated perspective. Graduate students contribute their expertise in urban biogeoscience and environmental health and during their internships learn new skills, expand their professional network, and explore new career paths. Click the topics below to learn about student internships and the products that resulted from their work.

Do you have a project that you’d like an URBAN graduate student to help tackle? Reach out to urban@bu.edu to discuss.

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Click to learn how trainees work to improve the air we breathe.

Investigating Trends in Urban Nitrogen Dioxide Pollution Across the US​

Trainee	Project	Project Partner
	Constructing an Understanding of Low-Cost Air Quality Monitoring
	Improving Classroom Ventilation in Andover, MA	& Town of Andover
	Understanding Chelsea, MA’s Air Pollution in a Changing Climate
	Pollution, People, and Power Plants: Health Burdens in Peabody, MA
	Community Monitoring of Aviation Air Pollution
	Investigating Trends in Urban Nitrogen Dioxide Pollution Across the US

Click to learn how trainees work to improve the water we drink.

Trainee	Project	Project Partner
	Coastal Vulnerability in the Merrimack River Watershed
	Investigating and Remediating Contaminated Sites in New England	Environmental Resources Management
	Detecting Drug Consumption with Wastewater
	Using Whole Genome Sequencing to Study the Invasive Pathogen Vibrio parahaemolyticus
	Tracking Historic and Current Water Quality of the Charles River
	Investigating the impacts of estuarine water quality and ecological regime shifts on fish species in the northeastern United States

Click to learn how trainees tackle climate challenges.

Trainee	Project	Project Partner
	Adapting to Climate Change through Policy Innovation
	Advancing Health and Energy Equity in the United States
	Accounting for Greenhouse gases and Energy Use in Tompkins County, NY
	Informing Electrification in Cambridge, MA	Cambridge City Councillor Quinton Zondervann
	Forecasting Lyme Disease in Southern Maine
	Wildlife Exposure to Heavy Metals and Disease in the Adirondacks, NY
	Climate Justice Technical Expert for the Green Ribbon Commission’s Collaborative Climate Action Planning Program
	Review of Nature-Related Topics in the 5th National Climate Assessment
	Establishing Performance Goals, Metrics, and Targets for Evaluating the Performance of ENO’s and TNO’s Grid Resiliency Investments
	Simulating Mid-Century Climate Impacts on New York City’s Energy Demands
	Science Communication on Heat Adaptation: Connecting Community Members, Decision-makers, and Researchers
	Mobility, Open Space, and Climate Justice: Advancing Climate Projects in the Consulting Context
	Mitigating the Effects of Extreme Heat on the Residents of Chelsea, MA
	Mapping and Modeling Urban Heat in Baltimore
	Bridging the Gap Between Research and Action on Climate Change and Health
	Women’s Climate Shock Insurance Initiative: Piloting an Early Heat Warning System
	Improving Uncertainty Quantification for Carbon Forecasts
	Modeling Heat Impacts of a New Neighborhood: Beacon Park Yards Framework Plan	City of Boston Planning and Development Agency
	Modeling Patterns of Residential Heating Consumption in Massachusetts
	Digitizing Massachusetts Gas System to Aid in Resilient Energy Transition
	Climate Resilience Startup Pilot
	Powering Equity: Centering Communities in NYC’s Battery Storage Future
	Extended Producer Responsibility Policies and Procedures Across U.S. States

Click to learn how trainees work to improve urban greenspace.

Trainee	Project	Project Partner
	Planting Trees with a Purpose in Arlington, MA
	Developing an Urban Forest Plan for Providence, RI	& City of Providence, RI
	Mapping Tree Equity in Boston, MA
	Cooling with Plants: Evaluating Ecosystem Services in Boston, MA	City of Boston
	Expanding Green Roof Gardens at Boston University
	Biomass Estimation to Aid Industrial Response to Climate Change
	Evaluating Boston’s Organic Waste Cycles: Keeping Compost Clean for Community Gardens
	Ecological Stewardship and Restoration in Massachusetts
	Identifying where private trees can benefit the public
	Mapping Trees and Their Public Health Benefits in Boston, MA
	Improving Carbon Crediting for Reforestation Projects