Hutton Junior Fisheries Program
If you are interested in a career in fisheries science and management (or even just conservation biology) you should seriously consider this unique program sponsored by the American Fisheries Society. Each year, a small number of high school students are paid to work for 8 weeks, including through hands-on projects related to habitat, protection and restoration. It’s a fabulous way to spend your summer outside, learning and getting paid. This type of opportunity lends major credibility to the claim that you are keen to be a biologist!
“The Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program (Hutton Program) is an educational program sponsored by the American Fisheries Society (AFS) for high school students. The principal goal of the Hutton Program is to increase diversity within the Fisheries Profession and to stimulate interest in careers in Fisheries science and management among groups underrepresented in the fisheries professions, including minorities and women.
The Hutton Program is a paid summer internship and mentoring program for students in grades 11 (juniors) and 12 (seniors) interested in pursuing science disciplines associated with natural resource and environment management. Under the Hutton Program, selected students benefit from an eight week hands-on fisheries science summer experience in a marine and/or freshwater setting.
The Hutton Program provides its scholars with hands-on activities that increase awareness of conservation issues, the importance of healthy aquatic systems, and career opportunities in fisheries. As the students work with their mentors, they gain an awareness of conservation issues and the importance of healthy aquatic systems. On a daily basis, students are participating in projects relevant to fisheries science, habitat protection and restoration. By the end of the summer, the students have an understanding of what is involved in being a fisheries biologist and the career opportunities available in the field of fisheries science. In this way, this program addresses a crucial issue that affects the future of the fisheries profession by mentoring those pursuing a career in fisheries science and filling the anticipated gap from the retirement of almost half of its fisheries biologists in the next few years.”
How do I get started? Click here.
How do I expand this narrative arc? Looking for ways to continue some of the great work you did over the summer? Consider a local environmental project or experiment that promotes science research and or sustainability. For example:
Make sure to leave your time at Hutton Jr. Fisheries with a long-term plan for continuing your research (and, ideally, also a mentor to help oversee and troubleshoot your work). Identify one of the big science fairs (like Regeneron STS) and shoot high!
Start a Tulip Test Garden and advance our understanding of how climate change is impacting the cycles of perennial flowers
If are a girl, consider spending a fascinating summer doing research on a glacier with Girls on Ice
Engage in urban beautification through Guerrilla Gardening or Incredible Edible
Take you interest in biology to outer space when you send a science experiment to the International Space Station through Cubes in Space or Dream Up