SC State's Environmental Sciences Field Station Provides Recession Proof Career Training

ORANGEBURG, SC – March 10, 2009 – SC State’s Savannah River Environmental Sciences Field Station (SRESFS) provides internships for SC State students and recession proof career training for undergraduate students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Minority Institutions (MIs) and other institutions.

Environmental scientist is a recession proof job category, of note in today’s economy. Also, there is now a strong focus on green jobs and a green economy. These are all incentives, I believe, for a student to apply to the Field Station since it provides unique environmental science training at the Savannah River Site, said Professor Denise Grant, Interim Director of SRESFS.

SRESFS, managed by SC State, is committed totally to minority undergraduate research as well as the recruitment and retention of minority students and women in science, engineering, natural resources management and environmental career professions.

SRESFS interns will gain excellent training experience and earn up to a $1600 stipend per session plus paid tuition, room, and additional fees. They will also earn up to 8 credit hours per session. Each session will last 4.5 weeks. Interested students should visit the SRESFS website at http://www.cnrt.scsu.edu/fieldstation/ to find an application, course offerings and dates, contact persons and other program information.

SRESFS identifies undergraduate students majoring in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) who possess talent and desire a career in science, engineering, natural resources management and environmental science. Talented non-STEM majors are also invited to apply. SRESFS has offered multi-week courses for the past 11 years. The classes are held at a world- class scientific research facility: the Savannah River Site in Aiken, S.C. Interns are housed at USC-Aiken.

The Field Station concept was proposed in 1995 by Dr. Ambrose O. Anoruo, former professor at SC State University. The first multi-week courses were offered in the summer of 1998. HBCUs, MIs and other institutions in the Southeast were invited to contribute to the development of the Savannah River Environmental Sciences Field Station. Many of these institutions are now members of the Field Station.

The SRESFS is a registered member of the Organization of Biological Field Stations. It is the first Field Station in the country devoted to minority undergraduate research and education in science, mathematics and engineering. The SRESFS program has provided a unique academic opportunity for over 600 students from various SRESFS member institutions since its inception. These student interns have collectively earned more than 7500 credit hours.

The SRESFS deadline for the application is Mar. 20, 2009.

The following are SRESFS member institutions:

· Allen University, Columbia, S.C

· Benedict College, Columbia, S.C.

· Claflin University, Orangeburg, S.C.

· Clemson University, Clemson, S.C

· Morris College, Sumter, S.C.

· SC State University, Orangeburg, S.C.

· University of South Carolina Aiken, Aiken, S.C.

· University of South Carolina, Columbia, S.C

· Voorhees College, Denmark, S.C.

· Elizabeth City State University, Elizabeth City, N.C.

· Fayetteville State University, Fayetteville, N.C.

· Johnson C. Smith University, Charlotte, N.C.

· Livingstone College, Salisbury, N.C.

· North Carolina A&T University, Greensboro, N.C.

· University of South Florida, Tampa, Fla.

· Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, Fla.

· Tennessee State University, Nashville, Tenn.

· Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, Ala.

· Augusta State College, Augusta, Ga.

· Albany State College, Albany, Ga.

· Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, Ga.

· Fort Valley State University, Fort Valley, Ga.

· Gainesville College, Gainesville, Ga.

· Mercer University, Macon, Ga.

· Morehouse College, Atlanta, Ga.

· Paine College, Augusta, Ga.

· Savannah State University, Savannah, Ga.

· Spelman College, Atlanta, Ga.

· University of Georgia, Statesboro, Ga.