The PSEG Institute for Sustainability Studies (PSEG ISS) was established at Montclair University with the mission of creating academic-corporate-public partnerships to address pressing sustainability challenges. A key feature of the PSEG ISS is the Green Teams program, which will be operating for the ninth consecutive year in 2024. This internship program pairs a transdisciplinary group of college students with hosting organizations for ten weeks to complete sustainability related projects. The interns gain meaningful experience in sustainability related work, while companies hosting interns receive valuable expertise. At the end of the summer, interns participate in a final presentation event where they discuss the deliverables they completed for their hosting organizations and the relevance of their projects to broader sustainability related issues.
A few examples of companies and organizations that have hosted Green Teams in the past include PSEG, the City of Newark, Hackensack Meridian Health, Stryker, Jersey City, Northern New Jersey Community Foundation, Steven Winter Associates, New Jersey Resources, and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. The projects range from helping organizations submit sustainability certifications to GIS and data analysis related work. A recent example is the project interns completed this summer for Hackensack Meridian Health, in which they conducted an analysis to recommend the ideal structure for the health system’s new sustainable transportation program. Last year, a team was hosted by Weeks Marine Inc., a maritime construction company. The interns created a database of the company’s current generator inventory and proposed equipment upgrades that could help reduce their carbon footprint.
Watch: Hackensack Meridian Health Find Value in Green Teams
The Green Teams experience ultimately allows interns from a range of academic disciplines to gain professional experience while making important contributions to sustainability projects at a number of different companies, non-profits, and even municipalities. The program is both valuable for mentoring future sustainability professionals and potential hires for interested companies, while also helping organizations make measurable progress towards their climate related goals. The application for companies or organizations who wish to host interns next summer is currently open and available until early 2024. Businesses at any stage of their sustainability journey who are interested in participating are encouraged to apply!