Northern Waters Internship (Spring & Summer 2020)
Time commitment:
12-16 Week Commitment. At least 2-3 full days per week.
Summary:
Interns in this gallery assist staff with basic husbandry responsibilities of the New England Aquarium’s Northern Waters Exhibit, home to the brilliant octopus, the unique goosefish, and the animals of our coast. The gallery, also known as ‘Cold Marine’, features animals found in both the Atlantic Northeast and the Pacific Northwest. From Atlantic Cod to chimera, from anemones to sea cucumbers, interns in this gallery have the opportunity to learn about the treasured and mysterious animals of the cold and deep ocean.
Duties/Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Provide daily care, maintenance, and assist with the appearance of the gallery
- Cleaning exhibit windows
- Taking and recording temperatures
- Food preparation and feeding
- Assist with enrichment activities for the octopus
- Siphoning detritus from tanks
- Monitoring water quality
- Cleaning filters
- Organizing and cleaning behind the scenes
- Collecting animals from the Aquarium docks and local salt marshes for exhibit tanks
- Attend professional development sessions with the Volunteer Programs and Internships office
Skills/Qualifications:
- The ability to climb multiple flights of stairs
- Physically able to lift 50 lbs
- Capable of working independently and as a team
- Able to take and carry out multiple instructions in a timely manner
- Must be comfortable working with animal food items
Organizational Description:
The New England Aquarium’s mission is to protect the blue planet through hands-on programs, live animal and interactive exhibits, public lectures and forums, and research and conservation projects.
This mission is fulfilled through exhibits, and through education, conservation and research programs. Exhibits showcase the diversity, importance and beauty of aquatic life and habitats, and highlight critical aquatic conservation issues. Programs emphasize species, habitats and issues critical to New England. The Aquarium is also a pioneer in marine animal rescue, and a leading ocean conservation organization with research scientists working around the globe.
The New England Aquarium serves as a responsive community resource that attracts and involves the broadest possible audience; seeks a culturally diverse staff and governing board that reflect our community; adheres to the highest standards of animal stewardship; and is committed to delivering the highest quality visitor experience in a welcoming and enjoyable manner that evokes wonder, curiosity, understanding, caring and action.
Department Description:
The Cold Marine staff support the New England Aquarium’s mission to protect the blue planet by creating and maintaining exhibits that encourage the public to care about the ocean and to become involved in conservation.