Name: Clara Schilling
Class Year: 2024
Major: Neuroscience
Hometown: Oxford, UK
Internship Organization: Innovation Academy
Job Title: Generalist
Location: Freiburg, Germany
What's happening at your internship? We would love to hear what kind of work you are doing!
I do something a little different every day. Sometimes I accompany students on sustainability tours and take photos, give presentations to representatives of companies at an industrial park, write posts in German for the organization's website, translate texts from German into English, do research on social and environmental justice in Barcelona, or create educational materials.
Why did you apply for this internship?
I have been involved in sustainability projects in Germany before coming to Bryn Mawr. I grew up in an environment where sustainability was always a topic, and I was curious to see what it would be like to work for an organization that focuses on sustainability. Spending a summer in Freiburg was also a great opportunity. It is a gorgeous city with great public transport which makes it easy to get around and gives me a sense of freedom and independence.
What has been your favorite part of this internship?
One of my favorite projects so far was a project on the effects of biodiversity and emotion. I got to do research for a little bit over a week and present my findings to a group of company representatives and apprentices at the industrial park we work with. I learned a lot about the connection between nature and psychology and how that ties in with psychology. I also got to practice translating something that was written in a scientific language into a language that laypeople can understand. I also love giving presentations, so it was a lot of fun for me.
What is something you have learned from your internship that you didn't expect?
I learned how to be clear about what I want to work on. My supervisors give me several options of projects that I could work on, and I get to state my preferences. It is a form of taking initiative that I had not expected. I'm doing some research on social and environmental justice projects in Barcelona. Some of the sources I'm using are only available in Catalan, which I am getting better at understanding. Knowing Portuguese and Spanish definitely helps with that! I've never spoken or read Catalan before.
Can you talk about the skills you are learning and why they are important to you?
I'm learning how to communicate scientific findings to a broader audience, and I'm getting better at communication in general, e.g., writing posts for the website. I also find that I am getting better at researching places online. I'm learning how to speak up for myself; we have a flexible work schedule which means I can come into the office earlier or leave later if I want to, but I have to talk to my supervisors about that. Sometimes I'm a little shy to ask whether I could go early or take a day off, but I've done it a few times now and am really enjoying it.
What has been the biggest challenge you have faced at your internship?
In the first week, I accompanied a lot of trips (cycling/hiking) which were pretty long and tiring. Physically that was the biggest challenge, but I was lucky to see some cities in France and go to Basel, Switzerland - it's also really hot here so doing physical activity is extra tiring.
Can you give us three adjectives and three nouns that describe your internship experience?
Nouns: outdoors, communication, research
Adjectives: familial, mission-driven, relaxed
What is most rewarding about your internship?
Presenting my research or seeing one of my texts published on the website.
Visit the Summer Internship Stories page to read more about student internship experiences.