Engagement Opportunities
The SIP Program also offers plenty of opportunities to engage within and outside of your SIP internship. Explore some of the opportunities we offer!
Affinity Groups
SIP participants are invited to join any group of their choosing. If you are new to the idea of affinity groups, that’s okay! Basically, these are just groups which allow a safe space for you to be creative, build community, and learn from one another while being centered around similar identities and/or objectives.
Each group’s structure depends on the availability and capacity of the group member and the chair(s), but will typically include topical group discussions, relationship building, professional development, and other opportunities as they present themselves.
We are offer four different groups, please see descriptions below. DEIJ Change Makers is a group dedicated to topics related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice in STEM fields. Topics of interest include identifying ways to decolonize the STEM field, implementing effective allyship, addressing environmental justice issues, creating accessible content, and more. Group members consist of Scientists in Parks interns and alumni. If you take DEIJ issues seriously but your identity doesn’t align with one of the affinity groups listed below, this is the group for you! The Women+ in Science affinity group aims to support and empower marginalized genders, including women, women-identifying individuals, non-binary, and gender non-conforming people who are comfortable in a space that centers on the experience of women in the Scientists in Parks Program. The meetings will be a safe space for women+ to share thoughts, interests in STEM, and personal and professional experiences in a welcoming environment. The group will also strive to identify and dismantle systemic gender bias within the sciences through education and advocacy. The Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) affinity group is an inclusive and intersectional group dedicated to fostering support to BIPOC participating in STEM fields. The primary aim is to provide a safe space for BIPOC to share their experiences and ideas through the lens of equity, diversity, and inclusion within the Scientists in Parks. Pride in STEM is a safe space to address the needs of SIP participants that identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ community. The group is open to current and past interns looking to provide a support system for one another, increase the visibility of LGBTQIA+ interns within the program, and assist in improving the working environment for all. If you have any questions, please reach out to us at sipengagement@esa.org Please note: We recognize and affirm that our groups may not fully represent the total spectrum of identities within the SIP Program--thus if you feel your identity is not well represented, we affirm you and do not invalidate your experiences. We hope through your participation and feedback we can continue to grow this program and expand our groups and reach!
Travel Awards
The SIP program is pleased to offer current interns and alumni (within the past two years) of the program an opportunity to apply for a travel award to be used to support attendance at either the Ecological Society of America’s (ESA) Annual Meeting or the Geological Society of America’s (GSA) Annual Meeting.
Selected travel awardees will receive up to $1000 to support their attendance at ESA or GSA’s annual meeting. Applicants may apply to both, but are only eligible to receive an award to attend one conference.
To be eligible for this travel award, you must meet the following criteria: •Be either a current SIP intern or former SIP intern with a position end date that is within 2 years from the date of the professional conference for which you hope to attend. Example: If your end date was during 2022 (or later), you are eligible to apply for either ESA’s 2024 conference in August, or GSA’s 2024 conference in September. •Must present your SIP-related research project from your time as a SIP Intern in our session(s) •Must have approval from the park supervisor/mentor to attend the conference and to present information related to the SIP internship project. •For GSA: Must have submitted an abstract to present at GSA. Any presentation format (oral or poster) will be accepted, but those presenting in sessions related to SIP will be given preference. Applications will be selected based on the following criteria: •The quality of the abstract •The quality of the essay Other criteria may also be considered, and preference may be given to people who: •Have submitted an abstract and received acceptance to present at ESA (or GSA). •Have not presented at a scientific conference previously. •Have demonstrated further engagement with the SIP program through the Affinity Groups or other activities. •Participation in SIP engagement activities (e.g. affinity groups, highlights, etc.) Requirements for the Travel Award: •Award funds may only be used to support conference participation at either ESA or GSA’s annual meeting. Funds may be used for flights, ground transportation, lodging, or to cover conference registration. Awardees must turn in receipts for reimbursement. •Travel awardees should wear their SIP logo when presenting. •Presentations must include all relevant logos (SIP logo and partner logos). Logos will be provided upon award acceptance.
The SIP Scoop
The SIP Scoop is Scientist in Parks bi-weekly (sometimes monthly) newsletter. The newsletter highlights intern projects, alumni, events, jobs, conferences, travel awards, and much more! We are always looking for interns to highlight on our newsletter.
Haven’t been receiving the Scoop? Contact us at sipengagment@esa.org!