National Geographic Society & The Nature Conservancy Community Conservation, Data Visualization, and Mapping Externship

✓ The National Geographic Society + The Nature Conservancy Community Conservation, Data Visualization, and Mapping Externship is an 8-week, part-time, fully remote experience where you'll tackle pressing conservation issues in your own community and drive positive change using mapping and geographic information systems (GIS) data.
Learning from conservation and GIS experts at the National Geographic Society and The Nature Conservancy, you'll explore key topics such as biodiversity loss, marine issues, and freshwater threats. You'll get hands-on training with Esri mapping and GIS tools, conduct your own location-based data research, and create maps and StoryMaps that make conservation challenges relevant to any community, all while building skills that fuel a purpose-driven career in conservation.

✓ Youth-focused: youth between 18 and 30 years old represents <75% of their “Space for Youth” project target beneficiaries;
✓ Youth-led: <75% the governance bodies members of the “Space for Youth” project are between 18 and 30 years old;
✓ And preferably youth-owned: the youth organisations are “owned” by a person or a collective of members between 18 and 30 years old.

What You'll Work On
✓ Biodiversity & Conservation Topics
Explore resources and case studies on conservation topics such as biodiversity issues and solutions, and understand the relationship between geography, biodiversity, and community conservation.

✓ Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
Gain foundational knowledge in GIS, a powerful tool used to create, manage, analyze, and map all types of data for sustainable conservation.
✓ Public Speaking & Presentation Skills
Present your solutions and showcase your ability to communicate complex information effectively and engagingly.
✓ Solution-Finding
Identify conservation solutions that are unique to your own community and the challenges it faces.
‍✓ Map Creation & Storytelling
Build new maps and Esri StoryMaps that highlight local conservation issues and tell compelling stories, while understanding the ethics and application of maps in conservation.

✓ $500 Stipend
✓ Conservation Literacy:Develop a nuanced understanding of core conservation challenges and the geographic and community tools used to address them.
✓ Research & Insight Development:Practice both primary and secondary research methods, then translate findings into clear, actionable insights.
✓ Community-Focused Problem-Solving:Learn structured frameworks for spotting gaps in local conservation efforts and shaping realistic, impact-oriented solutions that align with regional needs.
✓ Cross-Sector Collaboration:Engage with The National Geographic Society and The Nature Conservancy experts, gaining firsthand exposure to how scientists, communicators, and community partners drive conservation initiatives together.
✓ Portfolio-Ready Deliverables:Produce an Esri StoryMap that you can showcase in future academic, professional, or grant applications.
✓ Global-to-Local Systems Thinking:Strengthen your ability to trace how large-scale conservation challenges ripple into local communities, cultures, and ecosystems.