‘Green Teams’ Partner with Firms to Reduce Ecological Footprints

The Green Teams will spread out across the Garden State this summer to tackle how industries and communities adapt and innovate greener ways of doing business.

Over 10 weeks, the interns will research, innovate and offer creative approaches to help businesses and cities in New Jersey reduce their ecological footprints. The program is based at Montclair State University, where the PSEG Institute for Sustainability Studies supports research and community projects, including climate change in New Jersey and energy and water studies globally.

Forty undergraduate students are taking part in the 2019 Green Teams, coming from 15 different colleges and bringing with them diverse interests and majors, from STEM to business and public health to writing arts. Students learn valuable skills in team work, professional project management and delivery that increases their value as future employees.

“We are grateful to all involved, including our corporate, government, non-profit and academic partners, who help make these real-world educational opportunities available to our diverse group of talented students,” says Amy Tuininga, the Institute’s director.

The paid internships are supported by the PSEG Foundation, academic and corporate partners and a grant from the National Science Foundation and offered in partnership with New Jersey Higher Education Partnership for Sustainability.

This summer, students will be working at New Jersey Natural Gas, Artificial Intelligence; New Jersey Natural Gas, Renewable Natural Resources; The City of Newark; Newark Science and Sustainability Inc.; FoamCycle; PGIM; PSEG; and Montclair State University Facilities.

The program will end on Aug. 7 with a presentation of final projects from 10 a.m.  – noon at Montclair State’s Alexander Kasser Theater. The keynote guest will be Kyra Kaszynski, whose work in global public policy at Deloitte implements strategy for inclusive growth with key stakeholders, including the United Nations, the G20 and Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.