Sustainable Systems Internship

Sustainable Systems Internship

Cape Eleuthera Institute

Island School Organization Overview 

The Island School, a not-for-profit organization based in Eleuthera, The Bahamas, was founded in 1999 to create and support transformational educational experiences with the mission of leadership effecting change. The diverse CEIS educational initiatives, including the Island School Semester and Summer Term, Deep Creek Middle School, the Elementary Learning Center, and Community Outreach, deliver unique education in partnership with the authentic and meaningful work our organization undertakes in research, sustainable development and innovation at the Cape Eleuthera Institute. 

The Big “WE”: The Island School operates as a close-knit, mission-driven, island-based educational community. Collaboration, flexibility, and shared responsibility are central to our work with students and to life on campus. This community-based approach is a defining feature of employment at The Island School and an essential part of our educational mission.

Job Summary 

The Island School’s growing campus includes a collection of more than 20 buildings functioning together with shared infrastructure and shared physical resources. We operate in a remote location with a mission of sustainable living, aiming to minimize our environmental footprint while providing our community with access to clean electricity, clean water, waste disposal, clean transportation, and comfortable living conditions. 

Water resource systems at The Island School include rainwater capture and storage, well pumping, a small reverse osmosis plant, and UV sterilization. We manage our wastewater with septic beds, aerobic biofiltration, and artificial wetlands. Our renewable energy portfolio includes grid-tied solar, battery energy storage (BESS), a small wind turbine, and a legacy of waste-to-energy (WTE) systems including biodiesel and anaerobic digestion. We are in the process of implementing a data acquisition system (DAS) to monitor sustainability goals in water and energy. Other built systems on campus provide support for a marine research laboratory, a boathouse and dive shop, a kitchen and dining hall, a waste management bay, and an operations compound with automotive repair, carpentry, electrical, plumbing, and logistics. 

Internship Requirements

• Aged 19+ with at least one year of professional or college experience 
• Completed or be in the process of completing an associate’s degree or equivalent education in Mechanical, Environmental, Civil, Chemical, Software, or Electrical Engineering or Data/Computer Science
• In lieu of education, a minimum of 2-4 years of experience in water resources technology, wastewater management, energy, or other relevant fields
• Ability to work independently as part of a team, and be adaptable to a flexible schedule 
• Prepared to work in sunny, hot and humid conditions
• Able to lift at least 15 lbs. 

Schedule

During a typical work week, you will be expected to work Monday through Friday (on rare occasions may be asked to work evenings and weekends) on an eclectic mix of projects and tasks related to the summary above. This internship tends to be quite hands-on, and includes any or all of the following: use of tools and data to maintain, troubleshoot, and diagnose systems; new project design and construction; data collection and analysis; technology reviews; use of Google Suite software and computer aided design, etc. There is also a significant teaching component during Fall and Spring semesters, during which our team delivers an extensive research experience to a small class of high school students. There are also opportunities to help out with local outreach initiatives both during and outside of work hours.

Applications for this internship are accepted year round. Please check our website for program dates. Internships run for 2-4 months.