The ECOR Foundation invites enthusiastic and committed individuals from across India and the world to apply for its Environmental Internship/Training Program, commencing in October 2025. This unique hybrid internship is designed to build capacity in young environmentalists through a combination of virtual academic training and optional hands-on field experience. Whether you are a student, graduate, or early-career researcher, this program provides an opportunity to engage with real-world environmental research, gain scientific writing and publication skills, and contribute meaningfully to marine, coastal, and terrestrial conservation efforts.

Interns will attend online lectures conducted by distinguished environmental experts, covering foundational and advanced topics in marine biodiversity, coastal and freshwater ecosystems, fisheries, forest and terrestrial ecology, climate science, conservation biology, environmental management, renewable energy, soil and water quality, and ecosystem restoration. All interns receive discounted access to ECOR’s paid events, while committee members and coordinators are eligible for a 50% discount on internship fees. Additionally, coordinators receive free access to field sampling events.

A wide array of academic and field-based opportunities awaits selected interns. Those willing to travel and pay may participate in practical field training in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Gujarat, covering coastal and marine ecosystems such as mangroves, estuaries, seagrass beds, and intertidal zones, as well as forests and freshwater habitats. Interns enrolled for 12 months will be invited to a 10–15-day intensive field camp and sampling expedition, gaining hands-on experience in biodiversity monitoring, ecosystem assessment, and ecological data collection. Exceptional interns may also be considered for national or international study and research opportunities.

A central focus of this internship is scientific writing and research publication. Interns joining for three months or more will be trained in scientific article writing, systematic and literature review methods, and the publication process. Projects cover areas such as marine biodiversity, coastal ecosystem restoration, fisheries, forest ecology, freshwater monitoring, fish toxicology, aquatic animal behaviour, climate change impacts, soil and water quality, remote sensing, and environmental ecotoxicology. All interns joining for three months or more have the opportunity to work toward scientific publications, including co-authorship or first authorship, depending on their contribution. Article Processing Charges (APC) must be covered by the intern.

This internship is a practical contribution to the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030). By training young environmentalists in marine and coastal research, ecosystem monitoring, pollution assessment, and scientific communication, the program directly aligns with Ocean Decade priorities: understanding and reducing marine pollution, protecting and restoring ecosystems and biodiversity, creating digital ocean and environmental datasets, and promoting skills, knowledge, and participation for all.

This is a competitive, limited-seat program, with selection based on the applicant’s interest, commitment, and alignment with ECOR’s mission. Participants will gain practical skills, hands-on research experience, and publication opportunities, while contributing to global and local environmental sustainability initiatives.

If you are ready to build skills, engage in ocean and environmental research, and become part of a growing network of changemakers, we encourage you to apply.

Important Notice: Participation in the ECOR Environmental Training Program is free. A certificate of completion is available for an optional fee. This program is an endorsed Ocean Decade Activity.