Fertilizers!

My part-time internship with the Environmental Defense Fund was structured so that I could complete the task assigned to me in approximately 6 weeks while simultaneously being enrolled in classes. The estimated workload was between 8-10 hours a week and because this was equivalent to a full course load, I decided to take on only 3 classes in Winter A. On hindsight this was the best decision I could have made! It required some adjustment in my weekly schedule and I had to plan my time so that I could dedicate an entire Friday to interviews, research and conference calls, while completing desk research during other days of the week. The work itself was to research the viability of using enhanced efficiency nitrogen fertilizers (EEF) to reduce the loss of nitrogen to the environment. The EDF Corporate Partnership Program prides itself on understanding the industry structure and key players in the ecosystem before they decide what interventions are appropriate. My research project would feed into their Nitrogen Management Initiative, a strategic focus on reducing the nitrogen pollution in US watersheds and rivers (particularly in the mid-west), which are heavily polluted with nitrogen run-off and other forms of fertilizers. My work would require Internet research and interviews with ecologists, farmers, consultants, businesses and academics. I had to quickly get up to speed on this extremely complex issue and then interview experts to understand what the barriers to adoption of more efficient farming practices were. This was a tall order to accomplish in 6 weeks! I was reporting to an experienced member of the Corporate Partnership Program and we arranged to have weekly/fortnightly check-ins via the phone and joint conference calls with a few experts. My deliverable at the end of the internship was a PowerPoint presentation to be made to the key members of the Nitrogen Management Initiative at EDF.