Intern Charles Xu tests the pressure of repair coatings on spent nuclear fuel canisters. Xu is an intern in the Future of Research for Climate, Earth and Energy Institute. Nuclear energy is not considered a viable renewable energy source by environmentalists – due to the risks.
A summer internship for American college students is a valuable experience. Students interested in climate change often choose to intern in the United States, where they can work on climate research and the development of renewable energy systems like wind turbines.
Sandia National Laboratories hosts about 75 interns each summer in New Mexico as part of the Future of Research for Climate, Earth and Energy Intern Institute. The institute offers real-world research experience to undergraduate and graduate students in areas such as earth sciences, climate change, decarbonization, and infrastructure modernization.
The interns receive mentorship, attend tours and seminars, and have the opportunity to present their findings at an end-of-summer symposium. The program aims to attract new talent to the labs and provide interns with the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to research projects.
One success story from the program is Gordon North Piegan III, who worked on modeling a wind turbine-generator system and later used his project as the focus of his master’s thesis at Montana State University. Mentors at Sandia Laboratories play a crucial role in guiding interns and helping them develop their skills and confidence.
Overall, the internship program at Sandia Laboratories provides valuable hands-on experience for students interested in climate and energy engineering, fostering partnerships with universities and preparing the next generation of researchers in these fields.
