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Fresh perspectives and new ideas in P2 methods for interested Nebraska companies
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A bright, energetic, enthusiastic set of eyes and hands to work on P2 projects
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Short-term expertise in P2 for participating companies that may improve efficiency, save money, reduce pollution and waste, and/or reduce regulatory compliance burden
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Project guidance from a UNL pollution prevention engineer to help solve problems within your industry
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Assistance in identifying college graduates for future permanent employment
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A written report of information concerning
- How the waste stream is currently created in the company’s processes or operations,
- P2 recommendations based on applied research,
- Cost comparison between existing procedures and new recommendations, and
- An analysis of hidden costs of handling and disposing of waste
- Potential cost savings
Recommendations made by past interns to Industrial clients have included potential cost savings of nearly $979,000/year and major reductions in solid and hazardous waste generation.
Is my company eligible?
For a full time intern, businesses must be:
- Located in Nebraska
- Committed to reducing or eliminating pollution and waste through pollution prevention methods
- Willing to pay a portion of the cost of a dedicated intern (typically $3,000)
- Committed to providing day-to-day supervision of intern
- Able to provide intern with desk, phone, computer, and internet access
Coming up with the right project
With the help of the P3 staff, project ideas are developed into work plans that fit within the 10-week period to be manageable for the intern. Usually one intern is placed at each company, but other options may be available. A typical intern’s project will:
- Analyze the company’s current processes or operations.
- Research and evaluate the options for reducing wastes
- Work with the company’s management and employees to determine the feasibility of the different pollution and waste reduction options,
- Develop a cost comparison, and
- Outline the new recommendations in a final report.
Former P3 interns have completed a wide variety of projects in previous years with tremendous benefits both to their business client and to their own educational experiences.
Immeasurable Benefits- To provide companies with specific, well-developed options for reducing waste and saving money
- To offer students hands-on experience in reducing pollution and waste in an industrial setting using P2 strategies
- Help place qualified college graduates in Nebraska
Profile of a P3 Intern
Partners in Pollution Prevention (P3) student interns are generally juniors or seniors from universities in Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, and Missouri, majoring in a technical field (Engineering, Science, or Technology programs). Many interns are Biological, Chemical, or Civil Engineering majors. Although GPA is important, students are selected on the basis of communication and people skills, work ethic, and relevant work experience, as well as academic achievement. The best intern is one who is excited and engaged in the P2 Project the business client proposes. The interns receive about $5,300 for the summer, as well as 3 hours of course credit.
Matching Interns with Clients
Businesses can be as involved in the selection of an intern as they want to be. Clients may ask their own student employees to apply to this program with the understanding that if the client’s project is selected, that the student will be assigned to their project.
Submitting a “Statement of Interest” form introduces the business into the potential P3 project pool. Complete project details are not needed at this time. The P3 Team reviews the potential project with the business to determine the potential for waste reduction, commitment to P2, and the likelihood of a successful summer experience. Top projects have priority for matching interns with clients.
After reviewing student intern applications and conducting preliminary interviews, the P3 staff will identify the best matches between client projects and intern’s technical and geographic interests and background.
When an intern-client match is identified (typically late February to early March), the client will have the opportunity to review the intern’s application and interview the potential intern (either in person or by phone), if they choose. More than one choice may be presented to the client, if necessary. Only matches that are acceptable to both parties are made.
After the interview, the client will be asked to make a formal commitment to participate in the P3 program. The “Business Project Worksheet” confirms all the details and defines the project and its deliverables.
What’s my Next Step?
- Contact Program Coordinator, Stacey Hawkey to get started. She can discuss with you the program details, ideas for projects, and help identify what assistance mode your company is likely to find of most benefit.
E-mail: shawkey2@unl.edu
Phone: (402) 472-2838
