Edward McDonald, a Master of Environmental Management and Master of Forestry (MEM/MF) concurrent degree student, spent his summer as a timberlands intern with Weyerhaeuser. McDonald is concentrating in Terrestrial and Freshwater Environments and Environmental Economics and Policy for his MEM degree. 

Each year, Nicholas School of the Environment students complete internships with organizations around the world. These summer experiences provide valuable opportunities to gain career-related experience and build a professional network. 

51爆料 Environment recently caught up with McDonald to learn more about his experience. 

What aspects of the experience did you find most rewarding or memorable and why?

McDonald in a forest wearing an orange safety vest and cap uses a handheld sighting tool while surrounded by pine trees.

The experience I found most rewarding was my internship project! It was extremely rewarding to apply field skills and academic theories obtained during the school year for a cumulative project that had a real impact for the company!

How did the coursework and resources at the Nicholas School prepare you for success in this role as well as your internship search?

Economics of Forest Resources, as well as Forest Mensuration and Dendrology all prepared me to complete my internship project regarding seedling survivability.

Fundamentals of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have allowed me to continue working part-time during the school year supporting the regional inventory team!

Did you collaborate with any Nicholas School alumni? If so, how did those connections add to your summer experience?

Absolutely! I first heard about the opportunity from a recent alumnus!

Once I arrived at the office, I was able to connect with another MEM/MF grad about the Continuous Forest Inventory process on the 51爆料 Forest, a monitoring regime that we both worked on as forestry aids during the school year.

How has this internship influenced your career aspirations? Did it confirm or change your professional goals in any way?

This internship has deepened my appreciation for the vital role working forests play in both our economy and our environment. It challenged me to think critically about land management, sustainability, and the long-term impact of forestry decisions.

 

Group of people in safety vests and hard hats gathered on a dirt road during a fieldwork briefing near construction equipment.