IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature

The IUCN Environmental Law Centre (ELC) is a Centre that attracts interns and fellows from around the world.

Our fellows and interns enjoy the rewarding experience of working in an international office, based in a city that has demonstrated a strong commitment to the environment and to attracting international organizations and events. They also have the opportunity to interact with ELC staff - and the many international experts who visit the Centre - and have access to the ELC library resources, which include two of the world's most extensive libraries on environmental law and policy.

The IUCN ELC has been closely collaborating with a number of organisations to fund research fellows to come to the ELC in order to enable legal specialists from developing countries to access and conduct research on environmental law and policy.This has included working very closely with the Carl Duisberg Society and the Humboldt Foundation and the ELC is most appreciative of their ongoing recognition and support.

Interns with high interest in environmental law are welcome to apply to spend some time at the ELC. Successful applicants will spend time supporting the work of our legal professionals and will gain the opportunity to participate in an exciting array of projects, conferences and workshops.

While we are not able to offer remuneration for fellows or interns, they are provided with their own working space including computer with email/Internet access, essential Windows applications and full access to our substantial library collection. 

Students and young lawyers from all over the world come to the ELC to participate in our volunteer internship program. Working at the ELC is an enlightening experience, providing an insight into what it is like to be a part of the fascinating world of an international organisation working in the field of environmental law and policy.

Particular assignments are determined according to a mix of factors, of which the intern's level and qualifications, coupled with the particular needs of the ELC at the time, are the most important.

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENT: to qualify for an internship at the ELC, you must be a student enrolled in a university or higher level institution, either in environmental law or in a course of studies with a strong legal component, for the duration of the internship. Proof of enrolment is required in the form of a letter from the university or institution concerned.

A number of other foundations offer fellowships, which may be appropriately undertaken using the ELC's facilities. In the past, these have included the German National Merit Foundation, and the Robert-Bosch-Foundation (Graduate Program in International Affairs).

The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation grants up to 150 research awards annually to foreign scholars whose academic qualifications enjoy international recognition, enabling them to spend prolonged periods on research in Germany. Fellowships may be granted in any discipline, however, the Foundations origins in the natural sciences result in an emphasis in programs addressing natural science and related issues, with particular interest in the Americas. The Foundation's object with its foreign grants program is to "pay tribute to academic accomplishments and to foster long-term co-operation between foreign and German researchers." Humboldt grant winners spend four to twelve months in Germany, carrying out research projects of their own choosing, in co-operation with specialists at the research institution in which they are hosted.

Contact the Humboldt Foundation directly:
Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung
Jean-Paul-Strasse 12
D-53173 Bonn
Germany
Tel: (++49-228) 833-0
Fax: (++49-228) 833-199
E-mail: select@avh.de  
Website: http://www.humboldt-foundation.de/web/home.html

The Fulbright Program provides grants for Graduate Students, Scholars and Professionals, and Teachers and Administrators from the U.S. and other countries. It is designed to "increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries..." The Fulbright Program awards approximately 4,500 new grants annually. The primary source of funding for the Fulbright Program is an annual appropriation by the United States Congress. Foreign governments and private organizations contribute through cost-sharing and indirect support, such as salary supplements, tuition waivers, university housing, etc. The Fulbright Program is sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the United States Department of State.

For further information, contact:
Office of Academic Exchange Programs
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
U.S. Department of State, SA-44
301 4th Street, S.W., Room 234
Washington, D.C. 20547
Phone: 202/619-4360
Fax: 202/401-5914
Email: academic@pd.state.gov
Website: http://us.fulbrightonline.org/program_regions_world.html