Juliana Thompson, an Environment & Sustainability BDP Student, interned with UT Resource Recovery, where she contributed to UT's zero-waste initiative and discussions on sustainability and the future of resource recovery at UT.
"It was empowering to gain a deeper understanding of our university’s waste creation and disposal processes, while also playing an active role in reducing landfill waste.”
Where did you intern?
I interned at UT Resource Recovery.
How did you find this internship?
I found this opportunity through Handshake.
What kind of work did you do as an intern?
As a Resource Recovery Intern, I worked within the Surplus Department by contributing to UT Austin’s zero-waste initiative. In my role at the UT Surplus REuse Store, I played a part in capturing and repurposing surplus property from the university.
My responsibilities included: facilitating a service for UT faculty to select items for free departmental use, managing in-store operations, and selecting and pricing items to be resold to the public. I also created a promotional video for the Resource Recovery website, which communicated our mission and increased exposure of our services.
Beyond my departmental role, I actively participated in collaborative efforts with the rest of the Resource Recovery team by engaging in thought-provoking discussions on sustainability and the future of resource recovery at UT. These interactions fostered a culture of learning and inspiration, as we exchanged innovative ideas and educated one another on various aspects of sustainability.
What was the most rewarding aspect of your Connecting Experience?
The most fulfilling aspect of my connecting experience was the opportunity to collaborate with a team of like-minded individuals who shared a passion for promoting sustainability initiatives within our campus community. It was empowering to gain a deeper understanding of our university's waste creation and disposal processes and to play an active role in reducing landfill waste. I thoroughly enjoyed engaging with peers, professors, and mentors, sharing our ideas for a more sustainable future.
In what ways has this Connecting Experience shaped your plans for the future?
My internship experience enabled me to cultivate professional skills in a field I am genuinely passionate about, confirming my desire to leverage my communications background in a sustainability-focused career. Moving forward, I plan to combine these interests, aiming to foster a stronger connection between people and nature, while emphasizing the importance of preserving our natural world.
Please discuss the relationship that you had with your faculty mentor(s), and how they helped you during this Connecting Experience.
Throughout my time with Resource Recovery, I had the privilege of learning from multiple mentors, including the head of my department, the program lead, and several guest speakers with experience in the field. Their valuable insights and guidance made the experience both enriching and enjoyable, fostering personal and professional growth.