Oregon Applied Sustainability Internships
A win-win program that supports environmental workforce development, waste reduction, environmental protection and economic savings.
About OASIS
Since its pilot year in 2017, Oregon Sea Grant and the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality have administered the OASIS program through funding obtained by an EPA Pollution Prevention grant. Third- and fourth-year college students and graduate students are recruited to conduct research that helps Oregon businesses reach their waste prevention and sustainability goals. Students are located at the business full-time for 10-weeks during the summer. The EPA grant helps offset program costs, and intern stipends are administered by Oregon Sea Grant.
Mission
We aim to enhance and protect the environment, increase economic savings, and cultivate the next generation of sustainability professionals by supporting Oregon businesses in reaching their pollution prevention goals.
Goals
Create collaborative solutions to environmental problems
Help businesses reduce waste, prevent pollution and increase efficiency
Develop Oregon’s environmental workforce through hands-on internships
Produce measurable environmental improvements
Foster an innovative community of practice to prevent pollution
Our Impact: 2017 -2024
Since 2017, our program has driven significant progress in sustainability, helping businesses reduce waste, conserve resources, and adopt eco-friendly practices. These metrics highlight the measurable change we’ve achieved together:
Financial Impact
$12,835,565 saved since 2017 Businesses achieved these savings by implementing insights and recommendations from program interns.
Environmental Reductions
62,135 lbs of use of hazardous materials avoided
573,330 lbs of hazardous waste eliminated
953,824 lbs of solid waste diverted
695,582 lbs of water pollution prevented
8,800 lbs of air emissions eliminated
89,554 metric tons of CO2 prevented
Resource Conservation
251,800,532 gallons of water saved by adopting sustainable practices since 2017.
62,339 gallons of chemicals of concern eliminated, reducing reliance on harmful chemicals to protect the environment.
89,408 kWh of electricity saved, promoting energy-efficient operations.
Sustainable Practices Implemented
7 Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) concepts adopted
6 Green chemistry concepts applied
9 Chemical management improvements
5 Safer choice projects implemented
Our Team
Sarah Kolesar
OASIS Program Administrator
Oregon Sea Grant
Office: 541-737-8695
Lisa Cox
OASIS Program Coordinator
Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
Office: 503-229-5181
Have questions or want to learn more?
Reach out to us for more information about the OASIS Program. We’re here to help!
Email us at : [email protected]
This project has been funded in part by the United States Environmental Protection Agency under assistance agreement US EPA Pollution Prevention Program Grant # NP - 02J91601 - 1 to Oregon Sea Grant. The contents of this document do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Environmental Protection Agency, nor does the EPA endorse trade names or recommend the use of commercial products mentioned in this document.
