As highlighted by Ohio State News, Facilities Operations and Development (FOD) interns Reva Baste-Bania, Lexi Capka, Logan Gould, Maya Hammond, Mackenzie Hebert and Karissa Mitchell are not only helping the university reduce waste and increase operational efficiency, they're learning skills that have helped them in their coursework and are preparing them to enter the workforce.
“Being a Zero Waste intern has given me a hands-on experience that I couldn’t have gotten in the classroom. I got a lot of experience with data management,” Gould said. “It’s been a great experience learning data management at an organization as large as Ohio State.”
As stated in the article, through the Sustainability Internship Program, the interns are identifying solutions for difficult-to-recycle items such as hardcover books and plastic wrap, seeking strategies for streamlining data and asset management practices, and installing recycling and compost bins in buildings throughout the Columbus campus, among other tasks.