10 Environmental Science Research Opportunities for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- Jun 24
- 8 min read
If you’re interested in environmental science, high school is a great time to start learning how nature works and how people affect it. Getting hands-on experience early helps you figure out what topics interest you most, like climate change, conservation, water quality, or city ecosystems. It also helps you build skills such as collecting data, doing research, and writing reports.
One way to get this experience is by joining research programs. These programs let you work with scientists, do actual research, and learn skills that will help you in college and future jobs. Many programs include fieldwork, lab practice, and chances to share what you discover.
To help you get started, here is a list of 10 environmental science research programs for high school students!
10 Environmental Science Research Opportunities for High School Students
Cost: $2,990 (Financial aid is available)
Location: Virtual
Acceptance Rate: Extremely selective
Dates: The summer cohort runs from June to August, the Fall cohort from September to December, the Winter cohort from December to February, and the Spring cohort from March to June
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. The deadline for Summer Cohort II is June 23
Eligibility: High school students passionate about research can apply
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is run by researchers from Harvard and Oxford. If you choose the Environmental Studies track, you will be paired with a PhD mentor. You will work on a research project about topics like climate policy, sustainability, environmental engineering, or conservation science.
The program lasts 12 weeks. During that time, you will learn how to come up with a research question, read and understand academic papers, and write a research paper that could be published.
The program gives you close support from your mentor and teaches you research and writing skills in depth. If you come from an underrepresented background, you can apply for full funding through the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation. You can find the application form here!
Cost: $5,950 (financial aid available).
Location: Virtual
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Program Dates: The spring and fall cohorts run 15 weeks, while the summer cohort runs 10 weeks (June-September)
Application Deadline: Multiple deadlines throughout the year for the Spring, Summer, and Fall cohorts. The summer II cohort application deadline is June 22
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) can apply.
Horizon Academic offers a trimester-long research program where you work closely with a professor or PhD researcher on a university-level project in your area of interest. In the Environmental Science & Engineering track, you can study topics like renewable energy, sustainable farming, marine ecosystems, or urban infrastructure.
You will carry out detailed research and write a 20-page paper at the university level. There are chances to submit your work to academic journals. The program provides thorough feedback, help with academic writing, and a strong letter of recommendation from your mentor. You can find the application form here.
Cost: Free, but students must arrange daily transportation
Location: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Acceptance Rate/Cohort size: Extremely selective; only around 8 students are accepted annually
Dates: June 30 - August 8
Application Deadline: Applications usually close in February
Eligibility: Philadelphia (or nearby) high school students who have completed grades 9, 10, or 11 and have a GPA of at least 3.0 can apply
The University of Pennsylvania’s Teen Research and Education in Environmental Science (TREES) Program is a free, six-week mentorship for high school students who want to dig into environmental science and public health. You’ll work closely with a mentor to pick a research topic, then learn how to design experiments, collect and analyze data, and use lab and field equipment.
Along the way, you’ll join seminars and workshops that cover things like toxicology, water quality testing, and environmental monitoring. The program also includes field trips where you’ll get hands-on experience with things like soil sampling or measuring pollution levels. At the end, you’ll write a research report and share your results in a presentation.
Cost: $2,500. Financial aid is available.
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Dates: July 13–July 18
Application Deadline: Applications usually close in March.
Eligibility: Current U.S. grade 11 students who are at least 15 years old can apply
The Young Innovators Climate & Energy Program is a one-week summer program at the University of Chicago. It’s for high school students who want to learn how climate change and energy problems are solved using science, data, and public policy.
You’ll study real-world climate issues through lectures, group projects, and case studies. You’ll learn how to read and understand climate data, look at how energy is used, and think about how policies like carbon taxes or clean energy investments work.
You’ll also join workshops where you meet people working in clean energy and climate policy. At the end of the week, you’ll work with other students on a project to come up with your own climate or energy solution.
Cost/Stipend: Fully funded, and a stipend of $3,000 is provided to interns. Interns also get a fully-funded trip to the Hutton Scholars Summit at the University of Arkansas.
Location: Based on your locality (Hutton aims to match students within a 45-minute commute of your home)
Cohort size: Around 25-30 students are selected annually. Highly selective
Dates: June - July (8 weeks in the summer)
Application Deadline: January 19
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors who are at least 16 years old and who live and have residency in the United States, Mexico, and Canada are eligible to apply
The Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program is an eight-week summer internship for high school students interested in fish, water ecosystems, and conservation. It’s run by the American Fisheries Society and pairs you one-on-one with a scientist who works in fisheries or aquatic science.
You’ll spend your time doing real work in the field and lab. Depending on your mentor’s job and location, you might help with fish surveys in rivers or lakes, test water quality, study aquatic plants, or look at how fish habitats are changing.
You’ll learn how to collect data, use tools like electrofishing gear, and understand how scientists study and protect freshwater and marine ecosystems.
Cost: None. Expenses are covered (Typical positions include a one-time travel allowance and weekly living allowance. Many positions also include some sort of housing or housing stipend)
Location: Various SCA agencies around the world
Acceptance Rate: Moderately selective
Dates: Varies depending on the internship opportunity
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis
Eligibility: For the paid internship, you have to be at least 18 years old. There are youth programs (for 18 and younger) available as well
The Student Conservation Association (SCA) runs short-term conservation internships for high school students who want to work outdoors and learn about protecting the environment. These programs place you in places like national parks, city green spaces, or wildlife areas.
You’ll help with real projects such as restoring habitats, removing invasive plants, planting trees, or tracking changes in ecosystems. You might also help with environmental education programs, talk to local communities, or work on sustainability projects.
Some crews are local and meet during the day, while others are residential and based in other parts of the country. These programs usually last 3 to 5 weeks. You can check all the available opportunities here.
7. Rockaway Initiative for Sustainability and Equity (RISE) Research Mentorship Program| Environmentor
Cost/Stipend: No cost; Students receive up to a $1,200 stipend for their research work and participation
Location: RISE, 58-03 Rockaway Beach Boulevard, Far Rockaway, NY
Cohort size: 12–15 high school students are accepted each year
Dates: June through mid-August
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in May
Eligibility: Students in grades 9-11 who live or attend school in or near the Rockaway peninsula are eligible to apply
The Environmentor Research Mentorship Program, run by the Rockaway Initiative for Sustainability and Equity (RISE), connects high school students with scientists to study the coastal environment of the Rockaways in New York.
You’ll work one-on-one with a mentor from a university or research group. Your project could focus on things like ocean life, rising sea levels, beach erosion, or pollution in urban areas. You’ll learn how to collect data, study patterns, and share your findings with others.
Outside the lab, you’ll join outdoor activities like kayaking, biking, and surfing. You’ll also get certified in CPR and water safety. You can view the research projects Environmentor students worked on last summer here.
Cost/Stipend: No cost; Stipend is provided to the students (Starting salary is $15 per hour).
Location: Various sites across North Carolina
Acceptance Rate: Less competitive
Dates: 3-6 weeks during June, July, and August, depending on the crew
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis
Eligibility: North Carolina high school students between the ages of 15–18 can apply
The Conservation Corps North Carolina (CCNC) Youth Conservation Crews offer summer fieldwork programs for high school students across the state. You’ll join a small team working full-time on projects like trail building, removing invasive plants, fixing erosion problems, and restoring wildlife habitats.
You’ll spend your days outdoors learning skills like using tools safely, following land management plans, and tracking changes in the environment. These hands-on projects help protect parks and forests while teaching you how fieldwork supports conservation.
You can choose a day crew in Raleigh, Durham, or Old Fort, or apply for the camping crew in Uwharrie National Forest. The camping crew stays on-site for the full session. You can check all the available positions here.
Cost: $150 acceptance fee to participate in the internship (financial aid available). This is an unpaid internship opportunity.
Location: Alley Pond Environmental Center, Douglaston, NY
Acceptance Rate: Moderately competitive
Dates: July 3–August 7 (Summer semester)
Application Deadline: Summer semester - May 1
Eligibility: Applicants must be at least 14 years old and currently enrolled in high school
The Field Biology Internship (FBI) at Alley Pond Environmental Center gives you field experience in environmental science inside one of New York City’s most diverse parks. You’ll work outside studying plants, animals, and ecosystems found in urban green spaces.
Activities include biodiversity surveys, bird watching, sampling insects from ponds and streams, catching fish with seine nets, and testing water and soil quality. You’ll also help restore native plant habitats and remove invasive species.
You’ll be guided by environmental educators and field scientists while working in Alley Pond Park and other sites in Queens. This program focuses on field methods instead of lab work. You’ll learn how to take ecological measurements, record data, and better understand how ecosystems work in city settings.
Stipend: $750 + MetroCard or $16/hour via SYEP in summer; $350 in fall
Location: WCS Headquarters, Bronx, New York
Application Deadline: February 24 (applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis).
Program Dates: Summer Program - Late June - August; Fall Program - September - December
Eligibility: High school sophomore or junior in good standing, Bronx resident, comfortable indoors and outdoors
Project TRUE (Teens Researching Urban Ecology) is a summer field research program for high school sophomores and juniors who live in the Bronx. It is run by the Bronx Zoo’s education team along with Fordham University.
You’ll study urban ecosystems and do hands-on research in parks and green spaces across New York City. Projects can include tracking mammals, identifying bird species, testing water quality, and managing invasive plants.
You’ll learn how to collect data, analyze results, and explain your findings clearly to others. You’ll also get training in fieldwork techniques and science communication. At the end of the program, you’ll present your research to scientists, your peers, and the public.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.
Image Source - University of Pennsylvania logo