Here at the Ocean Conservation Trust (OCT), we’re always getting questions about our internship program, especially within our Blue Meadows programme. So, we sat down with two former Blue Meadows interns to hear about their experience, in their own words. We asked them what they got up to, what they learned from the experience, and where the internship has taken them since. Read on to find out more:
Lotty Green
How did you find out about the internship?
I had heard about volunteering with Blue Meadows through a friend, so I reached out to see if I could do an internship for my placement year. At the time, it wasn’t an advertised role, but the internships are being advertised now.
When did you do your internship?
September – December 2024
How did you find out about the internship?
I had heard about volunteering with Blue Meadows through a friend, so I reached out to see if I could do an internship for my placement year. At the time, it wasn’t an advertised role, but the internships are being advertised now.
Can you explain what your internship entailed?
I was based in the seagrass lab within the National Marine Aquarium, in Plymouth, and tasked with maintaining the aquaculture system and seed store, as well as monitoring the seagrass. This involved a lot of practical work, including cleaning algae, back-washing the system, and daily and weekly checks, including analysing water chemistry. Seagrass monitoring also involved working with and training volunteers as well as recording growth data. I was able to go to Torbay and Falmouth to survey potential restoration sites using drop-down cameras to understand seagrass densities at the sites. We collected water samples and processed them for eDNA extraction to understand the biodiversity of the area. I also spent a day with the OCT’s Learning team, front-of-house (Ocean Discovery) Rangers and several engagement events with the Blue Meadows team. A large part of my internship was researching and preparing for a dissertation project experiment that I later developed.
What was the most memorable moment from the internship?
I really enjoyed the fieldwork in Falmouth. I helped to deploy drop-down cameras to measure seagrass density which would influence targeted restoration within the voluntary no-anchor zone. On both boat days, I was lucky enough to see a seal near our boat, which was so rewarding!
What did you gain from the internship?
I gained lots of hands-on experience in seagrass restoration and monitoring techniques.
Has the internship helped you in your career so far? If yes, can you explain how?
I developed my honours dissertation project through the knowledge I had gained in the internship which was valuable for my degree. From learning about the challenges within the lab, I developed a project to understand the impacts of nutrient fertilisers used in the nursery on seagrass growth and health.
How did you financially support yourself during your internship?
I relied on my student loan and gained paid work within the OCT six months after my internship. I didn’t specifically seek further work opportunities whilst interning, but others might need to for financial support.
What would you say to anyone who’s considering the internship?
I would say that it’s a really good opportunity to network and work with a great team doing lots of practical work in seagrass restoration. The time of year that you intern really influences the tasks you do; summer can involve more work in the water and in the National Seagrass Nursery, whereas winter involves more lab-based work and with volunteers. Overall, I did enjoy the internship, but it is key to understand what you want to get out of it beforehand, be versatile, and ensure that you are self-motivated.
Mia Cartlidge
When did you do your internship?
September 2025 – present
How did you find out about the internship?
I was cold-emailing multiple organisations to try and find a placement, when the OCT responded and told me there was currently nothing available. However, a few weeks later, one of the Blue Meadows staff reached out to me to inform me of their internship opening up and advising me to apply!
Can you explain what your internship entailed? What were you tasked with? What did you get involved in?
Through this internship, I got to partake in such a wide range of different experiences and opportunities ranging from public speaking, fieldwork, geo-chemistry laboratory work, community engagement and aquaculture systems work. My skill range has massively developed from the ability to be able to try and learn so many new things.
What was the most memorable moment or moments from the internship?
There are so many to choose from so this is really hard! I’d say the two main moments that stick out are the talks I’ve presented at conferences like the UK seagrass symposium and Southwest Marine Fest. These conferences allowed me to learn how to network professionally with other members of the marine science community, and how to get my foot in the door. I also thoroughly enjoyed working on organic carbon concentrations in seagrass meadow sediments in a geo-chemistry lab, as it felt like my first chance to do ‘proper, fancy scientist stuff’.
What did you gain from the internship?
I’ve gained so many new skills from this internship, but I’d say the biggest takeaway wasn’t the specific skills, but rather the overall opportunities I was able to experience. This internship has given me a real representation of what my future as a marine conservation scientist could look like.
Has the internship helped you in your career so far? If yes, can you explain how?
It’s given me the confidence that I have just as much right and ability to be in this field as everyone else, which has aided me in achieving more opportunities. For example, after my talk at the UK Seagrass Symposium, I was approached by another delegate and offered a post-graduate job for once I finish university!
How did you financially support yourself during your internship?
I worked a part-time job alongside the internship.
What would you say to anyone who’s considering the internship?
To absolutely do it and say yes to every opportunity offered to you! Make the most of every single day and experience as best you can.
Click here to find out more about Blue Meadows volunteering and internship opportunities.
Click here to find out more about placements and internships with the Ocean Discovery Rangers.