Internship Available Science and Human Rights Program
Available for Summer2006
The Science and Human Rights Program of the American
Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) is currently
soliciting applications for a volunteer intern. The internship's
duration is approximately 3 months (end of May/June through August),
depending on student's availability. While unable to pay interns, AAAS
will accommodate students interested in receiving course credit from
their institutions. About the Science and Human Rights Program The AAAS
Science and Human Rights Program applies scientific methodologies to the
field of human rights. The Program has a special interest in the area
of transitional justice. Transitional justice refers to societal
responses to severe repression, societal violence, and systematic human
rights violations that seek to establish the truth about the past,
determine accountability, and offer some form of redress. The focus of
the Program's work in this area has been providing scientific and
technical assistance to a series of truth commissions, supporting
efforts to build research capacity around the world, particularly on
empirical studies of the impacts of transitional justice mechanisms, and
conducting independent research. For more information, please visit our
website at http://shr.aaas.org/. Position Description The intern will
be working on a joint project between the AAAS Science and Human Rights
Program and the South African-based Centre for the Study of Violence and
Reconciliation (CSVR). The project involves conducting research on
memorialization initiatives in Chile, Argentina and South Africa.
Memorialization initiatives are the range of forms and processes a
society undertakes to remember and honor a divided past and/or victims
of violent conflict. The specific task of the intern will be to take a
master list of memorialization initiatives in the three case study
countries and conduct additional research. Specifically, the intern
will: Research the sites to find any additional information about the
sites, such as pictures, fuller descriptions, websites, press articles,
etc.Prepare short descriptions of each siteOrganize research findings
into a database, which will then be published online Should time
permit, an additional case study country can be added. Likely case
study countries are Peru, Guatemala, or El Salvador. The ideal
candidate will have strong research and writing skills and an interest
in human rights issues. Spanish language skills are required for this
position. Please note that the Program will try to accommodate interns'
particular interests and provide some research training. This internship
is open to both undergraduate and graduate students. Please send resume,
cover letter indicating dates of availability, and a short writing
sample (no more than 4 pages!) to: Victoria Baxter AAAS Science and Human
Rights Program 1200 New York Avenue, NWWashington, DC 20005Tel: (202)
326-6797Fax: (202) 289-4950email: vbaxter@aaas.org