Name: Priita Peterson
Class Year: 2026
Major: Environmental Studies
Minor: Spanish

Internship Organization: Innovation Academy e.V.
Internship Title:   Summer Intern 
Location: Freiburg, Germany
 
What’s happening at your internship? We would love to hear what kind of work you are doing!  

Test run of in-progress climate adaptation tour

I am working at Innovation Academy e.V, a small non-profit that runs sustainability focused tours in Freiburg and other cities in Europe for students and professionals and organizes various other projects around sustainability education. My first project was to research and create a presentation on waste management policy in the E.U. as a part of a waste management tour. This was added onto their presentation about Freiburg’s waste management which I also updated and translated to English. My main project has been to develop a tour about climate adaptation in Freiburg for high school age students. The city can serve as a great example for heat and rainwater adaptation, especially with the city’s implementation of the sponge city concept. For this tour I have researched the city’s policy on climate adaptation and the many locations where it has been implemented. I have also developed a route, quiz questions, and activities for the tour. Along with this project, I have been preparing materials for tours, sometimes also going on the tours and taking photos/videos as well as running the organization’s instagram.

Why did you apply for this internship?  

A sea of Frelo bikes

Having taken classes from both Victor Donnay and Carol Hager – both of whom organize the 360 that goes to Freiburg, Germany – I had heard about the Innovation Academy Sustainability Internships multiple times and therefore decided to look into it. As an environmental studies major I am interested in urban issues of sustainability and environmental justice and was fascinated by the “Green City” of Freiburg. I was interested in experiencing it for myself and learning about how it had earned that title and maybe take ideas back to the US with me.

What has been the biggest challenge you have faced at your internship? 

My biggest challenge at this internship has been working an office job for the first time that is primarily in front of a computer. This is both an adjustment from my past work environments as well as an adjustment from US work culture to German work culture. A lot of my work is independent and without strict deadlines or stepping stones. Therefore, it requires much more initiative, time management, and communication. It has been a challenge for me to not be scared to ask questions. I am working to be more independent and organized with my projects while still being communicative about the process. In terms of German work culture, I am loving the separation of work and personal life.  

What has been your favorite part of this internship?  

“Sponge city” model which is used as a stop on the climate adaptation tour

My favorite part of this internship has been going on tours and meeting students from all over the US who all have different backgrounds and interests under the topic of sustainability and environmental studies. By talking to them and hearing them compare Freiburg to their hometowns, I have learned about not only Germany, but also about cities in the US. It was especially fascinating to hear about what the city of Gainesville, Florida is doing around climate mitigation and resilience. These tours have also opened my eyes to innovative city planning, especially in the area of transportation, as well as food sustainability and waste management. These topics that I am learning about and researching about become part of my lived experience in Freiburg as I now try to bike everywhere and be more conscious of my own waste to try to re-use products and share food as much as I can.