Young Professionals (YP) and Student Programs


For students and young professionals focused on a career as an environmental professional, it's never too early to begin building a portfolio and a network of industry contacts. The Annual PNWIS Conference is the premier networking event in the Northwest US for students and young professionals looking for employment, providing a great opportunity to meet contacts in the environmental field.

At the 2010 Missoula Conference, we will have the following activities for both students and recent graduates (young professionals):

YP Lunch Social - Wednesday, November 3rd. Open to all, this luncheon is designed for young professionals to meet and interact with one another and for students to interact with new and seasoned professionals. For established professionals interested in hiring junior staff - this is the event is for you.

YP Professional Development Workshop - Wednesday, November 3rd, 8 am – noon. Open to all conference attendees.
Don’t let the title mislead you! The YP Professional Development Workshop is for more than just YPs. This professional development workshop is open to all conference attendees interested in learning skills to start and further develop their careers. This engaging, interactive half-day workshop will present useful information and teach practical skills for both personal and professional development.

    Topics to be covered include;

  • Negotiation Skills and Conflict Resolution;
  • Leadership Styles and Skills;
  • The Importance of Small Talk, Professional Communication, and First Impressions;
  • Understanding Generational Differences in the Current Workforce; and
  • Work-Life Balance.

Already registered for the conference, but want to register for this workshop? – no problem. To register for the workshop, click here, enter your email address and password, then update your ‘agenda’ to include the workshop.

YP Session - Wednesday, Nov 3,3:30 p.m - 5:00 p.m. Environmental Basics - Cliff Notes for the Conference. Attend the Environmental Basics session and learn the Cliff Notes for the Conference's Technical Sessions. For young professionals, students, and anyone interested in an unfamiliar environmental topic, this session will present the basics on those new topics. Topics will be selected based on the presentations that will be given at the Conference.

YP Best Presentation Award - Awards for best presentation.

Student Best Presentation Awards - Monetary awards for best presentations.

Environmental Challenge (students) -- The Environmental Challenge International (ECi) is a student team competition to prepare and present an optimal solution to a complex “true-to-life” environmental problem, offering more than $4,000 in prize money. The “real-life” challenge posed to students will consider current environmental issues representative of the Northern Rocky Mountains, and will require a multi-disciplinary solution. The challenge seeks technical answers combined with appropriate regulatory approaches and resolution of political and community issues. The ECi will accept teams with the broadest feasible range of environmental disciplines, including engineering, planning, policy, economics, and various other sciences.

Career Panel (students) -- A panel composed of Young Professionals - those with a maximum of 10 years experience - will offer insight into planning a career path and answer student questions.

What Employers Want Panel (students) -- Presenters representing various aspects of the environmental industry (including regulation, consulting, policy, academia, and industry) will focus on what employers are looking for in recent college graduates.

Value of a Professional Certification (students and YPs) -- Learn the value of holding professional certifications (i.e. Professional Engineer (P.E.), Qualified Environmental Professional (QEP)).

Speed Networking (students) -- An opportunity to quickly interact with a variety of environmental professionals, have questions answered, or be consulted on possible career paths.

Environmental Challenge

Click below to see the 2010 Missoula PNWIS Environmental Challenge problem and instructions.