DURHAM, N.C. – The Flamingo Beach mangrove project in Costa Rica (see related story) provides an excellent example of a new initiative at the Nicholas School of the Environment: the client-centered Group Master's Project program.

Charlotte Clark, the program’s coordinator and visiting assistant professor, works with a wide variety of interested clients in the public, private and nonprofit sectors to organize group project options. A committee of students and faculty ultimately approves the projects, and first-year professional masters students can begin to apply to the projects in January.  Assigned groups typically consist of three to five students from one or more program areas.

“This type of project will give students the collaborative, real-world experiences for which future employers are looking,” says Clark.

Master's students initially meet with their clients during the spring of their first year, but aren’t expected to begin work on the bulk of the group MP until the fall of their second year. Clark says this will let students concentrate on their internships during the summer, not MPs, though some client-centered group MPs may present summer internship opportunities.

Derek Fedak (MEM ’11), who is one of four students conducting a group MP at the Flamingo Beach Resort in Costa Rica, says he hadn’t originally considered a client-centered group MP, but became excited when he saw how well the mangrove project would fit with his interests and professional goals.

“As long as you keep your client’s needs in mind, you can find ways to guide the project in directions you’re interested in,” he says. “It gave me many of the experiences I’ve been wanting to have.”

For more information on client-centered group MPs, contact Charlotte Clark at cclark@duke.edu.