By: Hannah Fisher
The Renewable Energy Wildlife Institute (REWI) is thrilled to welcome Rachel Basoah-Sarfo to the team as an Intern for summer 2026! Rachel is a rising third year at the University of Virginia (UVA), where she studies Systems Engineering through the School of Engineering and Applied Science. This summer she will be supporting a wide range of activities, from solar research literature reviews to outreach, engagement and communication activities. Read on to hear from Rachel about her goals for this summer!
What drew you to this internship at REWI?
I was initially drawn to this internship because of the opportunity to work on literature reviews, which I’ve had prior experience with through interdisciplinary research. During a previous semester, I worked alongside the environmental science department as part of the NSF‑funded CoPe research team, which helped me realize this was a career pathway I wanted to explore further. With skills in science communication, ArcGIS, and StoryMaps, I felt I could contribute meaningfully to REWI’s work while continuing to build my research experience.
What excites you about working at the intersection of renewable energy and wildlife?
What excites me most is how much we’re still learning in this field, even as renewable energy deployment accelerates rapidly. As an engineering student, I often think about how necessary new technologies are and how efficiently they can be deployed, but wildlife and ecological impacts are often considered later in the process. I’m excited to explore this perspective more deeply, especially since much of my past research hasn’t focused on wildlife interactions with technology, yet maintaining that balance feels essential.
What skills do you hope to grow or learn this summer?
This summer, I hope to strengthen my ability to manage my time and work independently in a remote setting. I’m also excited to further develop my science communication skills, particularly translating research findings into formats that are accessible and engaging for broader audiences. Being able to clearly communicate all kinds of research is a skill I see as valuable far beyond this experience.
What do you like to do outside of work?
Outside of work, I love reading, though lately I’ve spent more time searching for books than actually finishing them. I enjoy thrifting, spending time with friends, and experimenting more in the kitchen, especially when trying to cook traditional Ghanaian dishes.
This internship was made possible through the UVA Environmental Institute Summer Internship Program. REWI is proud of the breadth of our collaboration with UVA, which includes this 2026 intern cohort as well as two capstone courses with UVA’s School of Data Science on the applications of AI in REWI’s information and data science program. REWI has a long history of supporting student internships in environmental, sustainability, and resilience work and is expanding engagement with universities and students through initiatives like the Collegiate Research Showcase; the inaugural 2026 showcase highlights masters and Ph.D. students working on the interactions between solar farms and ecosystems. Contact REWI (info@rewi.org) if you want to learn more about opportunities for REWI-university collaboration.