25 February 2026: Eli´s time at NAMMCO
Background
Before starting my graduation internship at NAMMCO, I had already completed several internships during my major in Wildlife Management at Van Hall Larenstein, where I specialised in education. In my second year, I worked for a tropical zoo, where I designed “presentation cards” about snakes and butterflies, and I discovered and developed my digital graphic design skills.
Northern lights
Later, in my fourth year, I completed my first graduation internship at a sustainable education center, where I developed a full lesson format about macrofauna aquatic animals, along with accompanying manuals and educational materials. After finishing this internship, I was looking for my second and final graduation internship. I wanted an opportunity that would allow me to apply my skills in education and communication in a broader, international context.
When I came across the NAMMCO internship and the chance to contribute to the development of the GUARDNA platform, a digital educational tool that provides, among other things, information cards, activities and a teacher’s guide, it immediately felt like the perfect fit. It offered a way to combine my academic knowledge with practical experience, while being part of an international team working on real-world marine education and outreach. It also gave me the opportunity to explore a “new group of animals” and to deepen my knowledge of marine mammals.
Winter life in Tromsø
About my internship
During my time at NAMMCO, I worked on the communication plan for GUARDNA and a social media strategy for NAMMCO itself, based on surveys and interviews. I also contributed to developing the information cards for the GUARDNA platform, where my Adobe skills were very useful. One of the highlights of my internship was how welcome I felt in the team and how seriously my contributions were taken. It was incredibly rewarding to see my skills applied to real educational and communication materials and to know my work made a tangible impact.
Although my own research was separate from other projects, this internship gave me valuable experience in creating educational content and developing communication strategies for an international platform.
The polar nights were challenging at times, but also incredibly beautiful.
Challenges
The dark winter months were sometimes challenging, especially in finding enough sleep and managing constant tiredness. At times, being away from home was difficult, but the supportive office atmosphere and welcoming team quickly made up for it. Recruiting participants for a survey I was running for my thesis was also more difficult than expected. Despite these challenges, I learned a lot about perseverance and adapting to new situations.
Life in Tromsø
Tromsø offers so much beyond work. Witnessing the Northern Lights was an absolute highlight, and I developed a passion for film photography. I volunteered as a photographer at three festivals: Insomnia, Tromsø World, and Tromsø International Film Festival, a fantastic way to meet people interested in music, film, and culture. The spectacular nature was unforgettable, from the heavy snowfall to the challenging but incredible hike up Tromsdalstinden. While the dark winter days were sometimes tough, experiencing them was also unique and made life in the Arctic truly special.
Learn more about the internship here
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- A challenging but fantastic hike
