Reflections from the Scan Design Foundation Fellows Exploring Sustainability in Denmark
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Four weeks into the Scan Design Foundation Environmental Sustainability Internship program, fellows are gaining firsthand experience with Denmark's innovative approach to sustainability through internships, professional development activities, and life in Copenhagen.
Co-sponsored by CIEE and the Scan Design Foundation, this prestigious fellowship was awarded to seven exceptional U.S. college students passionate about environmental sustainability and intercultural exchange. The award covers each fellows’ full program cost, airfare, and a living stipend, making it possible for students to gain international professional experience while exploring innovative sustainability solutions in the Danish context.
"My overarching takeaway from my time in Copenhagen so far: sustainability is the lifestyle"
Interning across startups, sustainable businesses, and innovation hubs, students are exploring topics ranging from climate technology to sustainable entrepreneurship and discovering how sustainability is woven into everyday life in Denmark.
"Denmark has a strong reputation as a climate leader, yet people here do not act as though the work is finished," reflected University of Washington student Eva Odderson, who is interning at Ambient Carbon. "If anything, they are highly aware of how much further there is to go."
Outside of their internships, fellows have participated in workshops, networking opportunities, and cultural activities that connect sustainability concepts to real-world applications.
"My overarching takeaway from my time in Copenhagen so far: sustainability is the lifestyle," wrote UC Berkeley student and intern at BLOXHUB, Zenji Van Zutphen. "It's integrated into the city, a belief that everyone supports and advocates for, and that's what makes it powerful."
Across the cohort, students describe Copenhagen as a living classroom where environmental sustainability is not only studied but experienced firsthand.
As Villanova University student Srija Tamidela, who is interning at The Organic Company reflected, "Environmental sustainability is no longer just something I study; it's something I see embedded in daily life, workplace culture, and community norms here in Denmark."
Follow along with the Fellows’ transformative experience through their reflections we will post on the CIEE College Study Abroad blog and on LinkedIn.
About Scan Design Foundation
Honoring the legacy of Danish immigrants Inger and Jens Bruun, the Scan Design Foundation advances Danish American relations by supporting cultural exchanges focused on environmental sustainability. The organization is a private foundation founded in 2002 and headquartered in Seattle, Washington. Learn more at scandesignfoundation.org.
About CIEE
Since 1947, CIEE has built bridges between people, nations, and cultures by supporting more than one million student exchanges across more than 140 countries. CIEE programs help young people develop intercultural understanding, global competence, and the leadership skills needed to succeed in a connected world. Learn more at ciee.org.