Lulu Louchheim, a Master of Environmental Management student, spent her summer as a blue economy mapping and investment readiness intern with Iceland Ocean Cluster and Blue Nova Ventures. Louchheim is pursuing concentrations in Business and Environment and in Coastal and Marine Systems.

Each year, Nicholas School of the Environment students complete internships with organizations around the world. These summer experiences provide valuable opportunities to gain career-related experience and build a professional network. 

Duke Environment recently caught up with Louchheim to learn more about her experience. 

What aspects of the experience did you find most rewarding or memorable and why?

Research and fishing vessels dock in a harbor beneath towering white clouds and a bright blue sky.

The most rewarding part of my experience with the Iceland Ocean Cluster and Blue Nova Ventures was knowing my research would have a real impact on their future work and on their clients' work investing in blue economy sectors and companies helping shape our climate future.

How did the coursework and resources at the Nicholas School prepare you for success in this role as well as your internship search?

The coursework that best prepared me for this role was International Fisheries Policy, since the Iceland Ocean Cluster is deeply fisheries-focused, helping set up ocean clusters around the world that support full fish utilization to maximize value creation and livelihoods while sustaining marine resources.

Climate Tech Startups & Investors and Entrepreneurship also helped a lot, giving me the lens to analyze different ocean-climate sectors and companies the way a climate-tech investor would.

Did you collaborate with any Nicholas School alumni? If so, how did those connections add to your summer experience?

Jennifer Bushman, founder of Fed by Blue, isn't a Nicholas School alum, but she's a longtime friend of the school.

I met her at the UNC Wilmington Ocean Innovation Conference in fall 2025, introduced by Stephanie Rousso, managing director of Oceans@Duke, who I worked closely with last year.

Jen has deep connections across the Blue Economy, and she took the time to understand my career interests and connect me with the right people. The Iceland Ocean Cluster was one of those connections.

How has this internship influenced your career aspirations? Did it confirm or change your professional goals in any way?

This internship confirmed that the blue economy solutions and investment space is where I want to build my career. It also showed me I'm capable of moving to a new country and that I'd be happy to do so after graduation for the right opportunity in this space.

As a result, I'll continue part-time contract work with the Iceland Ocean Cluster this fall alongside my second year, which I'm excited about since I get to keep working with a team I wasn't ready to leave.

 

Rainbow arcs through the mist of a powerful waterfall cascading beside steep, moss-covered cliffs.