22nd Feb 2018: Please note that at present we have reduced opportunities for research volunteers. We are currently reviewing the ways we support volunteers to ensure they can have the best possible experience with us. We will not be taking any interns before Autumn 2018. There are always opportunities to become part of the research team! These range from a full time two week placement as part of your degree to a commitment of one day a week for a year or more. Each volunteer in the research team gets to choose a named project to work on, with a job description and a volunteer contract. They also get their travel expenses and lunch money paid. Volunteering in the research team is a fantastic way to contribute to the development of permaculture, improve your CV, learn a lot, and have fun! Interested? Then e-mail Chris, the Association's Research Coordinator; [email protected] Volunteer profile: Cat Richards "My name is Cat Richards and I'm currently based in Devon. Having spent most of my life traipsing around the globe it seems appropriate that my responsibilities over the last year have included being the international research volunteer at the Permaculture Association. The international permaculture research surveys were designed to lay the groundwork for an international permaculture research network (watch this space!) by finding out what the current state of permaculture research is. During the course of the four surveys we have amassed almost 400 completed questionnaires and opinions on every aspect of permaculture research that we could think of. Starting with what research was going on (report available here), we moved on to what research people would like to see done (report available here), how researchers share and communicate (report available here) and finally looked at the research process that is being used (report available here – needs uploading from research; int research survey; survey 4; executive summary and research; int research survey; survey 4; report). It has been really exciting to see the range of research going on and to hear about the challenges and opportunities others see in carrying it out. It has also been a pleasure working with other people who not only know what permaculture is, but are enthusiastic about putting it into practise."