In addition to being paid, the students also earn school credits if they are enrolled in the cooperative education program. These students work with our staff members and are exposed to the latest technology and techniques employed in Earth science research. Although not all of the students pursue careers in the Earth sciences, the knowledge and skills that they acquire at HVO are applicable to any career. The U.S. Geological Survey also has a well-established Volunteer for Science program, and HVO's program is probably one of the most popular. Volunteers archive our photos, duplicate slides, build instruments in our machine shop, photocopy reports, monitor and map the active lava flows, assist with computer software and hardware, log water-well drilling, collect gas samples from fumaroles and vents, prepare and analyze samples in our labs, measure and document changes of the active volcanoes, and accompany our geologists and geophysicists in the field.
Volunteers range from undergraduate students to retired persons and come from around the world.
Due to the time commitment for training by our staff, we only accept volunteers willing to work for three months or longer. The small size of our staff and of our dormitory limits the number of volunteers at any given time. Volunteers who are not from the Big Island are housed in a fully-furnished cottage located a few miles from the Observatory in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. They are responsible for their transportation, food, health, and incidental expenses. Include information about your abilities, interests, and availability.