Welcome to Intelligentsia International, Inc. (III)

Intelligentsia International, Inc. offers its visitors an opportunity to experience the environmental, technical, social and recreational diversity of Florida. In addition to eco-tourism and educational exchange programs, participants are also given an opportunity to help bring positive change to the USA. Intelligentsia is a regional leader in promoting new approaches to environmental, water, energy and community activism, as practiced in rural southwest Florida. The Intelligentsia participant teams are a real force in transforming the USA. These unique experiences help prepare students and young professionals for meaningful careers in other parts of the world. Intelligentsia's activities are very diverse, they are not equal only to typical student summer internships. Browse through our websites and feel free to contact us if our international practical experience programs interest you. You may also apply online to our program. Be sure to check our NEWS page, so you get the newest information about our educational as well as fun activities.

Intelligentsia's poster for the UN Climate Change Conference.

Global Warming & Climate Change Policies

Intelligentsia promotes energy policies to reduce greenhouse gases and climate change and works to motivate young Americans to make progress against climate change. Help us to make a difference by educating US university students on the importance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions or by organizing a joint effort to participate in events associated with the upcoming U.N. Chile Climate Change Conference (COP25), the official U.N. “Conference of Youth” (COY15) in Chile and the parallel symposium at Kennedy Space Center (NASA) in Florida. More on Global Warming and Climate Change ...

Few former Intelligentsia students assigned to global warming projects.

PLUS website maintained by Intelligentsia.

Water Treatment and Utilities

Intelligentsia's president Dr. Capece helps to manage planning for the Port LaBelle Utility System (PLUS) of Hendry and Glades Counties. This includes the Citizen Advisory Committee, the PLUS web site and current infrastructure projects - a new water treatment plant, transmission line and water service network for 15,000 home sites. A former Intelligentsia's participant, Moctar Siddo from Niger, served for 2 years as the PLUS engineer, employed by Hendry County, until he went on to a new job building utility systems in Africa. More on Water Treatment and Utilities...

III participants visiting a water treatment facility.

III participants taking water quality measurements.

Agricultural Hydrology & Water Management Systems

Florida was granted with fertile soils and a plenty of lakes and rivers that made the "Sunshine state" a traditionally agricultural region. For many years these abundant natural resources were exploited. But now, in the era of conservation, people finally recognize how limited these resources are and seek ways to manage them in a sustainable manner. Water quality degradation issues and water management systems improvements in regional agricultural sustainable production are objectives of this Intelligentsia's research. More on Agricultural Hydrology & Water Management Systems...

III participants during a field trip to orange groves.

Riverwatch website created by Intelligentsia.

Environmental Advocacy

Intelligentsia designed and maintains web site, databases and other technology tools of Caloosahatchee River Citizens Association (CRCA) - Riverwatch. Participants created documentary videos on ecological and political issues associated with water pollution, algal blooms and ecological destruction of the river and its estuary. Intelligentsia also publishes the CRCA Newsletter and organizes various fundraising events for CRCA-Riverwatch. More on Environmental Advocacy...

III visitors during a cruise on the Caloosahatchee River.

Caloosahatchee oxbow BEFORE restoration.

Hydraulic and Ecological Restoration

Intelligentsia works with Southern DataStream on restoration projects for oxbows (old river sections) along the Caloosahatchee River. Participants help with channel and construction designs, computer flow modeling and public education aspects of these unique restorations. More on Ecological Restoration...

Caloosahatchee oxbow AFTER restoration.

LaBelle Nature park website.

Community Service and Recreation

Community-minded groups and individuals have joined together to improve public access and usage of the LaBelle Nature Park. LaBelle Rotary Club has presented these ideas to County Recreation Board and got an approval to implement needed improvements to the park. Intelligentsia created associated web site and also actively participate in various assignments related to this community project. More on Community Service...

Design of proposed kayak trail.

Technical research and other projects with University of Florida.

Instrumentation, Technology & Technical Research

Intelligentsia, in cooperation with Southern DataStream, University of Florida and other partners allows visitors to join in special eco-tourism and educational tours programs combined with practical experience in SW Florida farmlands and native areas. Students and young professionals coming here from all over the world receive experience in many technical fields and develop theirs skills in preparation for their future careers. More on Instrumentation and Technology...

Water quality sampling on SW Florida ranches.

Website for clean water projects in Central Asia & Africa.

International Development and Humanitarian Service

Intelligentsia in cooperation with dozens of Rotary International service clubs, CARE International and SilkRoad Science & Engineering has initiated a development project in Central Asia and West Africa to address problems of unsafe drinking water supplies, improper sanitation and insufficient human resources training there, while also raising awareness in local communities about these serious issues of developing world. More on Humanitarian Service...

III directors Sabina Dzalaeva & Michal Fidler at water project site.

Sustainable Biomass Production

Intelligentsia, together with University of Florida, Edison State College and the U.S. Department of Energy initiated research and educational programs related to biofuels, sustainable biomass farming and fuel conversion systems. These systems should balance various economic, social and ecological needs (e.g. food production, water storage, nutrients management, soil subsidence, energy efficiency, habitat protection, etc.) of Florida. More on Sustainable Biomass Production...

Water storage and flow management scenarios in Florida.

Biomass production and its effects on land use systems.

Energy Analysis and Life Cycle Assessment

Intelligentsia researches existing sugarcane farming systems typical of south Florida (and other production areas) and analyzes sugarcane ethanol life cycle (LCA) from water, energy and carbon perspectives. "Traditional" and "alternative" sugarcane cultivation and ethanol conversion technologies have a range of environmental and economical implications that not fully investigated yet, so we explore new fields of scientific research and environmental sustainability approaches. More on Energy Analysis...

Emergy (embodied energy) and LCA of sugarcane.

Energy analysis and LCA.