What pushed you to join the Opwall team?
Collecting elephant dung samples for analysis in South Africa
I love the way that Opwall combines robust, high-quality conservation research with an amazing, educational experience for the students. They are not just learning about research but actively taking part in collecting data that then goes into publications, grant applications, management plans etc. I’ve been lucky enough to work at research sites around the world, and my role allows me to use that experience to contribute to many different types of research in various environments worldwide.
After completing your PhD, what inspired you to go to Costa Rica?
I wanted to try something different and gain some new experiences. I’d done a small amount of conservation volunteer work before, both in Honduras with Opwall and in a small reserve in South Africa, so I decided to commit a bit more time to this to see if I wanted to make this a career. I chose Costa Rica as it offered a truly amazing diversity of species and the opportunity to live and work in a physically demanding and remote environment. I wanted a challenge - and I certainly got it!
How did you go from a Neuroscience to working in Conservation Biology?
My first dip into conservation biology was through the internship I undertook in Costa Rica shortly after completing my PhD. This six-month project included three months of training followed by three months of gaining work experience as a staff member. After only a few weeks I realised that this was something I was truly passionate about, and began to work hard to gain the experience I knew I would need to be successful in this field.
Trying out the scooter skills in Thailand!
You have worked with a variety of different animals. Which one do you like working with the most?
The answer to this changes more frequently than it probably should! At the moment it’s definitely the African elephants. They’re such intelligent, graceful creatures and getting to spend time watching them and monitoring their behaviour is really special. They also have very complicated conservation needs at the moment, and as I learned more about their plight and how our data might be able to help, it makes me even more excited to be involved with the project.
How have your previous experiences helped you in your current role?
I’ve been a volunteer on conservation research projects before, so I know exactly what it feels like to turn up to a new country, on your own with no idea what to expect and then be blown away! All of my previous conservation research has been conducted working alongside volunteers and students, so I know what works and what doesn’t in the field. This means that I can help to make sure that the students’ time is used effectively, while still giving them a (hopefully!) unforgettable experience.
What does a normal day at work look like for you?
One of the great things about my job is there is no normal day! My role involves of a lot of planning and coordination, and so I will send many emails each day keeping everyone up to date with progress. Some days this will happen from our offices in the UK, but I also travel around the world giving lectures to school and university students about our projects. When I’m in the field, the focus is on ensuring a high quality of data collection, so I’ll help train the students, go out with them to collect data and ensure everything about the project is running smoothly.
Celebrating the end of a successful season of data collection in Gondwana Game Reserve, South Africa
What makes Opwall unique from other research program organizations?
The real standout feature of Opwall is the quality of the research. Opwall has formed a network of academics from around the world who plan the research and experienced scientists accompany all students to make sure that every piece of data collected is accurate. This means the data is robust enough to publish, and to date over 300 peer-reviewed articles have been published from Opwall data collected around the world.
What is Opwall’s main target market when conducting and program?
Opwall students come from a range of backgrounds, but all have the desire to gain real research experience in conservation biology. We provide all the training needed to take part in the research on site, but some prior knowledge/experience of conservation research techniques can be helpful! The majority of our students are studying biology or a related field, and use their expeditions to add to their CV or work out if a career in conservation is for them.
Keeping it Africa around the office!
What do you love most about your career?
Definitely the variety! Conservation is a career path that is never predictable, and if you embrace that and just try to gain as many experiences as you can, it’s amazingly rewarding. Field work is incredibly hard work, and there are days when you hike and hike for hours in tough terrain and barely see a thing. But the moment that you finally find that jaguar, or agami heron, or elephant and get to record your data - there’s nothing quite like it!
If you could travel anywhere in the world for research, where would it be? Why?
Probably the forests of Madagascar. The high level of endemism and deforestation there means that it won’t be long before many of the island’s species won’t be with us any longer. I’d love to spend some time studying these unique species and how we might be able to use our knowledge of their individuals ecological niches to help them survive the rapid changes humans are inflicting.
