Support Conservation, Send Mike To Work!

Hi everyone! I'm a student studying environmental science at Cornell University and this summer I'm signed up to perform forest and reef ecology in Indonesia as a research assistant. The forests on Buton Island, the island I'll be largely based in, are unique because they've been evolutionarily isolated due to the deep trenches isolating it from other islands and even in modern times, it's possible to discover species new to science! The surveys completed by Operation Wallacea, the organization I'm traveling with, have discovered 21 new vertebrate species and due to those results, received a $1 million dollar grant from the World Bank to establish a model example of forest conservation management. Furthermore, Eastern Indonesia, where Buton Island is located, is the most diverse, coral-rich area in the world. Indonesia is an ideal place to collect unique, meaningful data for the scientific community.


This trip would provide me with an amazing opportunity to gain valuable field and conservation experience, as well as help me decide a future career path. Unfortunately, the cost of the trip in addition to insurance, flight tickets, and gear prices make it difficult for me to afford. I'm working at school and applying for grants and scholarships, but I need your help too! Any donation will make me that much closer to reaching my goal and being able to take this dream trip! Thank you all so much!