Empower Nepalese Ichthyology!

Who

Meet Sushan Shakya and Zen Prajapati! They are two amazing budding ichthyologists fighting against all financial and bureaucratic odds to document and conserve the native and endemic fishes of their home country, Nepal. They redefine the phrase "a labor of love", tirelessly fighting through miles of red tape on a shoestring budget that most western scientists cannot fathom, to get scientific collecting permits, collecting supplies and curation chemicals and reagents in order to create a collection of fishes and tissues for their PhD research and more.

What

Their goals are to help repair an inaccurate taxonomy within many groups of fishes found in Nepal, through the use of modern morphological and molecular research methodologies. This will likely include the description of several new species as well!

Why

Their success is motivational to say the least, but now they need your help. With limited to no funding available domestically, and without much chance of international grant funding due to Nepal's stringent rules on specimen sharing and export, they have hit a wall. They have no means to sequence tissues from their tissue library that they have methodically created over the last two years. Funds from this GoFundMe campaign will be used to purchase a Nanopore sequencer and all necessary reagents, workflow materials, and supporting software/hardware.

By donating any amount, you will be helping to advance the science of Ichthyology in Nepal, where it is desperately needed! Climate change threatens the Himalayan rivers as the glaciers that feed them recede. It is paramount that their work to inventory this biodiversity continues so we can learn what we have before it is lost!

Bonus incentives to show our appreciation!

Donations of 100$ or more will receive a hand-written postcard from Sushan and Zen, as well as a set of Himalayan Prayer Flags from Nepal!

Donations of 200$ or more will receive the above plus recognition in the acknowledgements section in a scientific paper that results from the use of equipment purchased with this fundraiser!

Donations of 300$ or more will receive the above plus acknowledgement in multiple papers that result from this funding, of which there are sure to be many!