Hello!

My name is Madawi Nandakumar, a Master’s student in Sustainability Science at Leuphana University, Germany. I’m originally from Sri Lanka, and I’ve recently secured a self-initiated, unpaid research internship at Kanazawa University, Japan, which will take place from September 1st to 26th, 2025.

This internship is not just a research opportunity It gives me the chance to explore sustainability perspectives beyond Europe and immerse myself in an interdisciplinary environment that connects transdisciplinary research, biodiversity conservation, and Education for Sustainable Development (ESD).

What will I be doing?

I’ll conduct fieldwork in Shiramine Village, a region of exceptional ecological and cultural value located at the overlap of the Mount Hakusan UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and Global Geopark. My project, titled:

“Understanding Local Landscape Preferences in Shiramine Village: A Q Methodology Approach”

aims to understand how local communities perceive their landscapes and how such insights can support inclusive governance and sustainable land-use planning, key themes in addressing global climate and biodiversity challenges.

Why I need your help:

Since the internship is unpaid and falls outside traditional university exchange programs, I am currently struggling to finance the trip, as most funding opportunities do not support short-term research stays like this at the Master’s level.

That’s why I am kindly asking for your support. Your donation will help cover:

✈️ Round-trip airfare

Basic accommodation

Local transport to and from the field site

Daily living expenses

Estimated total: €3,000

Giving Back:

To thank you and share what I’ve learned, I plan to give a short presentation or write a reflective brief about my experience, highlighting key outcomes, local insights, and how they relate to sustainability practice and education globally.

Any contribution, no matter the size, brings me closer to making this important opportunity a reality.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for believing in education, sustainability, and the power of learning across cultures.

Warm regards,

Madawi Nandakumar