My Journey to the Forefront of Conservation Based Research

The Ask

I’m Riley Greenslade-Pagan, and I’ve been a Tampa native for 26 years, where I have lived and thrived in the community. After attending Strawberry Crest High School, I enrolled in Hillsborough Community College, then the University of South Florida, where I graduated with a Bachelor’s in biochemistry.

I have now set my sights on graduate school to pursue specialized research in enzymology and protein synthesis. Now, I’m excited to share that I've been accepted into the Master of Science by Thesis program at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. There I will conduct research using enzymes to treat a recently emerged plant disease known as Kauri Dieback.

I’m proud to share that I’ve earned a scholarship that will cover a substantial amount of the tuition needed to attend. While my husband and I have been able to save a significant amount, we expect to use much of it during relocation. Therefore, I still require $10,000 to pay the remaining tuition, and that is why I am now turning to you.

The Why

My motivation for achieving this goal is clear and simple; there is a world-wide need for innovative solutions to the numerous climate-related threats facing our society. These include, but are certainly not limited to:

● The impacts of globalization allow diseases to spread more rapidly to humans, animals, and crops,

● Pollution and over-exploitation of our environments will further impact global food supplies,

● And, the warming of our oceans has led to a more acidic environment that modern marine plants and animals will not be able to adapt to.

I believe that one of the best chances humanity has at mitigating these threats is through the use of enzymes. Enzymes are molecular machines that facilitate chemical reactions which could lead to a plethora of solutions including:

● The treatment of diseases,

● The safe decomposition of microplastics,

● And, carbon capture initiatives to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere.

Because of the near limitless solutions enzymes provide, I find it essential for me to pursue this research.

The Goal

The unprecedented times we live in calls for unprecedented solutions. My goal is to not only prove the investigated enzymes are effective in local conservation efforts, but to also show the world that the innovative solutions we require exist within the life that we treasure. I hope that by achieving this, climate change mitigation efforts worldwide will be empowered to further save the land and resources that we cherish and rely upon. And, with your help, I can begin to make this dream a reality.

Every donation, large or small, will help me fund the cost of my tuition. Please consider donating to further this valuable research that could help save the planet.

Thank you so much for your consideration.