Madagascar Environmental Research Studies 2019

Hi everyone! My name is Eleanor King and I'm an Environment & Sustainability major with a political science minor at Catawba College. I am in the honors program as well, and plan to attend grad school for Environmental Policy and Law. I have interests in wildlife conservation, environmental law, and human-animal conflict, and believe that you have to be willing to understand people and their cultures in order to make a difference with conservation and other areas. I am currently in the process of working on my honors thesis research, a large portion of which will be done while I'm in Madagascar. While doing my research, I am also the lead coordinator on campus for the sustainable garden , and have put upwards of 60 hours into physical work and researching the best methods to replace the previous raised beds and other garden features.
   My school is offering a study abroad research opportunity for Summer 2019 (end of my junior year of college) that travels to Madagascar. I would be able to participate in research projects, experience cross-cultural and language immersion, study conservation and development topics firsthand, see and research lemurs, and be able to work alongside a Malagasy student counterpart. The group may also be trekking as well to reach remote areas. I will essentially be living in a 2-4 person tent for a month while out in the field. In addition to this, I will be running my own research for my honors thesis while in Madagascar, focusing on Ankarafantsika National Park and the methods of park management currently being used. I hope to discover or evaluate better ways of incorporating community-based conservation, both in the park itself and in other areas across the globe.
   Already, I have collaborated with a biodegradable toothbrush company, Mable, to acquire a large donation of toothbrushes for two of the schools I will be going to while in Madagascar. Mable was able to donate 1400 toothbrushes for the kids, and I can't wait to be able to go to the schools to give the brushes out and teach about sustainability.
   I want to be able to make a difference in my field, both at home and abroad. I believe this trip will provide me with more experience in applying my major and minor to unusual areas and my work there will make a positive impact in protecting earth’s natural resources for future generations. If all goes well, I intend to continue my project (or parts of it) through graduate school as I work towards my concurrent Master of Environmental Management and Juris Doctor degrees. Your support is greatly appreciated, and I will be forever grateful for any aid in saving for this once in a lifetime opportunity.

Many thanks!
Eleanor King

(Below are the images for donations of $30 or more)