I am completing the fellowship with the World Wildlife Fund, whose headquarters are in DC. World Wildlife Fund has branches across the globe, from Colombia to India, and works in more than 100 countries. WWF collaborates with people around the world to develop and deliver innovative solutions that protect communities, wildlife, and the places in which they live. Through the BSP, I will be able to learn more about environmental policy and conservation engineering. I will also be able to share new engineering ideas and perspectives with the WWF team and contribute to conversations around environmental justice. 

 

While WWF is based in Washington, DC, I will be working remotely in New Jersey, and contributing to projects happening all around the world. One project I may contribute to is a thermal perimeter anti-poaching system in Kenya. Conservationists in Kenya face many challenges including high youth unemployment, lack of funds or materials to develop engineering solutions independently, and the potential for the wildlife they are trying to protect to damage or destroy the protection technology. However, there are also many strengths, as the wildlife rangers and conservationists have a strong desire to prevent poaching, and they share information about the importance of conservation with their friends and family, leading to greater support for preservation initiatives.