worldstudy.gov | Anne Allen: Conservation in Tanzania (1 of 8)

Anne Allen: Conservation in Tanzania

Anne Allen learned Kiswahili and studied biodiversity and conservation while backpacking, bushwhacking and homestaying her way across Tanzania. She brought those experiences back home to the U.S. as a researcher for the Southwest Fisheries Science Center, exploring the behavior of dolphins endangered by the tuna fishing industry. Anne believes that scientists must make a commitment to speak the language, to understand the culture, and to respect the heritage of countries where they study and work.

Her most enduring memory? The warmth and hospitality of a host family, where she knows she'll be welcome to return for the rest of her life.

Anne Allen grew up in Southern California, in the city of Redlands. Her family moved north to the Bay Area suburb of Pleasanton when she was 10, but her interests in water, science and conservation drew her south to the San Diego campus of the University of California for college.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 | [more…]

PLAIN TEXT SCROLLABLE FORMAT

[x] ANNE ALLEN'S RESEARCH PROJECT

Often, Tanzanian fishermen toss a stick of dynamite from their boats and scoop up dead reef fish that rise to the surface. It's a lot of food for little effort, but it can reduce an area of reef to rubble.

Before Anne's arrival in the country, a professor at the University of Dar Es Salaam had transplanted three varieties of coral in five dispersed test beds.

Anne collaborated with the researcher to determine which kind of coral thrived in the different ecosystems. The goal: transplant into each devasted area only the coral that has the best chance to survive.

[close sidebar]

[x] ANNE ALLEN'S MONEY

Anne's Boren Scholarship provided $7,500. Through the International Center at UC San Diego, she was awarded $500. Her Tanzania program cost $12,000, which included tuition, housing, travel and most other expenses. There were also hefty additional expenses, for immunizations, travel gear, and so on, which added up to approximately $1,500. A summer job before she left helped pay for vaccinations and a lot of extras.

Resources		Expenses
Boren Scholarship	$7,500	Program	$12,000
International Center UCSD	$ 500	Immunizations	$ 1,000
Summer Job	$1,500	Travel Gear	$ 500
Parents and Miscellaneous	$4,000
TOTAL	$13,500		$13,500

[close sidebar]

[x] ANNE ALLEN DESCRIBES HER SUPPORTERS

"The biology department at the University of California, San Diego was very supportive of my work in Tanzania. I had to provide them with detailed descriptions of what I would be doing. For the most part, they pre-approved credit for all of the courses.

"I wasn't just gaining credits toward graduation, I was gaining credits toward both my major and minor.

"As for my parents, definitely they were worried. Most parents I know would have that reaction to their only daughter traveling to Africa.

"My mother was most worried that I would come back emaciated, so she spent the summer trying to force feed me before I went to Africa."

[close sidebar]