Exploring Tropical Australia

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Rebecca Lynn

<i>"Hello" in your host country's language:</i> Habari <i>Home Institution (your U.S. University/College):</i> Iowa State University <i>Expected graduation year:</i> 2024 <i>Destination city & country:</i> Yungaburra, Australia and Rhotia, Tanzania <i>Program provider:</i> School of Field Studies <i>Major/minor:</i> Forestry and Animal Ecology <i>Demographics:</i> Caucasian/White <i>Future career aspirations:</i> I am extremely passionate about preserving and restoring habitat for wildlife all across the world. My plan is to begin working on my master's degree in wildlife biology after graduating from Iowa State University. My end goal is to obtain my doctorate in restoration ecology and conduct research to discover the best way to preserve and restore some of the most fragile ecosystems. I am hoping that my experience through the School of Field Studies will help me understand what I would like to focus on for my master's research. <i>Top 3 goals for your time abroad:</i> 1) Leave a positive impact on the people of the Rhotia community in Tanzania. 2) Better understand what I would like to do for my graduate school programs. 3) Scuba dive in the Great Barrier Reef.

I’ve now been in Australia for 14 days and I’ve already made so many memories! The Wet Tropics is so beautiful- there’s so many diverse plants, animals, and insects. My studies is focusing on marsupials, but in my free time I am pressing leaves of plants for my personal plant journal. One of my professors is assisting me with plant identification. Some of the coolest things that I have seen is the Curtain Fig, a group of red legged pademelon, and the Wallaman waterfall. I have limited internet connection but it is nice having a break from the rest of the world and getting lost in the beauty of the rainforest. I’m currently on my way to a wildlife rehabilitation center where I will learn what people are doing to conserve the unique species that call the Wet Tropics home.