Self Assessment 2017

     Before the Magellan Project, the Great Barrier Reef was a dream and always appeared as an unrealistic goal for myself. As the health of the reef continued to decline, I decided I would reach my goal and create a project revolving around the biodiversity there. I decided to not only look at conservation methods with the Great Barrier Reef, but also all of Australia and New Zealand’s biodiversity. From visiting different conservation parks and sanctuaries, speaking with different scientists, and seeing the country’s attitude towards the environment firsthand, I gained knowledge, experience, and connections from around the world that I never imagined possible. I grew as a person, a student, a traveler and a researcher.

            Looking back on my trip, I remember all the moments that filled me with anxiety and fear; but now, I am proud of my accomplishments, big and small. One of the first biggest steps and also one of the most terrifying moments of my life seems like such a small problem now. Knowing that I was able to leave my parents in the airport and safely conduct myself through multiple airports and airplanes alone, gave me more courage and confidence that I could imagine. And confidence is a big quality a lone traveler needs.

            Stepping off into unfamiliar territory, I landed in the most populous Australian city, Sydney. This was not only my first time in Australia, but also the first time I would be staying in a hostel, and navigating my way through the city was difficult. Staying in a hostel alone taught me a lot such as how to quickly trust your roommates, how to talk to strangers, how to label my food in the communal fridge so no one ate my leftovers, and other useful tips. Meeting and making different friends from all over the world was the best part of staying in a hostel and definitely the best part about traveling alone. Hearing different perspectives from Germany to Canada was refreshing and extremely educational. They even commented on my project, spilling their thoughts on environmental issues especially those dealing with the American president, Donald Trump, of course. The most eye opening comment came from my new Bostonian friend: “The best thing Trump has done for the environment is cause a wakeup call. People aren’t taking things for granted anymore and he’s raising awareness without even trying.”

            Sydney is comparable to New York City, a giant city with countless people. One of the areas nearby, Manly, was a place I spent a decent amount of time in. Located here was the Manly Beach, Sea Life Sanctuary, and the Manly Beach environment center. At the sanctuary I talked with one of the workers and he gave me insight about sharks, the media, and the government. He talked about how the media negatively and wrongly depicts sharks as monsters and it has been leading to their rapid decline in numbers along with the fin trade of course. He also said there has been numerous times where their government uses a shark attack incident to cover up and draw attention away from bigger issues such as when they purposely plastered a minor shark attack incident on the cover of newspapers to take the eyes off the debating revolving same sex marriage that day. At the environment center, I also got to speak with a worker and she informed me how Manly is taking different precautions to become more eco-friendly such as banning plastic bags.

            After Sydney, I headed to Brisbane located in Queensland, the most biodiverse Australian state. Here I met with researcher and professor at the University of Queensland, David Booth. He talked with me about the sea turtle research he has conducted and his view on the state of the Great Barrier Reef. By saving the Great Barrier Reef, it is essentially conserving the green sea turtle and other species. Also, He mentioned how an increase of runoff in the water and a certain starfish species is a huge problem for the reef. He also told me about how scuba diving and snorkeling at the Great Barrier Reef is extremely beneficial and creates a greater appreciation for the reef! In Brisbane, I also had the chance to witness the conservation of numerous species at the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary- especially the conservation of koala bears.  The sanctuary like the Great Barrier Reef allows people to safely view the precious animals up close and thus creates a love and appreciation for nature and the species. This leads to future conservation methods and more awareness. The sanctuary also works to help the koala bears by donating money to and working with the University of Queensland for research purposes to develop vaccines for Chlamydia found amongst the majority of Koalas when they are born.

            After my time at Brisbane, I traveled to Cairns- one of my favorite cities during my travel. Similar to the previous cities, this city was extremely clean and the people had a love for the environment not seen in the United States. In Cairns I had the chance to scuba dive at the Great Barrier Reef, one the natural seven wonders of the world. Although visitors cannot view the dying portions of the reef, I was able to see the healthy thriving sections. On board of the boat the tour group took us out on, was a marine biologist informing us about the diverse marine life and how we need to protect it. He also mentioned how each person donates six dollars out of their total cost to scuba dive to the reef research. Seeing the Great Barrier Reef was a once in a lifetime experience and seeing all the different species living together as the largest coral reef ecosystem reinforced how important it is. Knowing that this one reef affects all oceans, made me appreciate it even more.

            In addition to the Great Barrier Reef, I visited the world’s oldest rainforest, the Daintree Rainforest. This rainforest has various different birds, insects, plants, and reptiles. My guide spoke about one particular bird a lot- the Cassowary. This endangered bird is a beloved animal that lives in the Daintree and it was quite obvious how loved it is. Local residents covered the roads with signs attempting to save the bird. Their constant work of trying to save the species, warn the public, and create awareness is not going unseen and the tour guide consistently reminded us how important this species is for the rainforest and ecosystem in whole.

            After this city, I traveled south to Adelaide to stay with my friend, Elyse, and learn more about one of the world’s most misunderstood animals, the shark.  A short drive from Adelaide, Port Lincoln, is one of the only places in the world to shark cage dive. Although I did not end up shark cage diving, I still talked to a worker about the benefits of shark cage diving and how the company helps to conserve the species. Besides their advanced eco certification, the company works to create a deeper appreciation through tourism and uses it for research about the sharks. They also support multiple research groups that measure the sharks’ movements and lives. Shark cage diving not only helps further research, but allows visitors to view the beautiful animals in nature. Because of this interaction, a deeper appreciation for the animal is built. Comparable to the other animal sanctuaries and wildlife areas I visited, this deeper appreciation is extremely important for conservation methods. Without the public caring about nature how would scientists save or protect any species? I saw this deeper appreciation for nature in every person I talked to while I stayed in Australia and New Zealand. They always talked about how the United States as a superpower should be setting an example for the world on how to treat our only Mother Nature. By setting an example, maybe more countries will follow and of course, the United States is not the only country to blame.

            Following Adelaide, I flew to a new country, New Zealand! As I boarded the plane for a new country, I grew nervous once again. I flew to a new country when I was finally getting used to the last one. New Zealand, much like Australia, has extreme amounts of biodiversity. Seeing the two different countries and being able to compare them was beneficial.

            In New Zealand I met with scientist, Di Tracey, from the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research. I learned about her life, her job, and her opinions, which were all very useful for my project. The area she studies does not have coral similar to Australia, instead, they have deep sea coral. She warned me about the future of the Great Barrier Reef and how it will affect everything. If the world loses the largest living process, how would that not affect the world?  She explained the precautions people and especially my generation should be taking. Unfortunately, it will be up to us to try to save this ecosystem. Besides that, she also spoke about how attitudes towards the environment have improved. Conservation methods and environmental awareness have increased tremendously over her years as a scientist.  

            In New Zealand, there is an ecosanctuary called Zealandia. The goal of this conservation park is to restore the land as far as possible to the original environment.  Countless native species were extinct off the island and they are working to reintroduce them to New Zealand. Once again, viewing the efforts and success of this firsthand was unbelievable. Following my trip to Zealandia, I met up with Di Tracey again and her husband. Her husband informed me how successful the park is and how he notices the reintroduced species in areas outside the fenced ecosanctuary.  The efforts of this park is obviously working and local residents are noticing it!

            Overall, my trip has showed me different perspectives from all over the world on politics, food, clothing, driving habits, languages, and most importantly, the environment. I found how different organizations are not only trying to research the different species, but create an appreciation for them that will be extremely beneficial for their survival. I learned different perspectives from a couple different scientists. I learned different attitudes from other travelers, different personal knowledge from local residents, and I learned how to properly scuba dive. This trip taught me more than how the conservation methods have increased over the years or how electing a certain type of person as president can surge more environmental awareness. I also learned that I can survive on my own in a different country with no one. I figured out how to navigate through an airport, how to order an Uber, and how to enjoy eating alone at foreign restaurants. Most importantly, I learned how to meet friends, make connections around the world, and how to fully enjoy myself while constantly faced with obstacles. I am proud of the work I have accomplished and cannot wait for my next Magellan Project!