Molly Bidwell

Conservation Related Experience:
During June I studied abroad in Turks and Caicos Island with School for Field Studies where I learned about management of marine protected areas. I lived on South Caicos Island, and the main source of economy there is conch and lobster fisheries, so our research help ensure that these resources were being managed properly to ensure a future for local fishermen.

Connection to Conservation Biology: 
My study abroad provided me with the hands on experience and community relation skills I believe are necessary for any conservation project to be successful. It is crucial to work with locals when considering how to conserve ecosystems and their resources, for their livelihoods depend of the productivity of those ecosystems and they tend to understand the complexities of those ecosystems best. Furthermore, hands of experience helps create a person connection to not only specific resources, but the environment in general, which I feel can greatly motivate us conservation biology students.