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For Crys Moosman ’21, the past 11 months have been full of exploration, where a day might include population monitoring, data collection, and getting to learn about the ins and outs of organizations they’ve worked with. They've done coral reef surveys with Marine Discoveries in Australia and hiked up hillsides to service a trap camera while working with the Cape Leopard Trust in South Africa.

Moosman ’21 is pursuing their interests in wildlife conservation through the Thomas J. Watson Fellowship. As one of 42 students selected nationwide from 155 finalists, Mossman will use their $40,000 fellowship to fund a year of international travel and independent global exploration of a deep interest. Guided by their love for wildlife and conservation, Moosman wanted to gain a deeper understanding of global conservation efforts. Their project spans countries that are distinct from each other in terms of biodiversity, but also in their governmental, social, and cultural practices. This year, Moosman has spent time working with various conservation organizations in Iceland, South Africa, Namibia, Australia, Brazil, and Costa Rica.  

Why exactly did Moosman pursue the Watson opportunity? “The fellowship process gave me the independence and freedom to design a project how I wanted to design it without the influence of anyone else,” says Moosman. “It really encourages you to push boundaries and ask yourself why you care about something, and what would you do if you had this kind of opportunity.” Throughout the application process, they emphasized how important it was for them that their project was as useful as possible so that even if they didn’t get the Watson, their application could be a tool for carrying their passion for conservation elsewhere, into graduate work or post-graduate jobs. While developing their project’s goal and structure, Moosman engaged with college resources like Ann Landstrom in the Center for Careers, Life, and Service, who provided personalized support through the application process.  

Wrapping up their journey this month in Costa Rica, Moosman reflected on their experiences and lessons thus far. They shared that the most memorable part of their project has been the opportunity to see the beauty of the world’s wildlife in their homes. “It is a pure and raw experience that I am endlessly grateful for the opportunity to experience,” Moosman shares. Their favorite experiences have come from working with organizations that find concrete solutions to problems involving wildlife and communities and participating in projects that increase understanding of species and their environments to create better solutions. These values can be seen in the range of Moosman’s work abroad, from when they’ve monitored nesting sea turtles with Queensland Government in Australia to when they built an elephant-proof dam with Namibia’s Human-Elephant Relations Aid (EHRA) to ensure safe coexistence between the local community, their water source, and elephants.

For Moosman, their Fulbright project has emphasized the importance of community outreach in the conservation movement. “The best work that we can do for the environment, for nature and wildlife, and for each other, is get involved with the local communities because that is where the impact of our work can be seen,” Moosman says. They emphasized that there is a place for everyone in conservation, from citizen science, conferences, community outreach, and academic research to environmental education and wildlife preservation efforts. 

After the fellowship wraps up, Moosman will share their journey at the Watson fellow conference in August. Their experience has helped solidify their interest in pursuing higher education because they’ve realized how much they enjoy having their own project and overseeing every aspect of it — methodology, data collection, analysis — from beginning to end. Most importantly, the fellowship has brought to Moosman’s attention the role that local communities have in conservation. Communities ultimately determine how extensive our impact on wildlife will be. That’s why Moosman wants to find ways to teach people to care about the Earth and to get them excited about changing it for the better, through tools like community outreach and active advocacy. They are also considering writing for National Geographic and returning to their hometown to speak with younger students as they hope to inspire kids with the knowledge of what they can do beyond their hometown.   

For students, STEM and non-STEM alike, who are interested in the Watson, Moosman says to search for something you love or are passionate about — whether that is related to your major or not. “Make sure you are excited about sharing that passion with the world,” Moosman says, as the application process and fellowship is rigorous and challenging while also extremely fun. Their project has facilitated what Moosman calls, “a means to become a better version of yourself.” There have been times when being abroad in unknown communities has been challenging and made them miss home, but their passion for wildlife has helped them find strength and push forward in their work during those moments of adversity. For those interested in environmental justice, Moosman emphasizes the importance of small things — working and sharing passions with others.