While at my desk at Conservation NH, I received a call from Southern New Hampshire University associate professor of science, Dr. Michele Goldsmith.  I had taken a class with Dr. Goldsmith, and being that she is on Conservation NH’s board of directors and largely responsible for my position here, the phone call did not seem that out of the ordinary.  I certainly was not expecting her to ask if I had any interest in spending a month in Uganda.

Over the course of the phone conversation I learned that the Christos & Mary Papoutsy Distinguished Chair in Ethics at Southern New Hampshire University was funding Dr. Goldsmith’s trip to Africa.  Dr. Goldsmith has studied Gorillas in the mountains of the Congo and Uganda since 1991 (click here to read more about Dr. Goldsmith’s research) along with examining the role of ecotourism on the behavior and well-being of endangered mountain gorillas as a National Geographic researcher.  With the funding from the Papoutsy Chair in Ethics, she is continuing this research.

After discussing the trip with colleagues, the idea took shape that a student should come along to assist in the research and write a blog about the experiences.  When Dr. Goldsmith asked if I would be willing to go, I  said yes!

After three shots, two prescriptions and a lot of packing, I’m still not sure what to expect, but I think that’s a good thing; Uganda will certainly be exciting.  We leave from Boston on July 27th.

The blog, which will change and grow as content is added, can be found at:

http://blogging.snhu.edu/intoafrica/

Check it out from time to time, and by all means leave feedback.