Samara Nassor ’22: A Remote Summer with The Nature Conservancy Africa Region Intern

The following is a Q&A with Nassor about her experience:

How did you spend your summer?

"Thanks to a funded internship grant from Career Exploration and Development, I was able to reconnect with The Nature Conservancy and actively engage with experts spearheading energy and water conservation projects in Gabon and Tanzania. I evaluated the metrics and geoprocessing abilities of a data-driven planning tool that can determine environmentally-sound locations for Gabon’s future hydropower projects."

What projects did you work on?

"I synthesized information on Gabon’s renewable energy strategy for the Africa and Global offices to finalize a Hydropower by Design scheme. For the water fund in Tanzania, I assessed the impacts of terracing, grass strips, agroforestry, riparian conservation, integrated watershed management plans and livelihood support on biodiversity in the Eastern Usambara Mountains.

I also edited feasibility studies and translated contracts, workplans, budgets and interviews from Swahili to English to reveal the environmental goals of local governments, community-based organizations and businesses in the Tanga region."

What was it like to work during the COVID-19 pandemic?

As much as I desired to be on the ground conducting site visits, working remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic was a fulfilling experience for me. I collaborated with a global team of experts who were not only based in Gabon and Tanzania, but also in South Africa, Kenya, and the United States. Overall, I am so grateful to CXD for giving me this opportunity to grow as an environmental scientist.

How did your internship this summer connect your fellowship last summer?

Last summer I received the Logan Environmental Studies fellowship. That opportunity provided a steppingstone to my work this summer, and helped me form a robust relationship with The Nature Conservancy.