Three inaugural Fellows awarded grants and support to advance their critical conservation initiatives.[June 8, 2026] – Wave, a Collective Action Platform dedicated to restoring a thriving ocean by 2050, and…
Fredrick Kioko Kilonzo is a 25-year-old conservation leader from Kenya, and the Founder and Species and Sites Program Manager of NatureHub Collective Community Organisation. Shaped by the ecological wisdom of his community and his…
Maula Nadia is a marine biologist from Indonesia who is actively conducting both research and conservation for elasmobranchs (sharks and rays) through various initiatives. She is a Ph.D. student researching the use of molecular methods for elasmobranch fishery and…
Yamat Lengai is the Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning, and Adaptation Officer at African People & Wildlife, where she has worked since 2016. A native of Loibor Soit ‘A’ in northern Tanzania,…
Nicorll Maenzanise, a Catmosphere Fellow with Conservation Nation, is the Monitoring and Evaluation Coordinator for Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust. Her role involves supporting evidence-based wildlife conservation research and human-wildlife conflict…
Taylor L. Rabe is a Biological Science Technician with the Yellowstone Wolf, Cougar, and Elk Project and serves as Conservation Nation’s Education and Engagement Facilitator. In 2022, she became Conservation…
Alma "Rosie" Sanchez, a Conservation Nation Fellow, is the Carnivore Biologist for the Nez Perce Tribe and a Ph.D. student at the University of Colorado Boulder, where she studies under…
Deepshikha Sharma, a Catmosphere Fellow with Conservation Nation, has always felt inspired by the stories of human resilience and is especially drawn to local stories and movements of community-led conservation.…
Andrea Thomen, a Catmosphere Fellow with Conservation Nation, is a conservation biologist and PhD candidate at Manchester Metropolitan University, specializing in the conservation of endemic Caribbean birds. Her research focuses…
Julee Jerang, a Catmosphere Fellow with Conservation Nation, is an Indigenous researcher from the Bori traditional territory in the Siang Basin of Arunachal Pradesh, Northeast India. She is the first from…
Growing up on the island of Fuvahmulah, Hamna Hussain fell in love with the ocean and its apex predators at an early age. Driven by this passion, she became her island’s first female dive instructor, a journey…
Michelle Fournet is a National Geographic Explorer, an assistant research professor of marine biology at the University of New Hampshire, a behavioral ecologist, and the director of the Sound Science Research Collective.…
Amir Dehbi is a data scientist and applied machine learning researcher at the University of Colorado Boulder, specializing in audio signal processing and deep learning for acoustic analysis. He applies…
Jessa Marie Caabay is an environmental scientist and marine conservation practitioner serving as Technical Manager of Community Centred Conservation (C3) Philippines. Her work focuses on dugong conservation, seagrass ecosystem protection, and community-based…
Dr. Reem AlMealla is a Bahraini marine ecologist and founder of Nuwat for Environmental Research & Education, Bahrain’s first environmental research and conservation think tank. Her work focuses on marine biodiversity conservation, coral reefs,…
What if listening may be the key to helping solve our biodiversity crisis?Not just hearing — really listening. To the roar of a lion. The haunting song of a humpback…
Grants will be announced in September The Conservation Nation Grant Program provides funding to help protect threatened wildlife species and the ecosystems on which they depend by building a stronger…
The biodiversity crisis is often framed as a science problem, but at its core, it is a human one — and it calls for a human-centered solution. Around the world,…
Conservation Nation is honored and thrilled to announce that our CEO, Tricia Reilly Koch, has been chosen to join The Explorers Club 50 — Class of 2026. Each year, the…
Andrea Fuentes, one of Conservation Nation’s 2025 Conservationist Grant recipients, is an environmental engineer, conservationist, and founder and coordinator of the Jucumari Program in Bolivia. Her work focuses on the…
Ayushi Jain, one of Conservation Nation’s 2025 Conservationist Grant recipients, is a PhD candidate at the University of Miami’s Abess Center for Ecosystem Science and Policy and a recipient of…
Fredrick Kioko Kilonzo, one of Conservation Nation’s 2025 Conservationist Grant recipients, is an early-career conservationist and founder of NatureHub Collective Community Organisation, dedicated to community-based conservation and environmental justice in…
Maula Nadia, one of Conservation Nation’s 2025 Conservationist Grant recipients, is a marine conservationist and co-founder of the Elasmobranch Project Indonesia (EPI), a local nonprofit dedicated to shark and ray…
Gabriela Sandoval, one of Conservation Nation’s 2025 Conservationist Grant recipients, is an Ecuadorian biologist, committed to conservation and the protection of biodiversity and threatened species. From childhood, she has felt…
Dr. Jennifer Yu is one of Conservation Nation’s 2025 Conservationist Grant recipients. Her interest in wildlife conservation was first sparked by volunteering at a local zoo in high school and…
Celebrating an Incredible Year of Impact 2024 was an extraordinary year for Conservation Nation — a year of growth, innovation, and unforgettable moments in conservation. From inspiring nearly 3,000 students…
The Firefly Grant Program is an internal small grants initiative exclusively designed to support the impactful work of our esteemed Conservation Nation Network. This opportunity, accessible by invitation only to…
The Conservation Nation Grant Program provides funding to help save endangered animals and their ecosystems by building a stronger, more diverse community of conservation practitioners. We believe there is great…
When people ask me if I have any pets, I get the pleasure of seeing a wide range of reactions when I tell them I have a snake! Cosmo is…
Exciting update from our partner, Veterinary Initiative for Endangered Wildlife (VIEW).For the past two years, three young girls from the Samburu community in Kenya have received full secondary school scholarships…
Amid the ongoing loss of wildlife habitat, large carnivores are being pushed to human-dominated areas, affecting their behavior and health. Ecosystem and public health are tightly linked so this increased…
When I think about nature and what makes it beautiful,I know that I am nature.I am the sun. I am water.I am the wind blowing, pushing, and proddingnew seeds deeper…
Heading Outdoors with the Willson Environmental Stewardship Team as they visit Yellowstone National Park with Conservation NationCan you imagine the excitement of being a young girl and leaving your middle…
In the heart of the Anambas Islands, specifically Teluk Dalam, Jemaja District, a remarkable initiative is underway. This location is among the areas with the highest number of nesting turtles…
Did you ever wonder what it's like trying to catch dog drool in a test tube? Have you pondered whether you would survive a disease outbreak if you were a…
I am pleased to provide an update on my recent endeavors focused on assessing the ecological collapse of reef systems in Mozambique. My efforts have been aimed at studying the…
Chrysalis Fund Intern, Zabreya Okyere, discusses her work in the Insect Ecology Lab to rehabilitate abandoned pastures and transform them into thriving habitats for winged insects.
The Veterinary Initiative for Endangered Wildlife (VIEW), in collaboration with the University of Rwanda’s School of Veterinary Medicine, is proud to announce scholarship awards to two deserving young veterinary students:…
I was recently fortunate to spend two weeks in Tanzania working alongside African People and Wildlife through the support of Conservation Nation and Yellowstone Forever. This past June, Conservation Nation…
December marks the halfway point of the "Where They Walk" project, a collaboration with the Conflict Islands Conservation Initiative, made possible by the support from Conservation Nation. Over the past…
Deandra Jones, a dedicated conservationist and Chrysalis Fund intern, was awarded the opportunity by Field Inclusive to attend The Wildlife Society’s national conference, where she presented her work for the first time.
We've partnered with four outstanding, community-based conservation organizations that are dedicated to saving threatened invertebrates. These partnerships will allow the organizations to provide paid internships
Through the support of the People & Pachyderms Collective, VIEW’s vet in training, Dr. Charline Rutagengwa, is leading a critical study on pesticide exposure in Rwanda’s Akagera National Park (ANP),…
Project Background Vohibe is a rainforest on the edge of a remote forest corridor in Madagascar. This region is accessible via a day-long riverboat journey and hours of hiking through…
As a proud Conservation Nation grant recipient, I am thrilled to share details about my recent fieldwork experience in the breathtaking Himalayan landscapes of Nain Gahar and Manali, Himachal Pradesh,…
The Conservation Nation Academy has some exciting new lessons in the works!Our Educational Multimedia Producer, Gabriela Paola Franco Peña, has been busy this fall creating video lessons that will introduce…
With the support of Conservation Nation, we are working towards a future where Nigeria’s unique, threatened, and endemic amphibian species can thrive without the threat of extinction. Our project focuses…
“New people, new beginnings” were the apt words of reflection shared by students from Southeast DC after spending a transformative day with Conservation Nation and the Outdoors Alliance for Kids…
Veronica Dandzo-Adzagudu is one of Conservation Nation’s 2024 conservationist grant recipients. She is a Ghanaian early-career conservationist passionate about saving threatened species from extinction. Veronica holds a bachelor’s in natural…
Shelby McCahon is one of Conservation Nation’s 2024 conservationist grant recipients. She has a bachelor’s in wildlife biology and conservation from the University of Alaska Fairbanks and is working toward…
Risper Oteke is one of Conservation Nation’s 2024 conservationist grant recipients. She is a trained environmentalist, Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) practitioner, and storyteller. She is passionate about gender…
Rasolozaka Natacha is one of Conservation Nation’s 2024 conservationist grant recipients. Hailing from Madagascar, she holds a master’s in business administration from Institut National des Sciences Comptables et de l'Administration…
Preety Sharma is one of Conservation Nation’s 2024 conservationist grant recipients. She is bi-racial, with roots in the Indigenous Lotha tribe of Nagaland, India. Over the past decade, she has…
Pema Khandu is one of Conservation Nation’s 2024 conservationist grant recipients. Hailing from the ecologically rich country of Bhutan, he has devoted his life to exploring the natural world and…
Palamanga ‘Parfait’ Thiombiano is one of Conservation Nation’s 2024 conservationist grant recipients. He has a master’s in animal behavior and ecology from the University Joseph KI-ZERBO (UJKZ) in Ouagadougou, Burkina…
Thi-'Mai' Trinh is one of Conservation Nation’s 2024 conservationist grant recipients. She has a bachelor’s in environmental science from Vietnam National University of Science and a master’s in applied ecology…
Deoclearancia “Lorna” Dax is one of Conservation Nation’s 2024 conservationist grant recipients. Originally from the nature-deficient region of central Namibia, Lorna later developed a passion for conservation and community outreach…
Mukhlish ‘Jamal’ Musa Holle is one of Conservation Nation’s 2024 conservationist grant recipients. As an ecologist, his focal area of interest is the sustainable management of agricultural landscapes in Southeast…
Eva Johnson Ayaro is one of Conservation Nation’s 2024 conservationist grant recipients. Her passion for wildlife began during a high school trip to Serengeti National Park (SNP) in Tanzania, Africa—an…
Colleen O’Donnell is one of Conservation Nation’s 2024 conservationist grant recipients. Her professional background includes work in wildlife conservation, community-based climate adaptation, wildlife crime reduction, sustainable and wildlife-friendly living, and…
Arpithamol “Arpitha” Joy is one of Conservation Nation’s 2024 conservationist grant recipients. Hailing from Chikmagalur, Karnataka, India, she developed an interest in nature and wildlife coexistence at a young age.Arpitha…
I’m beyond excited to join the Conservation Nation community as their newest fellow! Through this fellowship, I’ll be working alongside the Nez Perce Tribe Wildlife Division, focusing primarily on carnivore…
I recently traveled to the United States for the first time to visit Yellowstone National Park, the world’s oldest national park. This was a dream come true for me as…
Teachers in Montgomery County, Maryland started the school year with fun, multicultural outdoor literacy lessons thanks to a bilingual book walk provided by Conservation Nation Academy. What is a book…
A Forest of Hope I am sitting at a threshold, I am watching change. Last night, I laid down under trees that appear dead. I gaze through bare branches and…
This summer, Conservation Nation was honored to partner with the Department of Interior and the University of the District of Columbia’s Justice-40 Youth Internship Program to bring amazing nature experiences…
During the 2023-2024 school year, our Teen Leaders in Conservation (TLC) program engaged 88 students at four schools in hands-on, meaningful explorations of nature and local city wildlife. Not only did…
A new Initiative to Teach Biodiversity Awareness in SchoolsWe should never underestimate the power of nature experiences for children. Time spent in nature is associated with improved mental wellness for…
During the 2023-2024 school year, our Teen Leaders in Conservation (TLC) program engaged 88 students at four schools in hands-on, meaningful explorations of nature and local city wildlife. Not only did…
Yamat Lengai has grown from a Maasai girl fearing lions to leading efforts to mitigate human-wildlife conflict in Tanzania, and Taylor Rabe, our inaugural Fellow, is reshaping perceptions about wolves in…
The Firefly Grant Program is an internal small grants initiative exclusively designed to support the impactful work of our esteemed Conservation Nation Network. This opportunity, accessible by invitation only to…
As a Chrysalis Fund Intern with Black Women in Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Science (BWEEMS), Sanaa received support to pursue her passion for coral conservation.
As we steam back to the mainland of Milne Bay from the Conflict Islands, I feel a mix of both sadness and excitement. Saying goodbye to the incredible team I've…
The Conservation Nation Grant Program provides funding to help save endangered animals and their ecosystems by building a stronger, more diverse community of conservation practitioners. We believe there is great…
If you’re a little scared of cicadas, you’re not alone! Many people are scared during the emergence of periodical cicadas — but we have good news: there’s no reason to be.…
Lucie Hartman is a senior environmental science major at Texas A&M University at Galveston. She is currently working part-time at Galveston Bay Foundation, teaching students about the environment.
Late last year, Conservation Nation’s newly appointed board member, Dr. Gabby Salazar traveled to Yellowstone National Park in Montana to meet with our inaugural Fellow, Taylor Rabe. Taylor shared what…
Middle schoolers can now put themselves in the footsteps of Conservation Nation grantee, Fátima Ramis, as they explore a conservation challenge.In our newest lesson for the Conservation Nation Academy, students…
To help teachers across the country foster students' love of the outdoors, our Nature Learning Ideas and Resources download offers outdoor activity ideas, interactive worksheets, and more. In this resource,…
The Ethno-Program for the Conservation of the Orinoco Crocodile recently reached a significant milestone. By the end of 2023, it progressed more than one-third of the way toward its final…
As our funding allows, Conservation Nation is pleased to cover the cost of bus transportation for DC-area Title I schools that plan nature-based field trips using our Educator's Guide to…
We're proud to release our newest Conservation Nation Academy publication, the Educator’s Guide to Exploring Nature in Washington, DC!When students in our Conservation Nation Academy schools have interviewed our grantees…
Amazing resources! Interactive and engaging! Very informative! Loved the hands-on activities! Wonderful use of literature! Very excited to bring everything back to my school!What does that forgotten container of take-out…
Our planet’s amazing web of biodiversity needs some TLC: Teen Leaders in Conservation! In March 2024, we launched this new program as an outgrowth of our former Youth Advisory Council and…
Since filming for my project in Turks and Caicos in 2022, I’ve been juggling finishing my mini-doc and working on other conservation-oriented projects. Along the way, I have grown in…
Amazing resources! Interactive and engaging! Very informative! Loved the hands-on activities! Wonderful use of literature! Very excited to bring everything back to my school!Do you want to introduce students to…
Ever since attending college, I have been fascinated with wildlife medicine. My interest in the wildlife field grew even stronger while attending a conservation talk at the Ellen DeGeneres Campus…
As the sun peeks over the horizon, casting its golden light upon the passenger ship terminal at Hatiya, a team of conservationists eagerly prepares to embark on a unique adventure.Our…
We’re so proud of our journey and progress since we launched in September 2021. Some of the highlights of our work are featured in our Impact Report. We thank those…
Callie Hauser recently interned for Ecology Project International Yellowstone, where she gained valuable experience in her career paths while working in the northern states of Montana and Wyoming.
The Chrysalis Fund supported Dash Dicksion to further explore his marine-related interests as an intern in the Pua Boot Camp—a collaborative project between the Pacific American
Nittaunis Baker is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in marine affairs from the University of Rhode Island. She is gaining valuable experience in marine biology as an intern with the Mystic Aquarium Animal Rescue Program.
As I continue on a path of professional growth as a Conservation Nation Fellow, I recently had the opportunity to immerse myself in two courses in Nairobi, Kenya, aimed at…
Novita is a newly designated 2023 Conservation Nation grant recipient. She earned her bachelor’s degree in marine science from Diponegoro University in Indonesia. She has been working on the Anambas…
Our newest scholarship recipients include students studying biology, urban sustainability, and marine and environmental science. Learn more about these amazing young people
In October 2023, Deepshikha Sharma traveled to the village of Kibber in the Himalayas of Northern India to kick off her Conservation Nation Fellowship. While there, she held a workshop for local women interested in learning how to set up camera traps.
Amazing resources! Interactive and engaging! Very informative! Loved the hands-on activities! Wonderful use of literature! Very excited to bring everything back to my school!These were some of the reactions of…
On November 8, 2023 at the University of the District of Columbia (UDC), we celebrated the launch of Through My Anacostia Eyes: Environmental Problems and Possibilities, the first ever Conservation…
Manuela Patricia Hernández Gómez is one of Conservation Nation's 2023 emerging conservationist grant winners. She is a renowned biologist and herpetologist who is passionately dedicated to the conservation of tropical…
Paola Nogales Ascarrunz is one of Conservation Nation's 2023 conservationist grant winners. She has years of experience leading projects dealing with the conservation of felids, from Geoffroy’s cats to jaguars…
Ny Aina Tiana Rakotoarisoa is one of Conservation Nation’s 2023 conservationist grant winners. She has spent more than a decade working in conservation in Madagascar, a country with extremely high…
It’s hard to be the first, but for one Maasai woman, Silvia Nashipae, it has all been worth it. This past spring SORALO (South Rift Association of Land Owners) in…
We are pleased to announce four new partnerships with community-based organizations as part of The Chrysalis Fund program. These partnerships will allow the organizations to provide paid internships to young adults that might otherwise have not been possible.
We are excited and honored to receive a grant from the Chesapeake Bay Trust to expand our environmental leadership opportunities for middle school students!Through this generous funding, Conservation Nation is…
We have been hard at work creating new lessons that introduce students to inspiring conservation role models in fun and interactive ways. Our materials are designed to challenge stereotypes and…
Trip Part 1: Assisting with Turtle Reproduction My trip to Vietnam finally began in mid-August at the Turtle Conservation Center (TCC)—a rescue, rehabilitation, and education outreach facility in Cuc Phuong…
For years, Deepshikha Sharma has worked to strengthen the relationship between people in India and the snow leopards that live there. She’s built communities of wildlife champions that include women…
Giovanna Bonadonna is one of Conservation Nation’s 2023 conservationist grant winners. Currently, Giovanna is a postdoctoral researcher at Washington University in St. Louis, where she is studying the impacts of…
Gabriela Agostini is one of Conservation Nation’s 2023 conservationist grant winners. For the past 15 years, she has been dedicated to studying the decline of amphibian populations, taking a leading…
Alys Granados is one of Conservation Nation’s 2023 conservationist grant winners. Her conservation experience has taken her around the world, from North America to Borneo, and has led her to…
Maria Angélica Tovar Bravo is one of Conservation Nation’s 2023 conservationist grant winners. She is a Colombian conservationist and professional biologist at the Universidad del Amazonas, where she received a…
Jessica Blakeway is one of Conservation Nation’s 2023 conservationist grant winners. She has held a deep love for the ocean ever since growing up in a small coastal town in…
Adriana Hernández Alvarez is one of Conservation Nation’s 2023 conservationist grant winners. Because she was born in a small coastal city, she has a longstanding love of the shore, and…
Naim Khandakar is one of Conservation Nation’s 2023 conservationist grant winners. Growing up in a rural area in the deltaic plains of Bangladesh, he was always passionate about nature. But…
Yudmila Chunguane is one of Conservation Nation’s 2023 conservationist grant winners. With a background in conservation and biology, as well as an interest in sustainable development, Yudmila has worked on…
Yitmwa Joel is one of Conservation Nation’s 2023 conservationist grant winners. She was born and raised in northern Nigeria, a biodiversity hotspot that forged a fascination and love for nature…
Human-wildlife conflict mitigation plays a pivotal role in Tanzania's conservation efforts, fostering a delicate balance between preserving the country's remarkable wildlife and ensuring the well-being of local communities. Over the…
In 2022, Conservation Nation funded Dr. Dawn Zimmerman’s project with the Veterinary Initiative for Endangered Wildlife (VIEW) and the Institute of Primate Research (IPR) to establish wildlife health and conservation clubs in primary schools…
Conservation Nation wants all girls to have the confidence to see themselves as conservation champions, all the way up to pursuing STEM academic and career paths into the field. At…
If I were a birdwing butterfly, I know what I would love how my wings spread so beautifully - up to 11 inches wide, and delicate - so handle me…
After much delay, my travel to Vietnam is finally booked for August! I will be starting my trip in Northern Vietnam where I will visit the Turtle Conservation Center in…
Our students made huge strides in the pursuit of conservation with their scholarship awards this year! These scholars may come from different backgrounds, but they all have one thing in common: a deep love and respect for nature.
Conservation Nation is passionate about connecting girls with nature, nurturing their sense of belonging in nature, and building their confidence as wildlife champions. In Tanzania, we are providing new and…
In a few months, my graduate student, Suman Neupane, and I will head to Nepal to conduct some in-country lab and conservation work. We also plan to hunt for more…
Project IntroductionThe Bees for Elephants Project supports the construction of beehive fences for Tanzanian communities facing human-elephant conflict. Dr. Lucy King of Save the Elephants developed the original design for…
During the past year, I’ve familiarized myself with the social and ecological factors that contribute to biodiversity conservation in the Marine Mammal Sanctuary of Estero Hondo—a 22 km2 protected region…
It was a great honor for me to join the amazing Conservation Nation team in September 2022. Together with my education colleague, Joanna Levi, we have been focused on building…
The Conservation Nation Grant Program provides funding to help save endangered animals and their ecosystems by building a stronger, more diverse community of conservation practitioners. We believe there is great…
We are looking for educators to join the Conservation Nation Academy, gain free access to unique ready-to-teach lessons featuring wildlife conservationists from traditionally underrepresented groups, and provide us with feedback…
I recently returned from conducting fieldwork in a place that few people get to visit: Antarctica. As a graduate student at Montana State University, I was stationed at McMurdo Station…
Conservation Nation has identified and partnered with four community-based organizations dedicated to conservation. These organizations are located in the West, Mid-West, South, and North-East of the United States. These community partners are connected through collaborations and partnerships with local marine biology/sciences, invertebrate biology, or environmental education college/university programs.
After returning from my trip to Turks and Caicos with Sharks4Kids last year, I reflected on my experience capturing footage for the nonprofit’s Project Lemon Aid initiative. Most days, the…
On October 20, 2022, Wildlife Conservation Warrior Club members from the Oromoidei and Noolotoro Primary Schools participated in an exciting Conservation Nation-sponsored field trip. As part of Dr. Dawn Zimmerman's ongoing…
In 2022, Conservation Nation funded Dr. Dawn Zimmerman’s project with the Veterinary Initiative for Endangered Wildlife (VIEW) and the Institute of Primate Research (IPR) to establish wildlife health and conservation clubs in primary schools…
My NxtGen grant project was to create a native plant garden for Freedom High School. The garden is a combined effort of me, The Center for Environmental and Natural Sciences…
On October 7th, 2022, ten students and four instructors—including myself—came together to launch the inaugural cohort of Bahamians, Birds, and Botany (BBB). I was beyond grateful for this dream to…
In October 2022, I traveled to Armenia with several other professionals from three U.S. zoos to assess Armenian viper populations. This effort was part of the Saint Louis Zoo WildCare…
Last summer, I spent over two months conducting the exploratory assessment phase of my dissertation research in the Loreto region of the northern Peruvian Amazon. I designed my study to…
Over the last six months, I have served as Conservation Nation’s first inaugural fellow. My fellowship is at Yellowstone National Park (aka Yellowstone), where I work as a biological science…
I can’t believe our first year as Conservation Nation is over! It seemed like both the fastest and the most meaningful year of my career at the same time. The…
Thanks to support from Catmosphere—a foundation dedicated to raising awareness about crucial work in big cat conservation—Yamat Lengai will join us as Conservation Nation's newest fellow! As the Monitoring, Evaluation,…
We're pleased to announce our inaugural Chrysalis Scholarship winners. In 2022, Mr. Ted Lukacs' estate left a generous legacy gift to Conservation Nation. An avid nature lover, Mr. Lukacs was especially fond of invertebrates, estuaries, and marine habitats.
Tatjana Washington is one of Conservation Nation’s 2022 emerging conservationist grant winners. She is an ecologist and evolutionary biologist whose mission is to provide solutions to mitigate climate change impacts…
Parker Levinson is one of Conservation Nation’s 2022 Emerging Conservationist grant winners. She grew up in Monterey, California, and received her B.A. in environmental sciences from Northwestern University in 2018.…
Morgan Hughes is one of Conservation Nation’s 2022 emerging conservationist grant winners. She graduated from Utah State University with a B.S. in wildlife management and the University of Florida with an…
Minh Nguyen is one of Conservation Nation's 2022 emerging conservationist grant winners. She was born near the Annamite Mountain Range, a biodiversity hotspot that runs along the border of Vietnam,…
Lotanna Micah Nneji is one of Conservation Nation’s 2022 emerging conservationist grant winners. He was born and raised in Nigeria, which sparked his passion and career path in wildlife conservation.…
Jaime A. Botet Rodriguez is one of Conservation Nation's 2022 emerging conservationist grant winners. Originally from Gurabo, Puerto Rico, Jaime holds a B.S. in natural sciences from the University of…
Herdhanu (Dhanu) Jayanto is one of Conservation Nation's 2022 emerging conservationist grant winners. He is originally from Indonesia, and is currently pursuing his master's degree at New Mexico Highlands University.…
Giorgia Auteri is Conservation Nation’s 2022 established conservationist grant winner. She developed an interest in wildlife conservation at an early age after observing the effects of water pollution on animals…
Fátima Ramis is one of Conservation Nation's 2022 emerging conservationist grant winners. She holds a B.S. in biology from Stetson University and an M.S. in biology with an emphasis on…
My journey in shark conservation began in December 2020 when I met Duncan Brake and Jillian Morris, founders of the Sharks4Kids organization, on a shoot in Bimini, Bahamas, for National…
Within a few weeks, I’ll finally be flying to Armenia to do my mountain viper conservation fieldwork as a Conservation Nation Emerging Conservationist. After several delays, almost everything is finally…
As I collect my thoughts for part two of In Real Life (IRL) Conservation, I realize that the summer has been a whirlwind. The journey to bring my Conservation Nation-funded project, Bahamians, Birds, and Botany (BBB), to life has been a rich experience.
Imagine a world where students with access to nature and conservation-minded professionals become change agents for environmental conservation—both in their daily lives and future careers. That is the ambitious overarching…
We are no longer accepting applications for this grant program. The Conservation Nation Grant Program provides funding to help save endangered animals and their ecosystems by building a stronger, more…
We are no longer accepting applications for this grant program.The Conservation Nation Grant Program provides funding to help save endangered animals and their ecosystems by building a stronger, more diverse…
Conservation Nation grantee Maddy Jackson and her research partners have taken 150 photographs of each of 190 wolf skulls as part of her digitization project.
Each June, over 300 students from across the country and around the world convene in Fairfax, VA, for George Mason University's Washington Youth Summit on the Environment (WYSE). WYSE is…
Calling All Youth Who Are Passionate About Wildlife, the Environment, and Community Leadership! Conservation Nation is a Washington, DC non-profit with a goal to preserve the planet by growing a more…
June 8 is World Ocean Day! This year's theme, "Revitalization: Collective Action for the Ocean" is especially meaningful to Conservation Nation as we aim to bring diverse conservationists together to…
This project, funded by the Conservation Nation NxtGen Conservationist student grant, had two goals: educate others on the beneficial impact of trees on the planet and plant trees in my community.
In this episode, we highlighted the work of three female conservationists working to conserve and protect freshwater and marine ecosystems – Robin Abell, Tania Romero Bautista, and Dr. Nikki Traylor-Knowles.
We are excited to announce our first Conservation Nation Fellow! Taylor Rabe is an inspirational emerging conservationist. Dedicated to helping wolves in Yellowstone, she spent years working multiple jobs to…
It’s World Turtle Day! Did you know that Vietnam is home to 26 species of freshwater turtles and tortoise? The Southern Vietnamese box turtle, Cuora picturata, and the Vietnamese pond…
Today is World Bee Day! Not only are bees vital pollinators in our ecosystems, but they also have some pretty unique talents. One of those talents is that African honey bees can scare off elephants! That’s right, elephants are afraid of honey bees!
The day is here–finally! After many months of cancellations, setbacks, and trials, I am on a flight to the Bahamas to begin the in-person work for Bahamians, Birds, and Botany (BBB).
As the first season of Conservation Nation’s pilot programs conclude, we polled our NxtGen Microgrant winners and Youth Advisory Council members to see what their summers have in store. We…
In this episode, we featured veterinarians Dr. Suzan Murray from the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute and Dr. Deborah McCauley from Veterinary Initiative for Endangered Wildlife.
This March, Conservation Nation launched the Conservation Nation Academy. This 8-week pilot program for 80 middle school students in Washington, D.C., encourages youth to explore local nature, examine their abilities…
In this episode, we highlighted the work of three female conservationists working to conserve and protect freshwater and marine ecosystems – Robin Abell, Tania Romero Bautista, and Dr. Nikki Traylor-Knowles.
The Red Siskin Initiative (RSI) has reached a turning point in its program. Because of the funds Conservation Nation supplied RSI, they were able to launch a fledging facility to…
Nina Attias is one of Conservation Nation's 2022 Established Conservationist grantees. She is a Brazilian conservation biologist with over 15 years of experience in ecological studies. She is passionate about…
Lorna McCallister is one of Conservation Nation's 2022 Established Conservationist grantees. Lorna holds a BS in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation from the University of Florida and an MS in Interdisciplinary…
Dr. Dawn Zimmerman is one of Conservation Nation's 2022 Established Conservationist grantees. She is the Director of International Programs for the Veterinary Initiative for Endangered Wildlife, assistant professor adjunct of…
I firmly believe that conservation cannot be accomplished without community. When building a space for ourselves, we take note of our desires. For many, environmental awareness is an integral part…
In late 2019, Conservation Nation funded a pilot project for Eastern Meadowlarks with the goal of tracking where these grassland birds migrate across North America so that efforts can be…
Conservation Nation Emerging Conservationist, Maddy Jackson, is forging ahead with her plans to make 3D digitalization of Yellowstone wolf skulls.
Our NxtGen Conservationists have hit the ground running with their community conservation projects. These youth are solving conservation challenges in their communities with help from micro-grants provided by Conservation Nation.…
When I was around four years old, my father and I would go on hikes to our neighborhood park, through the woods, and around lakes. I believe these moments are…
As a kid, the local pet store was my favorite playground. After every grocery store adventure across the street, the automatic doors would welcome me in with open arms like…
Thanks to our generous donors who helped make our year-end fundraising goal a success, we are offering a Mid-Year Established Conservationist Grant Program for spring of 2022.
When I say conservation, your mind probably jumps to elephants hunted for their ivory, trees being clear-cut and burned for farmland, endemic populations threatened by competition from invasive species, piles…
Conservation Nation has made tremendous progress towards our mission since launching in September! We're proud of so much this year, but in particular: We've given out our first round of…
Over the summer as we were building out the new Conservation Nation mission and direction, we dove deep into where we could make the biggest impact in the wildlife conservation…
Are you passionate about wildlife, the environment, and leading a conservation movement? Become a Conservation Nation Next Generation Conservationist!
We've officially launched! Conservation Nation held its virtual launch event on September 30th and we've been so excited by the feedback and support we're getting. Check out the highlights from…
Lauren Augustine is one of Conservation Nation’s 2021 established conservationist grant winners. A life-long herpetology lover, Lauren received her undergraduate degree in Ecology and Environmental Biology from the University of…
Tania Romero Bautista is one of Conservation Nation’s 2021 established conservationist grant winners. Born and raised in Madre de Dios, Peru, Tania is passionate about supporting Amazonian communities. Through her…
Maddy Jackson is one of Conservation Nation’s 2021 emerging conservationist grant winners. She graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2017 with a BS in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior and…
Elise Loggers is one of Conservation Nation’s 2021 emerging conservationist grant winners. After obtaining her undergraduate degree from the University of Washington, she spent three consecutive years
Carly Segal is one of Conservation Nation’s 2021 emerging conservationist grant winners. Carly spent her childhood in northern California exploring tidepools, streams, forests, and mountains where she gained an early…
Established conservationist grant winner T'Noya Thompson is studying the community, birds, and the environment in Nassau, Bahamas.
Cirenia Torres is one of Conservation Nation's 2021 emerging conservationist grant winners. Cirenia has an MS from USC. Her thesis was titled "Assessing the Connectivity for the jaguar (Panthera onca)…
Kassandra Townsend is one of Conservation Nation’s 2021 emerging conservationist grant winners. She hopes to be one of the voices that can bridge a gap between western science and Indigenous…
Nova West is one of Conservation Nation’s 2021 emerging conservationist grant winners. Nova is an artist, scuba diver, filmmaker, photographer, and environmental educator from Minnesota. Their passion lies in exploring…
Isaac Wilson is one of Conservation Nation’s 2021 emerging conservationist grant winners. Isaac is a Herpetology keeper at the Saint Louis Zoo (STLZ) working with several species of endangered viper…
The Conservation Nation team recently began the important relation-building process with our communities. Our first step? Listening to those we plan to work with first – youth in the DC…
We provide funding to emerging conservationists from underrepresented groups, such as women, people of color, Indigenous people and those from disadvantaged communities to underwrite internships and professional development activities that might otherwise be beyond their reach.
We provide grants for global, wildlife-saving work being done by mid-career conservationists from underrepresented groups, such as women, people of color, Indigenous people, and those from disadvantaged communities.
Borneo is home to the largest population of critically endangered orangutans in the world: about 55,000. But those numbers are falling fast. Forest fires and fragmentation have ravaged much of…
Scientists need to research a rare tiger population whose mangrove-forest habitat is threatened by rapid sea-level rise, and they need to do this as soon as possible. They will analyze…
The Guam kingfisher is extinct in the wild. For now. Scientists hoping to rewild the species need to launch a study gathering key information about how they can successfully breed…
Janine Brown is a research physiologist and heads the endocrinology laboratory at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI). Brown is devoted to increasing knowledge that will lead to better management…
Eight of Conservation Nation's wildlife projects have included the purchase of high-tech tracking equipment. And that’s just us. Trackers are everywhere—being used in studies on animals ranging from urban coyotes…
The most trafficked mammal in the world is the critically endangered pangolin. To help the species' numbers grow, veterinarians want to help save the pangolin across Southeast Asia by purchasing…
Dr. Kamau is a veterinary research fellow in One Health with the Global Health Program, which takes a One Health approach to improve the lives of wildlife, people and domestic animals.…
Talk about family values. When the Hanauers–Larry, Julie, and son, C.J.–decided they were going to make a difference for endangered pangolins in Vietnam, they weren’t kidding. After launching a Conservation…
Serving as the senior field veterinarian for EcoHealth Alliance, Dr. Marc Valitutto focuses on pandemic preparedness in Southeast Asia and China. His work involves collaborative research investigating wildlife as a…
Dr. Suzan Murray is a board-certified zoo veterinarian at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute and serves as both the program director of the Global Health Program and as the SCBI's…
As chief veterinarian the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Dr. Donald Neiffer oversees, coordinates, and directs all clinical medicine and pathology operations to ensure sound veterinary practices. He…
Thanks to your support, our recent rhino workshop in Kenya brought together global conservation leaders with those saving rhinos directly in the field. The successful four-day event included presentations from…
Steven Sarro is a supervisory biologist/curator at the Smithsonian's National Zoo and primarily supervises the small mammal collection and the animal care stall.
Crows memorize human faces. Orcas express mourning. And that cockroach that skittered across your kitchen counter the other day? According to researchers in Belgium, that little fellow might have been shy…
To collect the poo, or not to collect the poo—that is the question. It is, anyway, for Smithsonian scientists in the midst of a conservation project focusing on microbes in…
Four years ago, scimitar-horned oryx were reintroduced to Chad. This was 30 years after the elegant two-horned animal was declared extinct in the wild. But now, thanks to a dedicated…
To ensure a future for black rhinos, a network of the world’s top minds are seeking to understand how a black rhinoceros' diet influences its health.
Dinosaurs are vanishing again. Except this time, they’re disappearing in the form of modern birds. According to a paper published in Science and co-authored by researchers from the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center, 2.9 billion birds have been lost in Canada and the United States—a 29 percent decline—since 1970.
Elephant zombies? Octopi from outer space? This Halloween, read about some terrifyingly cool creatures—oh, and a spooky fact about humans, too. Zombie elephants—they walk among us. To be more specific, modern elephants…
Their bags are packed. Thanks to Conservation Nation, Smithsonian scientists are headed to Kenya in two weeks for a conference uniting the world's top rhino experts with vets who are…
After receiving Conservation Nation support to launch key aspects of their project, the Red Siskin Initiative (RSI) was just awarded a $250,000 grant from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service…
In 2017, scientists tagged 11 reticulated giraffes with high-tech, solar-powered, satellite transmitters. Just months later, the information gathered revealed a sobering reality—four of the animals had been poached. And for…
10,000 pounds balanced on 18 pachyderm toes.This sums up just one challenge faced by Asian elephants as they move their huge bodies, sometimes across vast distances, and with all that…
The dry forests and savannahs of the Paraguayan Chaco encompass a large swathe of South America. Like the Amazon, this area is home to a complex and diverse ecosystem. And like the Amazon,…
Conservation Nation purchased tiny high-tech GPS tracking devices to outfit eastern meadowlarks in order to help Smithsonian researchers know the path of a depleting population of songbirds as they migrate up and down the East Coast.
Suffice it to say, Morgan Maly is dedicated to cheetah conservation. Not only did this big-cat expert write the first, major academic paper about cheetah puberty, but she also will…
There's no doubt about it—Andean flamingos are charismatic. They perform a hilarious ballet-like dance in flocks (watch the video below—it’s worth it), and, of course, they are known for that…
To apply sunscreen or not to apply sunscreen—that is the question. And for many of the conservation-minded, the answer can be complicated. According to the National Park Service, 6,000 tons…
Kenya is home to most of the critically endangered eastern black rhinos—and the only remaining northern white rhinos. With so few left in the wild, the survival of each animal…
The dedicated folks at the Red Siskin Initiative are unflappable. With Conservation Nation's support, the initiative has focused its energies on commencing daily conservation activities at the brand-new Red Siskin…
Eavesdropping on cetaceans—someone's got to do it. And thanks to Conservation Nation, and supporters like you, that someone is going to be marine biologist Dr. Ximena Velez-Zuazo and her team.…
The "spectacled" Andean Bear already stands out, thanks to distinctive eyeglass-shaped facial markings and its newfound celebrity status as none other than the movies’ Paddington Bear. Add to that its…
There are 35 species of canids, including the maned wolf, dhole, African painted dog, and the critically endangered red wolf. Smithsonian scientists are using in vitro fertilization and other techniques to...
The Lowland tapir is critical to the biodiversity of the Paraguayan Chaco's rich ecosystem. But because of habitat loss and poaching, this species' numbers are falling. That's why we want…
Elephants out of a job? It might sound like a joke, but for critically endangered Asian elephants trained to work in logging camps, unemployment is a serious problem. Smithsonian scientists…
You are what you eat. And for dwindling numbers of the southern black rhinoceros, that saying is true now more than ever. The black rhino is critically endangered – fewer…
Dolphins and porpoises living off the coast of Peru face daily threats: industries expanding into their native waters and a lucrative poaching trade. To help, Smithsonian researchers need to study…
The song of the Eastern meadowlark sounds like a flute that drops its pitch—beautiful and distinctive. These days bird enthusiasts hear the meadowlark’s sweet call in the wild less and…
Not many people can say that they raised a thousand chicks at one time. Curator Steve Sarro is one such person. He has been a leading African penguin researcher for…
Ascending 19,341 feet of treacherous mountainside is no small feat. Add to that raising nearly $10,000 for conservation projects in the wild, and we can safely say John Mina rocked…
Brian Gratwicke is a conservation biologist and leads the amphibian conservation programs at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute. Gratwicke's focus has been on building capacity to conserve amphibians in Appalachia…
This year for his birthday, Lucas wanted to do something BIG! When Lucas saw that Conservation Nation was helping elephants, he wanted to join the herd. For his big day,…
Julia was so inspired by the species-saving work of Conservation Nation that she started a lemonade stand to fundraise for Conservation Nation. Just by asking her friends, family, and neighbors…
Inspired by her love of wildlife and commitment to conservation, Courtney set out on a mission to be a Conservation Nation hero. She didn’t need a special occasion to start…
You would think the world’s tallest land mammal would be easy to study, but very little is known about Kenya’s reticulated giraffe population. Scientists believe that habitat loss and increased…
In addition to owning the title of fastest land animal in the world, cheetahs are also the most endangered African cat species, with roughly 6,700 left in the wild. Inbreeding…
The Andean flamingo—listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species—is native to the Andes Mountains, and is among the rarest flamingo species on the planet. Andean Flamingos…
In just three decades, the African penguin population has declined more than 50 percent. Now endangered, African penguin populations continue to decline, due to destruction of breeding grounds for the…
Rhinos are among the most universally recognized species in the world, but they are also one of the most endangered with only two rhino species remaining in Africa. With so…
The red siskin is one of Venezuela’s most iconic birds, but the illegal pet trade and habitat loss have nearly guaranteed its extinction. Several ways that scientists are working to…
