IN THEIR OWN WORDS: STUDENT REVIEWS
My time at the BBRC was truly a wonderful experience all around–it is an adventure I will never forget that was filled with holistic learning, immersive experiences, and a whole lot of laughter. I was able to get hands-on field experience working with camera traps, internal parasite counts, leaf epidermis sampling, invasive species mitigation, mammal identification kits, and more. I grew my love for botany and trees, and was able to learn so much from Pieter & Chanelle who are so knowledgeable about South Africa. The friends I made from living in a tight-knit community are people I will continue to chat with and keep in contact with for years to come. For a student studying Environmental Science & Political Science at university, this was an amazing opportunity to get real-world conservation experience in such a unique environment while considering the impact on local communities as well. The trees, the birds, the mammals, the people (and the dogs) are all wonderful in every way. If you’re considering applying to the BBRC, I say just go for it!
LIZ HOFFMAN
United States
University of Denver
Jul-Sep 2024
Pieter and Chanelle welcomed me warmly, due to their hospitality and generosity. They appreciate a good joke, but when it comes down to it, you can always rely on them. It was wonderful to experience the South African culture up close and also learn a lot, like setting up projects in and working with CyberTracker, trail tracking, bird identification and more. I had an educational, interesting experience that I highly recommend.
LOïS VAN OS
Netherlands
HAS Green Academy
Jan-Mar 2024
During my time at the Research Centre, I have been overwhelmed at both the professionalism of the research team and the abundance of opportunities for growth of conservation skills and project development. Living and operating from the smart research hub as part of a close-knit team of volunteers and permanent research staff has been one of the most rewarding scientific opportunities of my academic life, and I could not recommend it strongly enough to those considering a research residency. Whether you are looking to grow useful practical skills for building an academic career, for example bird identification, mammal transects or community engagement, or seek to partake in rewarding conservation project design and management, this project is ideal for those looking for to engage in meaningful ecological work and expand their horizons.
ADAM BACHMANN
England
Jan-Mar 2024
