Palau International Coral Reef Center (PICRC) continues to attract interns from all over the world to come and work with its researchers on different research projects. The latest intern is Farah Gustafson, a native of Washington, D.C., USA. Farah is a rising senior from Georgetown University, one of the most prestigious universities in the United States. At Georgetown, she is studying Environmental Biology.
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Over the next three weeks, Ms. Gustafson will be working with researcher Victor Nestor. She will assist Mr. Nestor on PICRCs project on assessing the impacts of increased tourism on coral reefs. With this project, Ms. Gustafson will be able to study the human impacts on coral reefs and expand her knowledge of marine systems and marine conservation.
Ms. Gustafson wants to work in coral reef conservation, and so far she is thinking of pursuing a law degree after she has completed her undergraduate education. With this internship opportunity with PICRC, she hopes to gain a better understanding of what she may want to build her career on.
Ms. Gustafson found out about PICRC through a program called International Global Studies. She is excited to be starting her internship at PICRC because she believes the Center is the perfect place to study and work on marine life. She especially likes the fact that while at PICRC, she will be able to focus on what she wants to study, and she likes the fact that PICRC gives her the opportunity to get involved in what she loves.
Outside of her time at the Center, Ms. Gustafson can’t wait to explore Palau, as she expresses, “I am very excited to discover Palau and its culture and history. I haven’t been here long, but I already know I will want to return to Palau after I leave.”
The Center has been busy this summer, hosting many interns. Eight Palauan students, four college students and four high school students, completed their internship programs last month. Ms. Gustafson will join three other interns currently at the Center. The other interns are Kmederang Sengebau, a Palauan student attending Xavier High School, Honami Kubo from Japan and Taylor Meyers from the US. [/restrict]