On June 13, 2016 PICRC welcomed Ms. Ngedengoll Akira to the Palau International Coral Reef Center’s (PICRC) 2016 Summer Internship Program, Building Science and Environmental Capacity in Palau’s Youth. This program was made possible by the Government of Palau’s 2016 Year of the Youth Small Grant Scheme, which is supported by a Grant from the Government of India.
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Ms. Akira recently graduated from Palau High School (PHS) this summer. She heard of the internship program through one of her science teachers who inspired her to take an interest into marine biology. While she was still in high school, she worked at Palau Conservation Society under the Job Shadow program from PHS and she was also actively involved in the PHS Science Club.
Ms. Akira’s interests include paddling, swimming, and just hanging out. She is the youngest daughter of Ms. Jennifer Ngual, former Kayangel PAN Coordinator and Mr. Elmis Ruluked, Speaker of Kayangel State Legislature. In her spare time, she volunteered with the Protected Areas Network (PAN) in Kayangel with her mother. Her mother’s efforts in conservation in Kayangel had also inspired her to pursue marine biology; which is what she plans to study when she enrolls in college later this year.
Ms. Akira hopes to learn many things during her internship at PICRC. She hopes to learn from her mentors and researchers about some of the work that a marine biologist can do in the ever changing oceans of the world, starting with Palau.
During her time at PICRC, Ms. Akira will work on a project that will try to make identifying Palau’s Marine Protected Areas (MPA) easier for students by coming up with an activity that can help make it easier to learn and identify the MPA’s in Palau. During her three weeks at PICRC, she has already become a certified PADI diver, a opportunity that was made possible by Sam’s Tours and the Office of the President. This certification helps Ms. Akira move a step closer to her goal of becoming a marine biologist. [/restrict]