I will never forget my first time arriving in South Africa in May 2015. At midnight, we sleepily walked off the plane, got through home affairs, retrieved our luggage, and we finally made it to the ‘Mother City’ (Cape Town, South Africa). The sign that greets you makes you feel at home, even if this is your first time in Cape Town. It makes you feel welcomed in this foreign land. With a two day journey to get to South Africa, my favorite part is seeing this sign. Now, since my research is based here I get to see this sign at least once a year and am very thankful to get this welcoming opportunity. Nothing beats a reunion to the land where we all come from.
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My last adventure in the states was a lovely little vacation weekend with my aunt. It was a quick trip, but it really packed a punch. Aside from exploring this vibrant city, I also learned some history about Portsmouth, NH. My days were filled with writing a proposal by the harbor and then walking around town finding cute book, jewelry, eatery, and shoe shops. Additionally, I walked through town along the Black Heritage Trail and ended at the African Burying Ground. It was nice learning more about the history of this city while strolling along the cobble streets. It reminded me a lot of the Georgetown neighborhood in Washington, DC. When you walk along the streets, no matter how much they try to modernize the shops, there is this feeling that great history happened here. I would really like to go back and spend more time in Portsmouth, NH. If you are ever in the neighborhood, my highlights are below. Top Things to Do in Portsmouth, NH Heritage Portsmouth Black Heritage Trial African Burying Ground Discover Portsmouth (mix of a museum and information center) Scenic Portsmouth Harbor Trial *They also have cruise and helicopter options available Eateries Portsmouth Brewery Portsmouth Book and Bar Red Hook Brewery Martingale Wharf Bistro Special Stores I Adore Market Street Jewelers (they have an amazing selection of unique pieces and the staff is incredibly nice) Footnotes (I love shoes and they've got them!) Being a native Washingtonian and seeing the city go through its many phases has had an impact. It has definitely shaped my views on what’s real in politics and what’s just pure entertainment (although some don’t know the difference…shame). Knowing such differences and being a scientific researcher has made me want to merge the two fields. I am driven by good science that has a positive impact on society, but also how the government views science and scientists, and how this shapes funding opportunities. I had the honor of being awarded honorable mention for the American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS) Emerging Public Policy Leadership Award 2015 (Press Release). This was a collaborative weekend shared with the Ecological Society of America (ESA) for the Biological and Ecological Science Coalition’s (BESC) Congressional Visits Day. We, graduate and postdoctoral students, lobbied our current representatives to recognize what is fact and what is fiction when it comes to funding STEM researchers and programs. We shared personal stories about how certain legislations helped or hindered scientific research in our state and nationwide. I had the opportunity to be teamed with students from New York and New Jersey. With our CT, NY, NJ team we headed to 12 offices to preach the good word (smile). It was an exhilaratingly exhausting day of meetings. We also had states that were very receptive to our messages, as we heard at the end of the day that some of the southern states were not open to talking about funding science initiatives. As I sit and reflect, I know this intersection between science and policy is where I want to be. |
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Hi, I'm Tanisha-- a lover of travel, culture, science (botany), Toby the polydactyl cat, Chariot the two legged cat, Caleb the sweet dog, watching instructional YouTube videos and vegetarian foods. I am from Washington, DC, and thus have a love of politics as well. I've studied environmental science and some science policy in Pennsylvania, California and South America. I am currently a Ph.D. candidate in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology in Connecticut. I have recently returned from my #Fulbright year abroad. Follow along with me as I share memories from South Africa, and discover botany, life, good food, and other experiences with a view! Archives
July 2018
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Botany With A View