Bula Vinaka! Hello! Nice to virtually meet you, everyone. My name is Daouda Njie. I’m a 24-year-old, born and raised in West Philadelphia! I don’t know about you, but I get my cheese steaks from the corner stores, never Pats or Geno's! Growing up in Philly, I have always loved nature. I love anime, animals, being outside, and playing sports. As a kid I would look under bricks for bugs, visit John Heinz Refuge, or go to the Philadelphia Zoo. I loved animals so much that I ended up studying environmental science for college.
In 2019, I left Philly and the U.S for the first time to study monkeys and sea turtles in Bioko, Equatorial Guinea. By studying conservation science, I have learned so much about why it is important to keep your community clean and protect nature. After finishing college, I began working at the Academy of Natural Sciences studying salt marshes. I learned how salt marshes help protect land close to the ocean from flooding. After working in salt marshes for three years, I used my research experience to (successfully) apply for a grant from The Fulbright Program. Now I am now going to be studying sea grass meadows in Viti Levu, Fiji. I will be seeing how sea grass can help protect against climate change by trapping carbon in the ground.
I can’t wait to share my journey with you!
Want to learn how you could be a Fulbright Scholar like me? The Fulbright Program is the United States government's flagship international exchange program. Fulbrighters foster mutual understanding between the United States and partner nations, share knowledge across communities, and improve lives around the world. Learn more by clicking here!
