Ready for an adventure? Grab your rain jacket and a warm scarf, because you will be joining me throughout my journeys in Scotland!
Hello! My name is Elyza. I am a postgraduate student at the University of Glasgow in Dumfries, Scotland and I am excited to take you along on my adventure! I am originally from Woodbury, CT, and I took Ms. Trzaski’s Government class my senior year at Nonnewaug! I was very fortunate receive a Fulbright grant to study how storytelling and communication techniques can be used to inform the public about nature conservation and environmental issues in order to inspire positive change for the sake of our planet. In my free time, I love to read (especially fantasy novels), write fiction stories, go on long walks, and wander through art museums.
During our journey together, we will learn more about how people live in and interact with the natural world in Scotland. There are currently several political debates in Scottish communities surrounding proper land management, especially when it comes to the creation of renewable energy infrastructure, ecotourism, and wildlife conservation. I am particularly interested in the Rewilding Movement, a global initiative that has found incredible momentum in Scotland, which aims to restore landscapes to their "natural" state prior to human interference, and in the process, strengthen biodiversity and ecosystem health. I hope to discover how effective rewilding is as a conservation method, and at the same time, investigate the impact of rewilding on the people who call these landscapes home.
Beyond environmental issues and politics surrounding them, I am also eager to show you Scotland's rich literary history, especially the poetry of Robert Burns, the national poet of Scotland, who spent a good portion of his life in Dumfries! As we explore different corners of Scotland, from glittering lochs to castle ruins and rolling fields of sheep, we will not only investigate the ecological features of these landscapes, but their very human elements as well. We will ask questions like, how have humans shaped these landscapes and why? What role do these landscapes play in Scottish culture and politics? Perhaps, our journey together will inspire you to think about the landscapes of Connecticut, and what they mean to 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!
