Emma Oosterlee

I have greatly enjoyed my studies and all the research experience and exposure to the scientific world I was afforded. However, I felt I was being pushed towards the route of academia and felt dissatisfied with the distance between the findings of primary research and the application thereof to conservation management approaches. For this reason, I set myself the goal of working in natural resource management and sustainability in order to enact first-hand changes in the environment, particularly for people suffering the impacts of climate change. I feel that my place is in the application of scientific findings, where change is enacted by designing new management approaches and strategies which promote economic, social, and political development and stability. 

Growing up in South Africa has afforded me access to some of the most beautiful natural landscapes and protected areas. This has given me a tremendous appreciation for wildlife and biodiversity. However, I have also been exposed to the poverty and inequality which characterizes the country. I have always been aware of the need for a shift towards sustainability in every sector and I hope to contribute to research and projects which will help to uplift communities in South Africa and other developing countries. I have been afforded many privileges in my lifetime, including being well-educated. I feel a duty to use this to add to an effort which aims to improve the living conditions of all people by ensuring the health of the planet. 

 If given the opportunity to work in Amsterdam I will be devoted to making the absolute most of the experience. I will be dedicated to taking what I learn into a career in which I can make a significant contribution to the search for a more sustainable way of living.

I have worked as a research assistant for professors at the University of Cape Town. I am also a private high school tutor. 

I obtained a Bachelor of Science Honours in Biology and Bachelor of Science in Biology and Environmental and Geographical Sciences at the University of Cape Town.