Now that it's been over two months since I've completed my internship in Puerto Rico, I decided it was time to reflect on my experiences (expect a post on the new job later!). Though I was only there for three months, I learned so much. Tropical ecosystems were something that long interested me, and I never imagined I would have the opportunity to work in one.
The experience of living, working, and existing in El Yunque Rainforest was awe-inspiring. Every night, I fell asleep to the chirps of the endemic (native to Puerto Rico) coquí frogs. Every day, I’d learn new plants, see more fungi, and go deeper into the rainforest. I worked with locals and other recent graduates from around the continental U.S. We shared stories of our field and research experiences, and we shared laughter.
I was there for only three months, but it was an experience I’ll never forget.
An Unforgettable Experience Indeed
I’ll never forget the rainforest, and I’ll never forget the underfunded living situation. There were eight total Tree Census interns, all of us living together. For eight people, there was one stovetop, a non-functioning oven, three bedrooms, two bathrooms (one toilet stopped working for a few weeks), and a living stipend funded only the most basic of necessities. There were more issues than I’ve listed here, but I think the point comes across. We worked under the Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) Network, which the National Science Foundation funds.
I don’t regret joining the Luquillo 2021 Tree Census, but I definitely wouldn’t do it again. The reality of the situation was that management couldn’t, wouldn’t, and didn’t know how to support us. I joined Phase 1 of the three intended phases, and only one of the original interns stayed on for Phase 2. Staying in the project wasn’t sustainable for most of us; financially, mentally, emotionally, etc. You can’t put eight people together twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week without space to be by themselves, limited and inconsistent financial support, and no transportation, and expect the situation to end well.
The research field needs to do better in supporting those from disadvantaged backgrounds. It can be difficult for smaller, understaffed, and underfunded programs like Luquillo LTER to focus on equity. In addition, Puerto Rico’s current situation complicates things further, which is too complicated for me to cover. Given these circumstances, I don’t have any suggestions where Luquillo LTER could do better for the future.
Unsupported and Unbelieved
I don’t have suggestions, but I DO want to emphasize the current, struggling, and underfunded environmental field. Such a field, which is critical to humanity’s survival, is largely uncared for and misunderstood. Researchers have known for decades about climate change, but policymakers have minimally listened or acted.
Intense climate studies began in the 1950s, and the 1970s mark the scientific consensus of global warming “as the chief climate risk in the next century” [1]. We’ve recognized the risk and danger of global warming for half a century now. But alas, those with power and their “business as usual” mindset.
Personally, I’m pessimistic about the current and future state of the world. I’m cynical about humanity, but I’m still here, being true to myself. I’m still in this field, and I’m still trying to educate and inform. A friend once said that most people in the environmental field live with some denial, and I think that’s true. If I didn’t have the denial, I wouldn’t be able to go on. I’m here, continuing to make my impact, and I hope others do, too.
Sources
Weart, Spencer. “Timeline (Milestones).” The Discovery of Global Warming. August 2021. <https://history.aip.org/climate/timeline.htm>.
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