Networking is crucial for scientists. But opportunities can be expensive.

Ahmad Hussein Mohamed forged a relationship with Earthwatch when he joined a project in Kenya in 2012 and subsequently received a Shulman Award. Whilst studying for his BSc in Coastal and Marine Resources Management at Nairobi’s Kenyatta University, he joined Earthwatch’s Managing Mangroves and Capturing Carbon in Kenyan Communities project.

Combining a range of skills, he was also working as a Base Manager for Global Vision International and as a commercial diver at the time.

In 2016 he joined the Coral Communities in the Seychelles programme, where he learnt more about the impact of climate change on coral reefs, and crucial study techniques for surveying coral reef ecosystems. And in 2018, Ahmad Hussein Mohamed was granted £500 by the Earthwatch Shulman Awards, which he used to fund networking opportunities for himself.

“The knowledge and skills that I gain throughout this phase will allow me to become a better scientist as well as help my home country develop in the field of tropical marine research and capacity building.”