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After successfully organizing, launching and hosting my first ever design competition and conference, InDesCanada, at Carleton University alongside my co-founder Alexandra Shevtsova on May 3rd, there was no time to celebrate as I only had one day to pack and make my way to Toronto where I would begin my journey to Tanzania on May 5th. As part of my Master of Design thesis and having the honour of being a Queen Elizabeth Scholarship recipient, I have been planning my 2 month research trip to Tanzania just as extensively in parallel to InDesCanada event.

To say these last weeks and months have been a blur is a major understatement! But throughout all this, I was so excited and so looking forward to arriving back at Kilimanjaro airport for the 3rd time in my life also marking the 3rd time I'm in Tanzania representing Carleton with the purpose of collaboration and learning from our partners on the ground and the local population that I am privileged to work alongside.

Now would you imagine my shock, that on my first full day back, I'm energized and ready to roll... and my laptop won't turn on! Nothing could have prepared me for this and no amount of troubleshooting can bring it back to life. So now here I am, in a rural part of Tanzania, 60+ days to go, without access to my notes and prepared materials, and the very real possibility of having to paper and pencil the most important part of my thesis.

...Find out next time how we made the most of this unexpected start and how awesome our partner organization ECHO East Africa is!

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I am extremely grateful to have started my summer in Longido, Tanzania as part of the QES scholarship. We began our trip alongside Courts for Change Carleton University to help with basketball programs and activities. This was a great chance to get reintroduced to the community and get settled in with a group of other students present. We had the opportunity to play with students at Orbomba, Oldorko and Ranch Primary Schools in Longido District.

The experience of seeing these children get the opportunity of playing basketball for the first time was incredible for me as basketball has been such a big part of my life for 20 years. The photos really speak for themselves as we played games, practiced skills, and bonded with the young students.

We enjoyed the Maasai market which is where the local indigenous community is able to buy, sell and trade their goods to others in the community. This occurs every Saturday in Longido and draws in individuals from great distances to sell or stock up on their goods for the week. The purchases of the day included $2 CAD flip flops and a goat leg for the group to share. The colourful sea of Maasai shukas was truly breathtaking.

Working alongside Learning in Longido was also a highlight of the week. It is a library/community center located in Longido where locals may come for tutoring, computer skills lessons, and many more. We were able to do puzzles and pay with legos with the montessori class of 3-5 year old local children. Their energy was so contagious and it was hard not to smile the entire time. Special thank you to teachers Judith and Namnyake for welcoming us that day and extending us an open invitation for the rest of the summer.

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Beginning New Research, Connection, and Adventure

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Beginning New Research, Connection, and Adventure

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After choosing to do a thesis, I could never have imagined being given such an amazing opportunity. I am thankful to be a QES Scholar and to be able to travel for research, especially to such a vastly different location. There will be a lot to experience as I step out of my comfort zone. I am looking forward to doing some research within the local communities. I hope to help continue the ceramic water filter program, bringing safer water to them by working alongside the NGO TEMBO. My first week started with a slow build into the new environment, allowing me to make a lot of meaningful connections with TEMBO staff, other Carleton students, and some of the local kids.

Walking through the streets of Longido, it is so nice to be able to see such a lasting culture of tradition. The kids are adorable and wave to us every day. It is nice to be able to see that the kids feel comfortable enough to play in the surrounding areas. They can be themselves with no worries.

I do enjoy playing sports on occasion; however, due to my new research partner, Sierra, who, through her driven efforts and passion for basketball, has done a lot for the community. It has truly shown me how such activities really can bring people together. The other students who are a part of the efforts have been truly welcoming, allowing me to join in on their activities and join their group.

As a student driven by a passion for the environment, I have been enjoying the variety of ecosystems around me. The biodiversity that Tanzania has to offer, much to my research partners' dismay, I have already filled my phone with many of the insects, birds, plants, and rocks. I hope to slowly identify them all.

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Engaging with Canada’s multicultural environment through food was a highlight, from traditional Poutine, Montreal smoked beef bugger and Chili to international flavors like Shawarma and the Dahl.

Thanks to Chandra and Dipto, I have saved the flight cost for a food adventure in India. I was able to get treats to the top delicacies of Indian food.

#QEScholar

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Participating in ice skating at the Rideau Canal offered a firsthand understanding of how northern climates shape human recreation and the importance of seasonal use of aquatic ecosystems.

Scary at the beginning, it turned out to be a warming adventure in the extreme cold of the winter. This is one activity I look forward to trying again in the future.

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Ex-situ conservation, the magnificent Montreal Biodome

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Ex-situ conservation, the magnificent Montreal Biodome

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My time in Canada ended with a visit to Montreal from January 23rd to 25th, 2026, with key interests in the Montreal Biodome, and this visit offered a perspective on the nexus of public engagement and high-level conservation infrastructure. The sheer scale of investment required to sustain these enclosed ecosystems highlights the immense value placed on biodiversity conservation and serves as a model for ex-situ conservation projects globally. Witnessing the high volume of visitors stressed a deep public interest in nature, suggesting that such immersive experiences are vital for fostering environmental stewardship.
Furthermore, the Biodome’s ability to house vast, diverse ecosystems in a single location provides a unique space for observing complex biological interactions that are often difficult to monitor in the field. Beyond the exhibits, the visit served as a strategic networking ground, allowing me to engage with three graduate students: Rebecca from McGill University, Liana from the University of Montreal, and Erin from the University of Guelph. Our informal interactions enriched our collective understanding of tropical conservation, proving that such sites are as much about building human scientific networks as they are about preserving biological ones.

#QEScholar

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Photo credit to Erin Francispillai (Abwoli)

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My visit to the Canada Museum of Nature was instrumental in understanding the importance of biological records, thanks to the QES program. I had this wonderful visit in the company of Erin Francispillai, a graduate student at University of Guelph and wonderful friend I met in Kibale National Park in 2023.

The extensive displays at the Museum provided excellent opportunities for species identification, spanning from entomology to marine biology (notably the blue whale skeleton).
Entomological breeding was both an educative and exciting component of the Museum. I observed the sophisticated approaches to butterfly and insect breeding. Creating and sustaining conducive conditions for breeding and survival of several insects is a viable learning opportunity and gives room for research and education. This is particularly relevant for tropical restoration, where understanding the lifecycle of pollinators, pests and dispersants is key to ensuring the long-term viability of restored ecosystems, like Kibale Forest.
Physical geography and tectonic forces are another sphere of learning that is accessible in the museum. The illustrations of tectonic forces and geological shifts provided a macro-perspective on how physical geography dictates current biodiversity patterns, a vital concept when considering the soil types and topography in several areas of Uganda including the Albertine Rift, Mountainous parks like Elgon, Bwindi and Mgahinga among other areas.

#QEScholar

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Emmanuel A. Opito at Parc Omega, Quebec, Canada, photo credit to Dipto Sarkar

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I and my supervisor Dipto paid a visit to Parc Omega, Quebec, Canada. At the conservation area, I witnessed proactive management of fauna during extreme winter scarcity. Several species, both carnivores; bears wolves and foxes, and herbivores; red tailed deer, ibex, bison, elk, moose among others are conserved in a small area, in the face of climate extremes and food availability. Provision of food and shelter is a visible and instrumental in conservation in captive conservation. In the tropics, ensuring the survival of flora and fauna during dry seasons is equally challenging yet vital for species conservation.
Within the confines of Parc omega, research was evident, specifically on the ticks and climate change on moose. Research is a vital aspect in conservation especially with increasing global environmental health challenges like climate change, pollution and increasing boundaries of effects of anthropogenic activities.
Business was evident, with the presence of a restaurant and items for sale. Tourism and conservation are a critical synergy that supports conservation but contributed to livelihoods and national development.

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Peter follows a raiding party back to the forest edge at Kibale (June 2025)

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From June to August 2025, each documented raid was traced on foot from the damaged garden to Kibale's border and logged with a handheld GPS. Following footprints, dung and broken foliage, and aided by a local field assistant, the team traced the elephants’ return routes.

Mapping the return routes provide us insight into how elephant raid parties navigate an agro-forested landscape and overcome defensive measures designed to keep them out of the community.

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Field survey conducted in a smallholder garden following an elephant crop-raiding event (June 2025)

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After each reported elephant crop raid we would conduct an informal interview with the affected smallholder and also visually evaluate the damaged garden.

In particular we were concerned with documenting crop types damaged, raid party composition (number, age(s), and sex(es) of elephants), date and time, defense measures, and estimated financial damage.

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Makerere University Biological Field Station Upper Camp (2025)

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Located in Uganda's Kibale National Park, the Makerere University Biological Field Station supports a diverse array of international researchers and projects.

I found the camp to be a great base to investigate elephant crop raiding in the nearby community. It was also a wonderful place to connect with students, researchers, and profs from all corners of the globe.