Avhan Misra, Operations Research and Computer Science, class of 2024
As a lifelong numbers enthusiast, I have developed a firm belief that mathematical modeling along with computational modeling can engineer solutions to our most pressing issues. Under this spirit, I was drawn towards working with Dr. Erb as part of the Einaudi Research Internship in summer 2021. I analyzed hundreds of passive acoustic monitoring recordings to identify orangutan long calls in Borneo. By using software to support conservation efforts, I found my research to be incredibly rewarding and thus developed a deeper interest in tailoring my studies in technology and computational modeling to promote conservation. I continue working with Dr. Erb, using machine learning to track orangutan sounds. By doing so, we can extract valuable information regarding the endangered species and hopefully stimulate real change in the area. |
Gus Dupin, Animal Sciences (Anthropology minor), class of 2026
I started working with Wendy in Fall of 2023 by writing a literature review on passive acoustic monitoring of primates. I am currently working on a project conducted with local communities around Indonesia's new capital city of Nusantara. I am helping to create educational resources and collect acoustic information on bioculturally important species. In the future I hope to pursue a career in primatology, studying orangutans. In my free time I enjoy hiking, playing soccer, running, playing pokemon, and playing board games. |
Claire Wu, Communications/Information Science, class of 2027
Hello! I am an undergraduate Research Assistant studying the social-ecological impacts of Indonesia's capital city relocation. Specifically, I am working towards developing educational and outreach materials for the Borneo community while also conducting sound analysis in Raven Pro to build a training model for the BirdNET machine learning algorithm. I am so excited to be a part of this project and look forward to building upon it more during my time in the Laidlaw Leadership and Research Scholars Program. |
Jacob Berman, Environment & Sustainability, class of 2025
Hello! I am an undergraduate Research Assistant studying the effects of wildfire smoke on primates, specifically white-bearded gibbons. Since joining Wendy's team in Jan 2024, I have begun learning the various tools involved with bioacoustics research and I am discovering new things every day. One of my favorite parts of working at Yang Center is the constant discovery of new tools, methods, and research processes. I hope to eventually put all of these skills to use in future graduate study; I have become a total bioacoustics enthusiast. I have always been interested in the natural world, but I was specifically drawn to Wendy's research based on my own experiences with wildfire smoke in my home state of Washington. I am so happy to be apart of such an amazing team. |
Kristen Morrow, Ph.D. candidate, Integrative Conservation & Anthropology, University of Georgia
My research brings together natural and social science approaches to find pragmatic and equitable solutions for primate conservation in Indonesia. In collaboration with Universitas Gadjah Mada and Borneo Nature Foundation, my dissertation focuses on human and nonhuman communities in Central Kalimantan's Rungan River Landscape. Combining ethnographic engagement, passive acoustic monitoring, and forest surveys, I aim to understand how both people and primates respond to ongoing, rapid landscape change. The goal of this work is to better understand how community forestry initiatives may support local livelihoods while providing habitat protection for threatened primate species. In addition to research, I enjoy youth science outreach, gardening, hiking with my family, and chasing my toddler. |
Indah Sartika Sari, Bioacoustics Coordinator, Mungku Baru
I am the Bioacoustics coordinator in Education Forest along with Universitas Muhammadiyah Palangkaraya, also leading the sound library initiative groups in Central Kalimantan. I have a master's degree in conservation and biodiversity from the University of Exeter and bachelor of Forestry from Universitas Tanjungpura, West Kalimantan. I am passionate about wildlife conservation, where my biggest hope is to contribute to make wildlife and humans live side by side in peace, through research, community awareness, and education. When I am not in the forest, I enjoy outdoor activities and sports, especially mixed martial arts, but enjoy cooking and Netflix too. Oh I also love taking photos of wildlife! |