I was lucky enough to attend and present a poster at the 25th Student Conference in Conservation Science in Cambridge at the start of this month. It was by far the best conference I've attended so far. Working in a primarily ecology focused research environment, this was the first conservation focused event I attended.

Unsurprisingly, it was the most engaged I've been at an academic event, determine to talk to everyone I could. A difficult task with so many people doing so many interesting things. Conversations on tamarin trade and elephant conflict necessitated an hour of my time each.

What really made this event unforgettable was my opportunity to connect with all the other people who'd received a bursary for this conference as well. Briefly breaking down the immense geographic and monetary barriers that normally separate us, I got glimpses into conservation in Argentina, China, Mauritius, Nepal, Ecuador, Benin, Pakistan, Ghana, Madagascar, Brazil, Togo, the Philippines, and more. Even within my own country of India, I learnt of the vast range of projects that are happening right now from tracking feral dogs in the Himalayas to seaweed farming in the Gulf of Mannar. I've also been invited to many of these places and I can only hope I will be able to accept these invitations one day.

It was also incredibly humbling to realise how much of this work would never be able to receive an international audience and this platform without the financial support the conference was able to offer and I count myself as incredibly honoured to be given this opportunity as well.
If this global connection wasn't enough. there was genuine friendship to be found as well. Friendship that's reignited my desire to learn more languages than I already am. Cambridge is already a city that is dear to me, and I look forward to returning next year.