When I first started talking to Mo (the Hoga base site manager) about joining Operation Wallacea in Indonesia, I could sense how professional she was. Her communication was clear and fast, any questions I had were very quickly answered. This professionalism continues…

Madagascar was a life-changing experience filled with learning about biology, conservation, and bonding—not just with each other, but also with scientists and local Malagasies. The two-week expedition was divided between two sites: the forest and the marine site. The forest site was…

This summer I had the incredible opportunity to visit Madagascar as a Research Assistant with Operation Wallacaea. As a recent biology graduate with an interest in all things ecology, I wanted to get a feel for as many types of fieldwork as…

Exploring at Knepp in the Depths of Night On my first night at Knepp, the tiredness surprisingly hadn’t quite hit me just yet, so whilst everyone was busy winding down in their tents at 9pm after a busy day of travelling, I…

Never in my life did I think I’d be spending a week camping in the Mexican Calakmul jungle, let alone fleeing the extremities of the heat and mosquitos. Yet against all odds, I found myself here, having the time of my life…

Sodwana Bay is a diver’s paradise in South Africa, renowned for its vibrant marine life and colourful pristine coral reefs. I recently had the opportunity to dive here for a week with Operation Wallacea, an organization known for its focus on biodiversity…

Five reasons why everybody should go on an expedition with Opwall regardless of scientific background! When approached about embarking on an expedition with Operation Wallacea, it is easy to feel overwhelmed. After all, this is a company that has published over 670…

I was scared and excited about what to expect on this trip. The first day was the most exhausting one. So many new things that I saw, heard, smelled, and touched. Everything was really overwhelming, but my classmates and teachers helped me…

Register for the talks here!   This year we will be having our first ever annual Optoberfest scientific mini-conference, held at our Opwall HQ in Lincolnshire, UK. Optoberfest is a chance for us to showcase some of the amazing science stories and…

I had so many amazing experiences during my time at Knepp. I got the chance to witness the release of juvenile storks into the wild, see a turtle dove, go on a bat safari and feel (and hear) bats flying overhead, have…

17:00 – Writing this, I am sat in the dining area at the centre of Camp Anoa. Today, I have completed a habitat survey, followed by a refreshing wash in the river, then lunch, and finally we listened to two guest lectures….

When I looked back at the end of my time at university, it was volunteering as a research assistant with Operation Wallacea that stood out clearly as the best experience of my life. As I travelled Europe on foot and by bicycle…