Darron Collins, the president of the College of the Atlantic, visited St. Paul Academy and Summit School on Sept. 21, to talk to students interested in environmental issues relating to science and public policy. Collins specializes in cultural anthropology and previously worked at the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) as a program director, writer, and the managing director of conservation programs in the Amur watershed of Mongolia. With his extensive knowledge on the conservation of ecosystems and development of human communities, Collins is able to spread his passion for improving ecological integrity.

Collins’ experiences impacted students in a way that showed them their potential and the positive effects they could have on ecosystems. “I already feel so motivated to take action but this presentation just made me feel hopeful that there are many other people like me who want to take action. It’s nice to know there are places out in the world where I can make an impact with other people,” junior Moira McCarthy said. Though students pursuing these kinds of jobs as conservationists aren’t as common, those who achieve them are invaluable assets in helping better the community and world at large.

During the presentation, Collins described his trip to Mongolia. Collins and a few of his colleagues traveled to Mongolia to investigate taimen fish. The inhabitants living nearby claimed the fish population was decreasing every year even though there weren’t any factors that prevented fish from reproducing. Collins discovered that people from Russia and Europe visited Mongolia for sport fishing. This caused Collins and his colleagues to start promoting capture and release methods. This project sparked great interest among students and faculty because Collins also mentioned opportunities students would have at the College of the Atlantic where they plan and engage in projects that can potentially solve ecological issues. “I thought the presentation was really good! I will definitely be looking further into this school and it makes me really excited for college!” McCarthy said.

Collins’ presentation provided students insight on the commitments of a human ecologist and environmental conservationist. His journeys across and along the coast of the Atlantic hopefully have inspired young minds to follow in his footsteps and end up somewhere in the middle of nowhere, making the world a better place.