National Geographic features Hearn's work to protect wildlife
Alexandria Phillips
Issue date: 7/25/08 Section: News
Gail Hearn, a professor in the Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology at Drexel University, has spent roughly the last 10 years working to protect the wildlife of Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea and was recently featured in the August issue of National Geographic for her efforts overseas.
"We hope that the publicity [in National Geographic] will convince the government of Equatorial Guinea that these animals are worth saving. If that message is successful, then the National Geographic article will have been worth the effort," Hearn said.
Hearn's motivation and dedication to Bioko Island comes from the desire to make a difference, she said.
"The loss of biodiversity is clearly the greatest catastrophe of our times and of times for the years to come. It seemed important to me, as a biologist, to try to do something," Hearn said.
Hearn balances both her travels to Bioko Island and instruction in the classroom with ease.
The work that Hearn does on Bioko Island crosses over into her classroom, and she splits her time between the two while keeping sight of both efforts.
"I am on Bioko about five times a year, up to three to four weeks per trip, but I spend more than 80 percent of my time here in Philadelphia. … I believe teaching should include lots of real-life information. [The] Bioko Biodiversity Protection Program is a good example of one of the efforts being made worldwide to save biodiversity. I incorporate these examples into my teaching to show that Drexel is doing something about the biodiversity crisis, not just teaching about it," Hearn said.
Even though the program has existed for over a decade, it has taken a long time for the BBPP to be recognized, according to Hearn.
"Most programs like this one never accomplish anything, much less get to the stage where recognition is due. Survival is more the mode. We never expected to get this far," Hearn said.
According to Hearn, the BBPP also offers a study abroad program for students, initially offered through Arcadia University six years ago, to undergraduate students across the country.
"We hope that the publicity [in National Geographic] will convince the government of Equatorial Guinea that these animals are worth saving. If that message is successful, then the National Geographic article will have been worth the effort," Hearn said.
Hearn's motivation and dedication to Bioko Island comes from the desire to make a difference, she said.
"The loss of biodiversity is clearly the greatest catastrophe of our times and of times for the years to come. It seemed important to me, as a biologist, to try to do something," Hearn said.
Hearn balances both her travels to Bioko Island and instruction in the classroom with ease.
The work that Hearn does on Bioko Island crosses over into her classroom, and she splits her time between the two while keeping sight of both efforts.
"I am on Bioko about five times a year, up to three to four weeks per trip, but I spend more than 80 percent of my time here in Philadelphia. … I believe teaching should include lots of real-life information. [The] Bioko Biodiversity Protection Program is a good example of one of the efforts being made worldwide to save biodiversity. I incorporate these examples into my teaching to show that Drexel is doing something about the biodiversity crisis, not just teaching about it," Hearn said.
Even though the program has existed for over a decade, it has taken a long time for the BBPP to be recognized, according to Hearn.
"Most programs like this one never accomplish anything, much less get to the stage where recognition is due. Survival is more the mode. We never expected to get this far," Hearn said.
According to Hearn, the BBPP also offers a study abroad program for students, initially offered through Arcadia University six years ago, to undergraduate students across the country.
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