11 May Introduction (Shane Saunders)

Hey y’all!

My name is Shane Saunders, and I am a student at Roanoke College in Salem, VA studying Environmental Science and Public Health. Much like everyone else in the world, I have always been surrounded by the increasing effects of climate change that has damaged local environments with prestigious ecosystems. This has motivated me to join the field of environmental science, where I have been a part of some amazing studies that have allowed me to expand my knowledge of how the Earth works. In the future, I plan on expanding my knowledge even more and using it to protect and restore not only the environment around me, but the environment that over 8 billion people call home.

This summer, I will be interning at the Cape Hatteras National Seashore and Fort Raleigh National Historic Site under the Fish and Feathers Internship. Through this internship, I hope to be involved in research concerning Coastal and Forest Ecology and to communicate research to those visiting the park and to those who want to know more. I hope to learn about the flora and fauna that persist along within the parks, and to understand the workings of the diverse environments present within them as well. Not only am I excited to be a part of the program, but I am excited to be a part of something that is bigger than myself. I strive to contribute to the ever-growing field of Environmental Science, and hope to be able to spread important information throughout the communities of the Outer Banks.