The Nicholas School has inspired me to be sustainable in many different aspects of my life. I use my school water bottle, compost in the L.S.R.C., and try to shop locally. The holidays are aContinue reading
Author: Erika Zambello
Erika is a 2015 MEM graduate with a concentration in Ecosystem Science and Conservation. She grew up in southern Maine surrounded by a beautiful environment, inspiring her to pursue conservation in her graduate work. Studying Government and Anthropology as an undergraduate at Cornell and working in the development department of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace between her undergrad and graduate studies has prompted her to bring multiple disciplines to her study of the natural world. She is a National Geographic Young Explorer, and currently works as a Marine Economic and Tourist Development Resource Coordinator, using ecotourism to strengthen conservation and restoration along the coast of Florida.
Braving the Cold and Beginning a Project at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest
It was ice cold as we headed out into the woods of the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest. I’m a New England girl, so I was prepared: leggings under jeans, snow pants, a ski jacket, andContinue reading
First (Unofficial) Day of Winter and Exploring Falls Lake
North Carolina weather confuses me. One day it’s seventy degrees and humid, and a mere two days later it’s 35 degrees with a howling wind. This past Sunday was just such a frigid day,Continue reading
Not Only Scientifically Critical but also Unbelievably Cute: The Lemurs of the Duke Lemur Center
It was chilly when I pulled up to the Duke Lemur Center. I’m from Maine, so normally when cold confronts my daily activities I actively fight back by layering jackets and hats and scarves andContinue reading
Three Reasons to Visit the North Carolina Botanical Garden
Sunday was perfect. Book-ended by chilly days Saturday and Monday, Sunday was 68 and sunny and high time to visit the North Carolina Botanical Garden. Located about 20 minutes away in Chapel Hill (Y es,Continue reading
My new favorite activity: bird banding!
“When we walked in fields of gold,” lyrics popped into my head as I and a group of NicNats shut our car doors and walked towards the Prairie Ridge Ecostation in Raleigh early one FridayContinue reading
Wild, Wacky, and Wonderful NC State Fair
I have never been to a fair quite like the North Carolina State Fair. I’m from Maine, and Maine is beautiful, but there aren’t a whole lot of people. In fact, the whole state onlyContinue reading
Falling for Falls Lake
My Sunday excursion began by falling down a set of stairs. Now, on any type of graceful scale I lean towards the side of “klutz.” I accidentally run into couches and doors, slip in theContinue reading
A Little History: The Not-So-Long Journey from Duke Homestead to my Apartment
I live in a historical district of Durham, the Warehouse District. Given that my roommate and I rented the place without a) seeing it or b) knowing anything about the area, I’m thrilled with myContinue reading
Duke Farms: The Only Good Thing about Getting Drenched
I don’t know about everyone else, but Monday had it in for me. Besides having to study for midterms, the sky opened up as I was walking from Duke Gardens to the Levine Science ResearchContinue reading