UA Little Rock Student Spends Exciting Summer Abroad in Indonesia
UA Little Rock junior Maria Waite, double major in ecology and organismal biology and chemistry, spent an exciting summer studying abroad in Indonesia.
In addition to the country’s vast opportunities for marine research and conservation, Waite’s decision to study in Indonesia was also inspired by her heritage. Having already visited the country several times to visit family, Waite considers it her second home.
“I wanted to take the opportunity to live and study there since I hope to move there in the future,” stated Waite. “Also, I want to pursue a career in marine research and conservation, and what better place to study this than a country made of over 17,000 islands? Indonesia is known as a biodiversity hotspot and is famous for its ecotourism, making it the perfect place for my study abroad.”
During her time in Indonesia, Waite was involved in a variety of conservation projects, including bird conservation in Bali, which focused on the endangered Bali Starling. She performed daily bird monitoring and collected data for her project titled “Comparative Analysis of the Effect of Bali’s Human Dominated Landscape on its Bird Species Based on Their Foraging Types.”
Through intensive study and fieldwork, Waite overcame the significant learning curve that came with identifying the bird species.
“Learning to identify the bird species was the primary challenge I faced during this aspect of the program,” recalled Waite. “I had to quickly learn about how to describe bird species morphology, how to describe the patterns of their calls, and the names of all the species in the area.”
Waite also assisted in two coral reef restoration projects, one using the MARRS reef stars method and another using the biorock method in the islands of Bali and Nusa Penida.
“Because of the electrical complexity of the biorock method, it was a bit difficult for me to get hands-on work with this project,” she said. “However, with the MARRS method, I was able to assist in handling and attaching the coral polyps to the reef star structure.”
Waite also participated in a reforestation project in Kalimantan, which was a standout experience of hers. There, she helped plant 584 trees in an area previously devastated by wildfires and gold mining. She found this work to be immensely rewarding, despite the conditions.
“Being covered in sweat and dirt after digging through the mud to plant all of these trees was the most rewarding feeling I have ever experienced,” said Waite.
During her time in Kalimantan, Waite forged deep connections with the locals, and found that she really enjoyed the remote location and minimal technology and felt like she was able to experience a much-needed reset after her first two years of college.
Of all of her exciting experiences in Indonesia, Waite says that her favorite was reconnecting with her heritage in a meaningful way. She stayed with a local family, practiced speaking Indonesian, and participated in traditional ceremonies and dances.
“To be surrounded by my culture and individuals that share the same love for the culture is honestly an indescribable yet unforgettable feeling,” reflected Waite. “I made so many lifelong relationships with the people there, so leaving the village was one of the most challenging experiences of my study abroad.”
Waite’s study abroad experience strengthened her commitment to her career goals.
“This experience reinforced my love for Indonesia and my desire to move there in the future,” Waite said. “I also was able to learn and participate in some of the marine conservation efforts in Bali which also reinforced my career aspirations. This experience made me want to expedite my studies so that I can move to Indonesia sooner.”
Waite encourages other students to consider studying abroad.
“The experience that you will get by studying abroad is unlike anything you can get here in Little Rock, Arkansas. So, if you have the opportunity to study abroad, you should take advantage of that!”
