Thank you to Dan Bowen who joined our SMSG team on a summer internship! Dan has recently completed his placement, during which he focused on bringing a number of Japanese endemic small mammal Red List assessments up to date. We were delighted to have Dan working on spiny rats, moles, shrews and more! Hear from Dan, below:
“I’m Dan and I undertook an internship with the IUCN Small Mammal Specialist Group drafting Red List reassessments for some Japanese endemic species. I grew up in Shropshire, attending state schools and volunteering at my local wildlife trust in my spare time. Despite being from a working-class background, I worked hard and made it to the University of Oxford. I am studying Biology, and am on my final year doing my Masters in Biology research project, which I hope will support me in my career in ecology and conservation.
At university, I have been very fortunate to have access to a wide range of internship opportunities, including this one with the IUCN SMSG. My internship involved performing literature research for Japanese endemic species, researching if there had been any changes in distribution or population trends. If so, I would add this new information to the current species distribution map and update the running species information sheet, preparing the drafts for review by species experts.
During my internship, I have learned new insights into conservation and developed my researching skills. I have a better understanding of the process behind the IUCN Red List system, and a greater appreciation for the work that goes on behind the scenes in ensuring this information is available to the public.
I wanted to say thanks to the IUCN SMSG, and especially my supervisors Abi and Ros, who have all been very welcoming and supportive throughout my internship. I look forward to see the work I have been performing with the group contribute to the current understanding we have around these rare species.”
A Tokudaia (spiny rat) species. Source: Daderot, Wiki.