The 7th Annual Field Course in Conservation Biology and Global Health wraps up this week at the Nepal Engineering College in Lalitpur.
This year’s program marks a significant milestone as it is the first field course for Dr. Matthew Novak in his new role as Unit Director for Global Programs at the Washington National Biomedical Research Center (WaNBRC).
The event highlights a seamless transition in leadership, as Dr. Novak is joined in Nepal by the outgoing Unit Chief, Dr. Randall Kyes, who is retiring after more than 35 years of global service.
This collaboration is the continuation of a partnership that began decades ago. In the 1990s Dr. Novak was one of the first two American students to participate in Dr. Kyes’ inaugural field study program on Tinjil Island.
Having come full circle from student to leader, Dr. Novak noted that he is “humbled and honored” to continue the legacy of building long-term international relationships.
The five-day course, titled “At the Human-Environment Interface,” was formally inaugurated with a traditional panas lighting ceremony, where a decorative brass oil lamp is lit to mark the inauguration of events, symbolizing the spread of knowledge and positivity.
Special guests included Bed Kumar Dhakal, Deputy Director General of the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, and Robert Dongol, Director of the Center for Professional Studies at Nepal Engineering College.
The program brings together 20 participants from seven different Nepali institutions. Jointly conducted by Nepal Engineering College and the University of Washington through the Center for Global Field Study (CGFS) and WaNBRC, the course provides practical experience in wildlife research methods and examines the critical links between environmental and human health.