Your faraway dreams of participating in conservation projects just got a lot closer. Chattanooga, meet Nova Conservation, a business born from the mind of local biologist, Laura Marsh.
Laura has a background in Biology + Environmental Science, and her expertise is in birds. She’s traveled extensively for various conservation projects, and has spent a lot of time studying Umbrellabirds. If there’s anyone in Chattanooga who knows about conservation, it’s Laura.
The conservation problem
Funding. To get into the industry, you pretty much have to work for free for a while. Because of this, there’s a disadvantage to BIPOC + those in lower socioeconomic brackets. Additionally, students who have studied for years and want to earn a doctorate in the field must apply for grants, which is competitive and time consuming, leading to fewer experts in the field.
Lucky for us, we have a conservationist in our very own backyard working to make this field more accessible to all.
The solution
Nova Conservation. This business was born from a need for a vetted, ethical place online to find local and global conservation work and volunteer opportunities. Every organization who posts an opportunity is thoroughly vetted before the experience becomes available on the website so that those looking to volunteer or work in conservation aren’t spending all their savings on an opportunity, or signing up for something that isn’t exactly what is described.
Nova Conservation also seeks to bring awareness to our local conservation efforts, like events at Audubon Acres or workshops + research at the Tennessee River Gorge Trust. This is an opportunity for local organizations to partner with Nova and post hands-on and educational experiences for the community.
How it works
- Check the website for conservation opportunities.
- Apply.
- Get your hands dirty with whatever experience you choose.
- If you stay local, help others learn what you have learned.
- If you went abroad or elsewhere in the states, come back to Chattanooga + bring your new knowledge to help with our local conservation efforts.
How can I help?
Last night, Laura hosted a Kickstarter launch party, which featured an informal discussion on the latest environmental news and why the planet needs a database like Nova Conservation. If you’d like to back the project, you can do so here.
Bonus: 100% of proceeds go to conservation.
You can also follow the project on social media — Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
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