Dani, an impassioned aspiring wildlife biologist, is currently in her 3rd year of study, specializing in Animal Biology at the renowned Polytechnic University of the Philippines. Her profound fascination with animals, which ignited at a young age, has undeniably guided her journey to her present academic pursuit.

With unwavering support from her family, Dani seized the opportunity to embark on a 250-hour internship at the University of the Philippines Museum of Natural History (UPLB MNH), aiming to acquire the necessitated knowledge and skills for her future endeavors in the field of animal research and preservation.

Given her dedicated passion for Animal Biology and the alignment of her thesis topic, Dani was granted a unique opportunity by MNH to contribute to the museum’s departments that would best complement her studies.

Throughout her engagement, she undertook a diverse array of responsibilities, including specimen handling, preliminary species identification, reorganizing specimen collections, managing databases, conducting fraction-searching for micro snails, performing digital imaging of avian and mollusk specimens, creating 3D models of specimens, stacking photos of mollusk collections, and actively participating in fieldwork for herping, birdwatching, and bat mist netting. These tasks collectively enriched her with invaluable experiential knowledge.

For her, the value of her experience extended beyond the acquisition of skills; it was also about the profound bonds and relationships she shared with the people she worked with. What makes this internship valuable is the unconditional commitment of the museum staff to mentor, share, and impart their knowledge to the interns.

One day, when she successfully becomes a wildlife biologist who contributes to the advancement of scientific knowledge, the supervisors, volunteers, and museum staff who wholeheartedly embraced her presence here, are among the people who are behind her future success.