Jade Simoen, a keen hiker and swimmer, lives in Cape Town where she was born and raised. After high school, she enrolled at the University of Cape Town where she completed her undergraduate degree in Biology and Psychology, followed by an Honours in Biology and a Masters in Conservation Biology. Currently, Jade is placed with the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) as a genetic intern, where she is involved in genetic diversity indicator assessments. 

We asked her a few questions to find out more about her work, studies and inspirations: 

What are you passionate about?  

I am passionate about urban conservation because I believe it directly affects people from all walks of life. I want to be part of conservation programmes and policies that not only benefit nature, but also people. I am passionate about the sustainable development of South Africa and making more conservation-focused cities. 

What inspired your choice of study? 

I have known I wanted to study biology since I was four years old and watched “Tarzan”. From there, my love of nature has only grown, and I have taken every opportunity to learn more about this amazing world. In my first year of studies, I realised I wanted to be part of real change for a more sustainable world. 

What excites you about your internship? 

I am very excited to learn more skills, especially in the field of genetics. I am also excited to see conservation in action and how we can use research to inform policy and make changes to red listing protocols. Finally, I am excited to be engaged with people in the field and different departments so I can make an informed decision on what sector of conservation I want to be involved in moving forward. 

What are your expectations of this internship? 

I expect to develop more skills, including lab skills and research skills. I also expect to meet many people in the field who would be able to give me advice and guidance on what my next steps should be.  

What contribution do you hope to make towards a future in which people and nature thrive? 

I hope to develop my own knowledge and communicate findings to policy makers and businesses so that we can design solutions to many of the issues facing people and nature today. I believe there is often a gap between research and real change in the application of conservation plans, and I would love to help bridge this gap. 

Who inspires you most and why? 

I am inspired by many of the people I met during my Conservation Biology Masters, specifically Miranda Mix and Lara Howard. Their deep love and knowledge of their specific research areas are contagious, and it showed me how infectious passion is. Being passionate about what you are studying or aiming to conserve is key to bringing about real change.