World World Marine Mammal Conference
Donation protected
My name is London Fletcher and I am a 12 year old from Washington state. I have been accepted as a presenter at the Society of marine mammalogy World Marine Mammal Conference in Barcelona Spain this December.
My goal is to gain support from the global community regarding the rapid decline and extinction of the Southern Resident Killer Whale population.
My paper, titled “Dammed to extinction? The precarious status of the Southern Resident Killer Whales” will highlight the causes and solutions for saving this unique, and incredible population, a species with a social structure and cultural zest for life unlike any other population on Earth.
This is my life's work and purpose; To save these amazing whales. However, I need financial help and a global stage. I have worked tirelessly with our local government spoken at countless events and schools and it is getting the whales nowhere fast.
While being accepted at my age is a great honor,I am currently not eligible to apply for the usual scholarships students can apply for because I am not a university student. My parents are unable to help with both parents currently in school we are in desperate need of financial help to make this dream and opportunity come true. Currently, I need to raise about 5,000 dollars just to cover my own expenses including flights, accommodations, presentation equipment shipping costs, poster creation and handout printing fees and basic meals.
A lot has changed since I completed my internship at the Orca Research Trust in New Zealand. It was Dr. Visser giving me this amazing opportunity when everything really began for me. A whole new window of opportunity was opened for me. First and foremost, a year after completion of the internship and after hundreds of hours of work for Dr. Visser I was awarded the official title of “Research Assistant”
I presented my work in New Zealand at 2018 Superpod Symposium. It became very clear through my advocacy work and speaking at local Orca Task Force meetings and other symposiums that there was an immense need for the message of the Southern Resident Killer Whales to be brought into schools. That is why I have founded the Aquatic Research Conservancy. It is an organization who is dedicated to the protection of aquatic habitats and inhabitants through education, outreach, and science. I have also spoken out about the plight of the Southern Resident Killer whales at countless events such as several Orca Task Force Meetings, Our state capitals, schools, Superpod and many more.
List activities since my last GoFundMe sponsored internship:
Media Appearances:
Searching For chinook
Dammed to extinction
Coextinction Film
BBC Nature
King 5 News
Q13Fox news
Some of my achievements since my internship include:
- Earned position: Research Assistant - The Orca Research Trust - New Zealand
-Gained membership as the youngest member of the Society of Marine Mammalogy
-Gained membership as the world's youngest member of the American Acoustical Society
-Completed internship as youngest to earn a full internship for cetology at the age of 9, which she completed at the Orca Research Trust New Zealand
-Published as co-author for her work with Leopard Seals in New Zealand which she will also be presented in Barcelona this December.
-Winner of Marine Mammal Stranding Network Bob Ryerson Memorial Volunteer of the year award in 2017 for the most hours volunteered.
My work has become more and more intense as we watch the southern resident’s population decrease one whale at a time. As of the time I am writing this there are only 73 whales in all 3 pods. This is why we must do everything in our power to raise awareness about these whales.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qhR8eWt91c&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR0AFx4qKvqGH7E745QS-yU_EB7VP1LolpaIBxefqsdemldm2w4kzt6oaC8&fbclid=IwAR1k_PE2GzyFRC4GpQWX1vR7tLFBgKz2AGJE8Tq0wV4BRoOHjs7jPKMDuo0
My goal is to gain support from the global community regarding the rapid decline and extinction of the Southern Resident Killer Whale population.
My paper, titled “Dammed to extinction? The precarious status of the Southern Resident Killer Whales” will highlight the causes and solutions for saving this unique, and incredible population, a species with a social structure and cultural zest for life unlike any other population on Earth.
This is my life's work and purpose; To save these amazing whales. However, I need financial help and a global stage. I have worked tirelessly with our local government spoken at countless events and schools and it is getting the whales nowhere fast.
While being accepted at my age is a great honor,I am currently not eligible to apply for the usual scholarships students can apply for because I am not a university student. My parents are unable to help with both parents currently in school we are in desperate need of financial help to make this dream and opportunity come true. Currently, I need to raise about 5,000 dollars just to cover my own expenses including flights, accommodations, presentation equipment shipping costs, poster creation and handout printing fees and basic meals.
A lot has changed since I completed my internship at the Orca Research Trust in New Zealand. It was Dr. Visser giving me this amazing opportunity when everything really began for me. A whole new window of opportunity was opened for me. First and foremost, a year after completion of the internship and after hundreds of hours of work for Dr. Visser I was awarded the official title of “Research Assistant”
I presented my work in New Zealand at 2018 Superpod Symposium. It became very clear through my advocacy work and speaking at local Orca Task Force meetings and other symposiums that there was an immense need for the message of the Southern Resident Killer Whales to be brought into schools. That is why I have founded the Aquatic Research Conservancy. It is an organization who is dedicated to the protection of aquatic habitats and inhabitants through education, outreach, and science. I have also spoken out about the plight of the Southern Resident Killer whales at countless events such as several Orca Task Force Meetings, Our state capitals, schools, Superpod and many more.
List activities since my last GoFundMe sponsored internship:
Media Appearances:
Searching For chinook
Dammed to extinction
Coextinction Film
BBC Nature
King 5 News
Q13Fox news
Some of my achievements since my internship include:
- Earned position: Research Assistant - The Orca Research Trust - New Zealand
-Gained membership as the youngest member of the Society of Marine Mammalogy
-Gained membership as the world's youngest member of the American Acoustical Society
-Completed internship as youngest to earn a full internship for cetology at the age of 9, which she completed at the Orca Research Trust New Zealand
-Published as co-author for her work with Leopard Seals in New Zealand which she will also be presented in Barcelona this December.
-Winner of Marine Mammal Stranding Network Bob Ryerson Memorial Volunteer of the year award in 2017 for the most hours volunteered.
My work has become more and more intense as we watch the southern resident’s population decrease one whale at a time. As of the time I am writing this there are only 73 whales in all 3 pods. This is why we must do everything in our power to raise awareness about these whales.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qhR8eWt91c&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR0AFx4qKvqGH7E745QS-yU_EB7VP1LolpaIBxefqsdemldm2w4kzt6oaC8&fbclid=IwAR1k_PE2GzyFRC4GpQWX1vR7tLFBgKz2AGJE8Tq0wV4BRoOHjs7jPKMDuo0
Organizer
Joel Fletcher
Organizer
Birch Bay, WA