The Nkashi Trust (Fornely Botswana Wild Bird Trust) recently held a week-long Conservation Science Bootcamp an inaugural capacity-building initiative created in direct response to Botswana’s growing need for evidence-based environmental decision-making, particularly in water and biodiversity conservation.
Held at the Nkashi Knowledge Centre in Maun from 30 November to 6 December 2025, the bootcamp brought together nine undergraduate students from the University of Botswana (UB) and one from the Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST). It was facilitated by a team of scientific researchers from the Nkashi Trust UB and local community partners including indigenous knowledge holders and mokoro polers.
According to National Geographic Explorer and Facilitator, Dr Goabaone Ramatlapeng the objective of the Bootcamp was to equip university students with the fundamentals of academic research methodology while gaining hands-on experience on field work. She also said that the bootcamp was meant to inspire undergraduate students to develop interest for research, and conservation science.
“As the Okavango Delta faces increasing pressures from climate change, expanding human demands, urban development, and ecological shifts, the country urgently requires a skilled and well-mentored generation of scientists capable of conducting rigorous research, informing policy, and contributing to long-term sustainability,” she highlighted.
She said that throughout the seven days of the bootcamp, students participated in hands-on field training modules covering hydrology and water quality monitoring, aquatic invertebrate assessments, fish taxonomy and environmental DNA (eDNA), bird ecology, invasive plant management (Salvinia Molesta), drone usage, GPS tracking, and biodiversity surveys.
Dr Ramatlapeng highlighted that these modules combined theoretical background, fieldwork and laboratory sessions, enabling students to develop a holistic understanding of hydrological and ecological research–from data collection and analysis to scientific ethics, teamwork, and problem-solving under field conditions. She stated that a key component of the program was the integration of indigenous ecological knowledge and community perspectives into conservation science.
“Local mokoro polers, including the knowledgeable National Geographic Explorer, Water Setlabosha, guided students through the Boro and Santantadibe channels while sharing oral history, ecological insights, and cultural connections to water, wildlife, and seasonal flow cycles. This enriched learning experience demonstrated the value of blending scientific research with place-based knowledge systems that have sustained Delta communities for generations,” Ramatlapeng said.
Professor Maxwell Barson from UB who was a key facilitator of the bootcamp remarked “The opportunity to interact with the Okavango community legends (Mr. GB and Mr Water), needs special mention as it opened our eyes to the depths and wealth of indigenous knowledge that your organisation is purposely capturing to fortify our scientific knowledge about the Delta. The stories they shared with the youngsters are beyond what any book could teach them.”
Ramatlapeng further highlighted that beyond technical skills, the bootcamp’s Conservation Science Career Session played a critical role in shaping students’ academic and career pathways, confidence, and long-term commitment to environmental research. She said that students interacted closely with professionals, and each of them provided academic guidance, professional insights and real-world perspectives on the opportunities and challenges within Botswana’s conservation sector.
“Students also participated in a tour of the Okavango Research Institute facility, where they were introduced to ORI’s different research units. This tour expanded their understanding of ongoing scientific work in the Delta and highlighted potential internships and research opportunities within ORI’s research departments,” she said.
Dr Ramatlapeng noted that by the end of the bootcamp, students had gained not only practical research skills but also a deeper understanding of the connections between ecosystems, people, and policy. She added that the students left with a renewed sense of purpose, clearer academic and professional ambitions, and a stronger sense of identity as emerging conservation scientists.
Dr Ramatlapeng indicated that many of the participating students expressed enthusiasm for pursuing advanced studies or contributing to ongoing research projects in the Okavango Delta.
