Samridhi Shrestha,Ph.D

Almost 19 years of teaching experience, including 6½ years as a teaching assistant, have shaped my passion for education and conservation. Before entering teaching, I worked as a Conservation Education Officer, where I developed and conducted conservation programs in schools. I also worked as a radio host, presenting conservation-focused programs and engaging the community through environmental education. Early in my career, I realized that working in the field of conservation and working with students were not just jobs for me—they were my passions. Over the years, I have found that combining education and conservation allows me to inspire students to understand, appreciate, and care for the natural world.

The best career advice I have ever received came from my father, who encouraged me to “give back what you have learned.” He taught me that if you can educate one family member in a household, you are, in many ways, educating the entire family. This advice has strongly influenced my approach to conservation education. In developing countries, discussing conservation with communities can be challenging, particularly when people face socioeconomic and other demographic factors that make conservation seem less important than their immediate needs. However, I believe that changing even one person’s perspective can create a ripple effect and make a meaningful difference within an entire community.

My advice would be to take one day at a time. Changing people’s attitudes and behaviors toward the environment does not happen overnight; it takes patience, consistency, and continued effort. As educators, we should provide students with opportunities to discuss current environmental issues and encourage them to understand the global challenges facing our planet. Most importantly, we should focus on developing critical-thinking skills rather than simply providing students with information. When students are encouraged to ask questions, consider different perspectives, and think critically about environmental problems, they become better equipped to make informed decisions and become responsible stewards of the environment.

There are more opportunities than challenges in teaching. As faculty members, we have the privilege and responsibility of shaping young people who are preparing to enter the field of conservation. Teaching provides an opportunity to inspire the next generation of conservation professionals, help them develop critical-thinking skills, and equip them with the knowledge and passion needed to address environmental challenges. Seeing students grow, develop their own perspectives, and become future leaders in conservation is one of the most rewarding aspects of being an educator.

The most important value for me is to be true to myself and who I am. I love teaching and interacting with students. As an online faculty member teaching environmental science, I have realized that my ability to promptly respond to their concerns and give feedback about an assignment or a certain topic is very much appreciated by the students. These have been my biggest strengths. Besides that committed to building and supporting young researchers in the field of conservation, I established a scholarship program in Nepal, Prem Conservation Research Grant in the memory of my late father. The research grant focuses on encouraging young scientists who have potential to become leaders in their discipline and provide solutions to environmental problems. Every year, two master’s students will receive the scholarship to complete their research work.

I also have established another scholarship, Prem Shobha, to support underprivileged students from rural parts of Nepal from sixth grade to high school. Last year, nine students benefited from this scholarship and were able to continue their studies. Earlier during the pandemic last year, I was able to sew more than 115 masks and donate them to Banner Desert Medical Center for health care workers. Every year I crochet beanies and donate to hospitals. Last year 100 beanies were donated to Phoenix children hospital.