As we put our interdisciplinary vision into practice, the NWI aims to train and empower the next generation of global scholars and conservation champions by meaningfully involving students–at William & Mary and multiple Nepali academic institutions–in our research.
In summer 2024, under the supervision of Associate Professor Robert Dongol and Erica Garroutte (Director of Research, Institute for Integrative Conservation), two William & Mary undergraduates (Cecilia Elsisi ’26 and Dylan Mantovani ’26) and two Nepali graduates (Priyanka Kunwar and Sapan Thapa Magar from Nepal Engineering College) visited multiple sites (Bhote Koshi, Sun Koshi, Manthali, and Koshi Tappu) in the Koshi River Basin. They interacted with four communities along the Koshi River who were dependent on the river ecosystem for their livelihood and were affected by the changes in the river ecosystem health due to climate change, hydropower dams or conservation area like the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve. These students took part in conducting surveys and focal group discussions with members of these communities, as well as organizing and analyzing the data obtained.
Photo: NWI partners and students in front of small waterfall in Bhote Koshi River Basin, May 2024.
**Click here to check out the Story Map these students created about their community research in Nepal: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/c6bffeed4a5a47c9b2d2879df49205d9
In summer 2024, under the supervision of Dr. Sara Sayedi, two W&M undergraduate students (Kanyal Devangi and Shreyan Pant) completed fieldwork in Nepal related to mapping changes in surface water bodies over the past few decades. They gathered ground-truth data and conducting visual assessments of water infrastructures, such as barrages, to evaluate their impact on river connectivity. These field observations, combined with high-resolution satellite imagery, will help validate remote sensing models. Other W&M undergraduate students (Zoe Bellin and Jimmy Bach) contributed to spatial analysis, working with global datasets and performing network analysis to study how water infrastructures affect river connectivity (these two students are still working with me) . In addition, Seyda Safdar, another W&M undergraduate student, has helped with visual artwork representing Nepal’s water landscape, further enhancing the communication of complex hydrological dynamics and their interaction with anthropogenic drivers.
Photo: NWI’s Sara Sayedi and students, Nepal, May 2024.
In summer 2023, under the supervision of Dr. Sapana Lohani and Associate Professor Robert Dongol, two William & Mary undergraduates (Jack Hayes ’24 and Joseph Baca ’24), along with two graduate students from Nepal (Srijan Regmi and Roshan Poudel from Nepal Engineering College), visited two sites in the Karnali River Basin (Chisapani and Bardiya) and two sites in the Gandaki River Basin (Chitwan and Lamjung). Communities were chosen such that i) their livelihoods relied directly on the river; or ii) they lived closer to the Chitwan National Park and the Bardiya National Park such that their access to natural resources are limited due to national park regulations; or iii) their livelihoods were influenced by the hydropower dams and diversion canal projects. These students took part in conducting surveys, participatory mapping, and focal group discussions with members of these communities, as well as organizing and analyzing the data obtained.
Photo: NWI’s Sapana Lohani, Robert Dongol, and students on bank of Karnali River, Chisapani, Nepal, May 2023.
In summer 2023, two William & Mary undergraduates, Sarah Wozniak and Kritika Jothishankar, under the supervision of Dr. Nara Sritharan, conducted fieldwork in Kathmandu and surrounding areas as part of the Nepal Water Initiative NWI. Their research focused on hydropower development and its implications for Nepal’s communities and geopolitics. The students conducted interviews with stakeholders, including government officials, activists, journalists, and private sector representatives, focusing on the economic, social, and geopolitical impacts of hydropower dams. Additionally, they visited the Kulekhani reservoir, the largest hydropower dam in Nepal, to understand its local effects. These interactions allowed them to explore diverse perspectives, ranging from concerns about local governance and environmental conservation to international investment dynamics. Photo: NWI’s Nara Sritharan and students, Kathmandu, Nepal, May 2023.
In addition to their primary research, the students collaborated with the Institute for Integrated Development Studies (IIDS) in Kathmandu. As interns, they contributed to reports on industry development, including Nepal’s growing Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector. This experience exposed them to the collaborative and multidisciplinary nature of development research while integrating them into the daily work culture of Nepal. They gained firsthand experience in both qualitative and quantitative methodologies, enriching their understanding of economic policy and hydropower’s role in Nepal’s development.
Their time in Nepal was equally shaped by cultural immersion. Sarah and Kritika stayed with a Nepali host family who introduced them to local customs, cuisine, and traditions. They maximized their weekends exploring Nepal’s natural and cultural landmarks, from trekking in the Annapurna range to experiencing wildlife safaris in Chitwan National Park. This combination of academic and personal experiences deepened their appreciation for Nepal’s complex socio-environmental dyna. At the same time, their direct engagement with communities and policy stakeholders provided invaluable insights into the challenges and opportunities of hydropower development.
**Click on the links below to read the blogs by these students about their research and cultural experiences in Nepal:
Hydropower Diplomacy and Breaking Cultural Boundaries: