Frances Wang '12/TH '13

Fran was a double major in Biology and Engineering with a minor in English and is currently pursuing a BE at Thayer. Traveling is a critical component of her character and during her time at Dartmouth, she studied abroad extensively, including Costa Rica and Germany. On campus, she works with the Society of Women Engineers, plays club volleyball and is the editor of The Stonefence Review.

During the summer of 2011, Fran spent two months on the steppes of Mongolia working in Hustai National Park. In conjunction with professors and students from the National University of Mongolia, she researched the breeding ecology and development of Amur Falcons (Falco amurensis) through the nesting and fledging season. Her daily fieldwork involved climbing trees to monitor nest conditions, measuring and taking samples from the falcon chicks, as well as conducting behavioural observations of the parent birds. Fran was fortunate enough to get to know the students she worked with, the local rangers and park employees, the diverse and international visitors, and of course, the falcon families. During her free time, Fran explored the park on horseback and by running, and was privileged to interacted almost daily with several harems of Przewalski's horses (Equus ferus przewalskii).

Gurkaran Singh '15

Gurkaran is sophomore from Houston, Texas, currently considering majoring in either engineering or economics. In the Summer of 2012, he had the opportunity of travelling to South Africa to participate in Think Impact's Innovation Institute. This internship emphasized the role of asset-based community development and social entrepreneurship in achieving economic empowerment. Gurkaran lived in the village of Hlalakahle, where he brought together a team of five community members to create a social enterprise. His work included facilitating the brainstorming, prototyping, and implementation of a social business aimed at repurposing trash. This business, named Ahi Basiseni, is structured to use local assets to address the issues of sanitation and unemployment in the village. His work has made him realize the potential of incorporating human centered design principles in development.

Gurkaran has been interested in economic development since high school and a subsequent gap year, when he worked in impoverished areas of Punjab, India. He is returning to the state during the Winter of 2013 to study the rampant drug addiction issues in the state. He is very thankful to the Dickey Center and Class of 1966 for the opportunity this summer to live a simple life and work in a continent he had never been to before.