Conservation X Lab’s mission is to end the sixth mass extinction that will be induced by humans. They apply technology and open innovation to develop solutions to the underlying reasons of human-induced extinction. As we ponder how we can help solving the latter problem, one such solution is to monitor wildlife and ensure necessary actions are taken when a problem arises. During my time at Conservation X Labs, I was working on a project called the Sentinel, which is a smart camera trap. This no-code camera trap is used to capture endangered wildlife and recognize their characteristics using the latest technology: machine learning. The Sentinel is one such device that will be used to solve the problem of animal extinction on our planet. The Sentinel is a solution for enthusiastic environmentalists to recognize different kinds of species, estimate their behavior based on pose and enable poaching alerts. This device can also be deployed in the field to detect wildlife. My work focused on developing state of the art machine learning models on the backend to enable animal detection.

My learnings from my teachings at Columbia University were directly applicable to my work at Conservation X Labs. With my passion for deep learning with electrical engineering major, I was able to understand the needs of the project in a more intuitive way. Courses like Big Data Analytics helped me understand Google Cloud Platform more easily and thus I could apply my knowledge in this project. Having learned about the latest technology in TensorFlow and PyTorch in my course Applied Deep Learning, it helped me understand what features could be applied to create the machine learning models for the Sentinel system. Additionally, I learned how to make more robust models in my Robustness and Security for Machine Learning Systems class. To top it off, my involvement in classes and skills I learned being in the student council helped me interact in a more productive way with my supervisors and easily communicate with them.

One of the major challenges I faced during my internship was that it was virtual in nature. Due to the pandemic, there were a couple of logistical challenges, but my supervisors did everything to make my work more comfortable. We held meetings every day and held coding sessions that helped everyone tackle their problems. For future fellows who want to intern or work here, I highly recommend it.

This invaluable experience taught me more than what I was expecting. I learned not only coding skils but also many professional development and leadership skills. With the help of my supervisors, I could tackle problems that I did not know how to do before. The unique challenges that the nonprofit world presents cannot be found in the corporate sector, and those challenges can expand not only your academic knowledge but also your skillset. Most importantly, the passion by which everyone at Conservation X Labs works was inspiring and eye opening. This rewarding experience helped me realize that in whichever domain one chooses to be in, they can help save the world little by little. As I envision my future, I want to create better solutions for the environmental crisis. These solutions are important because they are necessary. Being inspired by Conservation X Labs, I have decided to dedicate more of my time to environmental and social causes.

Dream bigger things.