My name is Astarte Brown and I am a fifth year Ecology & Evolutionary Biology Major at UC Santa Cruz. In Spring 2024, I had the opportunity to fulfill my childhood dream of studying abroad at the University of Queensland in Australia through their Marine Biology & Terrestrial Ecology Program. As a 27-year-old transfer/re-entry, Renaissance Scholar, EOP, and high financial need student, I did not think that I would ever have this opportunity but thanks to the Gilman and UCEAP Scholarships, my dream became my reality.
Growing up in a low-income neighborhood in the San Francisco Bay Area, my exposure to nature was limited. My only experiences with the natural world were in the creek behind my house, tucked beneath the train tracks. My friends and I would spend hours playing, exploring, and catching crawdads that swam in the small trickle of water. These simple adventures ignited my love for nature and inspired me to pursue a career dedicated to protecting these environments and creatures. This started my academic journey studying Natural Science at Diablo Valley Community College, where I took courses like Cellular Biology and Ecology & Evolutionary Biology. Here, I first learned about Australia’s unique animals, such as marsupials (animals that raise their young in pouches) and monotremes (egg-laying mammals), and I was fascinated by their distinct forms. I knew I had to go there one day, but it felt like an impossible dream.
In the summer of 2021, I transferred to the University of California Santa Cruz to major in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology. I was thrilled to study at a school renowned for its wildlife programs, and I felt one step closer to my goal of studying abroad in Australia. As a financial aid recipient, I knew that some funding could be used for study abroad, but this program’s costs were high. Fortunately, with the help of the UCSC Global Learning team, I applied for and was awarded the Gilman Scholarship, which helped to cover the remainder of my expenses. The Gilman Scholarship is designed to help underprivileged students with financial need, particularly those who receive the Federal Pell Grant, to study abroad. The scholarship recognizes the importance of studying abroad for the personal and career development of students and that not everyone has the same opportunities to do so. They are working to reduce these barriers and make studying abroad more accessible to high financial need students. Thanks to this scholarship I was able to go to Australia and not only participate in school but also develop my career and personal relationships!
Before leaving for Australia, I created a bucket list of wildlife I hoped to see. Australia is home to a wide array of unique animals, many of which evolved in isolation over 30-40 million years. I especially wanted to see wombats, koalas, platypuses, and echidnas, though I knew spotting them would be a challenge. Luckily, I saw wombats and koalas in the first month of the program during our field trip to Minjerribah and a solo adventure to Tasmania. However, after over two months without spotting a platypus or echidna, I was beginning to lose hope. Finally, on a trip to Carnarvon Gorge in the third-to-last week of the program, my luck changed. With patience and teamwork, I was able to see both animals in the wild in a matter of days! Other wildlife sightings included sea turtles, manta rays, reef sharks, kangaroos, and Tasmanian devils. Seeing these creatures in their native habitat fulfilled a lifelong dream.
An unexpected highlight of my trip was learning about the indigenous peoples who originally inhabited the land we explored. Each of our major field trips included lessons on the aboriginal cultures in the region, including visits to Minjerribah, Carnarvon Gorge, and Moreton Bay. We learned how indigenous communities have used seasons, tides, plants, animals, and natural resources to live harmoniously with the land. In Carnarvon Gorge, we even saw historic rock art created with ochre, a pigment mixed with water, and etched depictions of weapons, ornaments, and sacred objects—evidence of a rich cultural legacy. Through these experiences, I came to see the importance of conservation efforts that honor the original custodians of the land. While Australia has made progress in respecting aboriginal communities, there is still work to be done, and this realization has renewed my commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives at home.
As a biracial African American woman from a low-income background, I am aware of the disparities in the STEM field, where opportunities often lack diversity. I believe that to effectively conserve our natural resources, we need perspectives from all backgrounds, and only by working together can we make meaningful change. Studying in Australia advanced my academic and research goals and solidified my passion for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Moving forward, I aim to create more opportunities for minorities in the conservation field and help break down barriers as I continue my career in marine science. I especially hope to inspire and encourage other high financial need, transfer/re-entry, Renaissance Scholars, and people of color to study abroad as there are tons of resources that make this accessible to them. Through financial aid and scholarships (like the UCEAP and Gilman scholarships), it is possible for more underprivileged students to follow their dreams and go abroad just as I did!