Mangroves and Milestones

I never expected that a summer internship would take me all the way to Goa, speaking at a national conference. But that’s exactly what happened—and it all started with a quiet fascination for mangroves.

Last year, I had the incredible opportunity to intern with the Goa Marine Biodiversity Board, thanks to my mentor who works closely with them. It was my first experience working in the environmental field, and it opened my eyes to a world I had only read about.

During the internship, I worked on several exciting research projects—from exploring sound-absorbing plants that could be used along highways to reduce noise pollution, to studying how electricity could be generated through plants using microbial fuel cells. Each day brought something new. But what stood out the most wasn’t just the science—it was the people. Everyone I met was deeply passionate about protecting nature, and their energy was contagious.

Inspired by what I was learning, I wrote an article about mangroves during my internship—digging into how these unique ecosystems protect coastlines, absorb carbon, and support local livelihoods.

After the internship, my mentor encouraged me to submit my article as a poster presentation for the National Conference on Mangroves for Climate Change Mitigation & Sustainability of the Coastal Populace, Goa, 2024. I hesitated—nervous at the idea of standing alongside graduate students, scientists, and field experts. But with her encouragement, I applied. When I was accepted, I was shocked—and more than a little overwhelmed.

I spent weeks preparing. Designing the poster, reviewing my research, and practising my presentation over and over. I rehearsed in front of anyone who would listen. On the day of the conference, my nerves were at an all-time high. I was the only high school student presenting—everyone else was far more experienced. But once I started speaking, I focused on what had brought me there: my genuine love for the subject.

I spoke about my early fascination with mangroves—how I first saw them in Sri Lanka, their tangled roots winding through the water as we ventured through them by boat. They looked otherworldly, yet felt grounding—resilient, essential, and quietly powerful. That first encounter had sparked something in me, and now I was sharing that spark with a room full of experts.

To my surprise, many of them responded warmly. Several came up afterwards to say they were impressed by my curiosity and dedication. That meant the world to me—not because I stood out, but because I belonged. It reminded me that passion doesn’t have an age limit, and that sometimes, fresh perspectives matter.

At the end of the conference, I was incredibly honoured to receive a Certificate of Appreciation for my poster presentation. It’s something I’ll always treasure—not for the recognition, but for what it symbolised: that I had something meaningful to contribute.

That journey—from interning and writing my first article, to presenting at a national conference—taught me more than any textbook ever could. I developed skills in observation, communication, and most of all, confidence. I learned that even if you’re nervous (and I really was), your voice is worth hearing when you speak from the heart.

And it all started in the quiet stillness of a mangrove forest.

(P.S. I’ve attached my article below—feel free to give it a read if you’re curious about mangroves and the vital role they play in our world. I hope it inspires you to look at these coastal forests a little differently.)

File: The Vital Role of Mangroves: Nature’s Coastal Guardians