Coral Reef Restoration on Hawaiʻi’s Big Island
Meet anthology major, English minor Noelani Mitchell.
Hometown: Waimea, Hawai‘i
Thesis adviser: Professor Tarık Nejat Dinç [anthropology]
Thesis: “Coral as Kin: Polyps and People within Global and Local Seas”
What it’s about: I’m looking at the intersection of scientific practice and indigenous practice and knowledge, specifically focusing on Native Hawai‘ian groups that are working in coral reef restoration. I did my research back home on the Big Island of Hawai‘i, looking at the ways that they structure their restoration programs in communication with Native Hawai‘ian practice. I’m also looking at what corals mean to global conservation—how they’ve taken on that very iconographic figurehead position in building a worldwide understanding of oceans.
What it’s really about: Multispecies interactions between coral conservationists in Hawai‘i.
Influential professor: Sarah Wagner-McCoy [English]—she’s been such a creative force in my time at Reed. I’ve taken a lot of her Environmental Humanities classes. Her Moby Dick class is the most fun I’ve ever had. I never thought I would get so into Moby Dick. I even needle felted a sperm whale heart and brought it to class.
Outside the classroom: I’m a Paradox manager. I’ve been working with them since junior year, and that’s been an awesome way to learn more about what it’s like to design and put into action a student space. It’s been really awesome to get the Paradox in action again, to work as students to make a business run.
How Reed changed me: I’ve definitely come into myself more. I’ve met such amazing people and built a really strong core community of friends.
Financial aid: I received substantial financial aid from Reed, and their financial aid offer was my best offer. I’ve had so many valuable learning experiences, and I didn’t imagine that kind of education was possible for me, for my family.
What’s next: Hoping to stick around Portland a bit to work in environmental education. Eventually I would love to either go back to the ocean or go back to Hawai‘i and pursue marine conservation.
Tags: Academics, Students, Thesis, What is a Reedie?