Staff, Students & Associates

Conservation Biology Masters Students (2011/12)

Daniel Wright

Email: dan.wright@uct.ac.za

Dan was born and raised in rural eastern North Carolina and developed his love for the natural world at a young age. This love was put on hold, however, for what he perceived to be a more practical career in corporate finance. After receiving a degree in International Business from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, Dan worked for several years as a data analyst for Capital One, a large financial corporation. It wasn’t long before he realized that this career would not satisfy his need to be outdoors and in touch with nature. After some introspection, he decided that conservation was the best way to combine a love for the wild and a desire to have a positive impact on society. Dan has spent the last three years working for Conservation International in Washington D.C. learning the universe of possibilities for a career in conservation. After several conversations with colleagues and practitioners, Dan decided to come to UCT where he hopes to build on his field experience and better align his academic background with his career ambitions. Outside of class, Dan enjoys music, hiking, diving, a good drink and warm company.

Mini-thesis

Genetic Diversity and Connectivity in South Africa's MPA Network (Supervisors: Dr Jacqui Bishop and Dr Sophie von der Heyden).