The UBS Team

UBS sponsored six fellowships on this trip. Three went to folks in Chicago: me, Keith, and Asha. Keith works in the IB, and Asha's a middle school teacher in the Chicago Public Schools.

We were joined by San Franciscans Steve, Bing, and Dave. Steve sells Asian equities in the IB, Bing evaluates properties for a REIT, and Dave teaches math at a Bay area magnet high school.

This was a fine group. Keith asked insightful questions, and Steve spurred us on to new athletic feats. Bing knew her birdcalls, Dave was a master of original limericks, and Asha could rock a handheld GPS. None of us were birding experts, but all of loved the outdoors. This group was up for anything. This group was willing.

The presence of the corporate fellows had a pretty profound effect on the dynamics of the overall team, according to one of the veteran Earthwatchers. David, a retired academic from Ann Arbor, MI, told me:

"You take people who work in corporations, they're younger, they have a different perspective, especially when we get talking about how to solve some of these [environmental] problems. This is about my 19th trip, and I like having them; I really notice the difference. Suddenly it's not all scientists talking with each other anymore."

At the same time, I know that the corporate fellows appreciated the experience of the other volunteers. Most worked in the sciences, many knew a lot about the biodiversity of the area. Without them, we would not have learned nearly as much.

Asha and a birdie:

Keith and Steve in the field:

Bing:

Dave:

The whole group: