OPINION: Scientific internship in Ghana provides more than dragonfly knowledge
By Cynthia Torres
Assistant Editor
Published Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026
In June of 2026, I spent a whole month in Ghana, a developing country in West Africa, collecting dragonfly specimens for research. The experiences I received from this internship provided me a whole new perspective on how the world operates. As lucky as I was to even step foot on another continent, many do not have the same opportunities I do.
The poverty and sadness I witnessed in northern Ghana made me realize I was heavily privileged. I went to a small village near Tamale and met an 8-year-old girl named Patience. She spoke about her aspirations to leave her small village and study math in boarding school. She really stuck out to me because she was very smart for a little girl and spoke perfect English. Most of the children in this village did not have shoes, and some of their clothes didn’t fit or had holes in them.
Bridge Assistant Editor
While we were doing nonstop field work throughout the country, many Ghanaians would stop and ask us what we were here for. It is important to note that these individuals have never been outside of the country, and it is very uncommon to see people with a lighter complexion. Many locals would also ask to help catch dragonflies with our nets, and the little kids would impressively catch dragonflies without them. They would ask to take pictures with me, making me feel very honored to do so.
At some point, the other American interns and I ended up really ill, experiencing diarrhea and vomiting symptoms most likely due to the heat, exhaustion, food and water that our bodies weren’t accustomed to.
One particular experience that really made me reflect occurred when we stopped at a small farm to continue collecting specimens and the landowner confronted us, yelling that we were “colonizers” and demanded we pay him or leave. We left, but his reaction really changed my perspective on science and ethics. I had only considered the scientific value of collecting specimens. I never considered the local community’s view on foreigners coming to their land and taking their animals for research. This experience made me question whether it is ethical to enter another country and take specimens without considering the residents’ rights and concerns.
Looking back, my month in Ghana taught me more than just about dragonflies, I learned about my privilege and their beautiful culture. With the people I met and the relationships I gained, my perspective on science and the world changed.
