08/17/2022
Fords in the ‘Force 👔🧳: Charlie Mamlin
With the summer wrapping up, it’s time to recognize all the hard work our players have put in this summer. First up, Senior Charlie Mamlin, who took us across the globe to Africa 🦓
What’s up everyone, this is Charlie Mamlin (’23), and I’m a senior captain on the Haverford men’s basketball team. This summer, I spent 6 weeks working in Laikipia County, Kenya at Mpala Research Center as a student researcher!
Mpala is located at the heart of the Ewaso ecosystem, which is one of the most biodiverse environments in the country. Measuring at nearly 50,000 acres, Mpala operates as a "living laboratory" which uniquely allows researchers to conduct landscape level experiments in the topics of savanna ecology and wildlife conservation. During my 6 weeks, I worked on multiple projects at the center that dealt with topics such as the evolution of animal societies and the photosynthetic efficiency/carbon storage of different acacia species. The best part about working in Kenya though, was building relationships with the other people at the research center. While at Mpala, I became friends with researchers from Kenya, Switzerland, South Africa, Tanzania, Japan, England, Luxembourg, Denmark, the US and more. Being able to learn from incredible mentors and collaborate with students and scientists from all over the world was an invaluable experience.
When I wasn’t working, I spent most of my time going out with my friends to see some incredible wildlife (some of my pictures featured above). For more pictures and details about my summer, you can check out the blog I kept at cbmtravels.blogspot.com.
After an incredible summer abroad, I can’t wait to get back in the gym with all of my teammates and coaches this fall! Roll Fords!
—