July 2023
Site work begins at the research centre
The first phase of construction on site has commenced. Contractor Indar Ramlall and his team have marked out the site as well as initiated logistics for housing 20 workers at Sophia Point over the next six months. Materials for construction will arrive over the coming weeks via the river. This is a complicated process given our remote location.
Local labour meeting held
As part of the preparations, we hosted an open meeting at the neighbouring River’s View community for local people interested in working on the building project. This was an opportunity to explain the project and sign up those with previous experience. Centre Director, Sam Airey, hopes this will generate income for up to 15 local people as they get involved in building the Sophia Point Research Centre.
Water scientist returns to Sophia Point
During this rainy season we welcomed back PhD student Beth Cowling. This was her third visit to Sophia Point as part of her study of dissolved carbon flows in the Essequibo river. Her work is in collaboration with the Iwokrama International Research Centre and Guyana’s Hydromet Service and we are delighted to continue to support her important research.
Trails enhanced at Sophia Point
Following the trail has never been easier at Sophia Point thanks to our newly installed trail markers and bamboo bridges. Based on guidance from Paul Foster at Bijagual Ecological Reserve in Costa Rica, the Sophia Point team have established a distance and trail name marker system. This will ensure visitors can’t get lost and also provide an aide to mark identification of species or sample sites. Particular thanks to Desmond Braithewaite and Ronald Boyan for their work setting out and clearing the paths. To date the first two trails (named ‘Sophia Point Boundary’ and ‘Jaguar Pass’) have been marked with the new signs and a third route, ‘Warrakabra Way’, is to be completed.
We’re looking for our next Centre Director
How would you like to lead the next phase of Sophia Point's mission and call this idyllic spot on the Essequibo River home? We are on the search for the right candidate to take on the work of our founding Centre Director, Sam Airey. Sam has been with the project since the start and after 4 years of working to make an idea reality, he is excited to hand over the baton and will continue to work closely with the team.
The new Director will commence in February/March 2024. The role is an exciting opportunity to be at the heart of a conservation and environmental education organisation with a bold mission. If you have experience in field science and a passion for tropical conservation and education then find more information on the role and how to apply here.
Thank you to our funders!
The work of Sophia Point is made possible by contributions from our supporters. We are delighted when these become ongoing relationships and are hugely grateful to Julie Fitzgerald and Stephen Fitzgerald AO for their repeated support of Sophia Point. This funding will help ensure the delivery of the new centre and will, in part, fund the renovation of solar power at the site.
If you would like to join Julie and Stephen in supporting Sophia Point you can do by clicking here.
