Lok Mani Sapkota - Grads Out There

Lok Mani Sapkota photo

This summer, we are highlighting students from all degree focuses and research fields who are “Out There” continuing their research. Our first profile takes us to Cambodia with Lok Mani Sapkota (he/him), a forest ecosystems and society major at Oregon State University.

Lok is currently conducting research for a project titled “DISES: Modeling interactions between community forest dynamics and local livelihoods amidst institutional changes.” Funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), Lok’s involvement with the project has granted him resources, data logs and needed support from local organizations, notably the Regional Community Forestry Training Center for Asia and the Pacific (RECOFTC).

The research will take Lok across Cambodia, visiting 20 community forest sites in four different provinces. “There are always new things to learn from every village. It feels like when you move from one village to another, there is something waiting to amaze you.”

Not only are the forests themselves being researched, but there is special attention being given to the villages and local populations that reside in these provinces. “We are making adaptations in best of our ability to ensure our research captures current context while informed by history.” Lok has enjoyed the collaboration with undergraduate students from the Royal University of Agriculture as well as getting to meet and talk with people who live in the local villages. “So, apart from getting their important help in data collection, I am learning a lot from them about Cambodia, youths, and their academic programs and so on.”