Scientist Kirstie Jones-Williams, who will be helping
to train and guide the volunteer researchers,
says the goal of the program isn’t to create more
scientists, but moreso global ambassadors on the
dangers of pollution and more.
“The science itself that we’re doing isn’t enough,”
she told The Associated Press in a recent
interview. “Actually, one of the biggest threats to
our sort of natural environment isn’t necessarily
the lack of information that we have ... but it’s
more the disenfranchisement that can occur
with policymakers and apathy and eco-fatigue.
“One of the main things is to get a bunch of
people that can take the messages that we learn
back to their respective countries,” she said.
It’s the second offering in Airbnb’s sabbatical
program, which offers its users a chance to take
time to do more than see the sights but actually
do some good. Earlier this year, Airbnb selected
five people to spend three months in Grottole in
southern Italy to help preserve the way of life in
the town, which is in danger of disappearing.
Airbnb’s Chris Lehane says both sabbaticals
are part of the company’s larger goal of more
eco-friendly travel and to raise awareness of
tourism’s global footprint.
“Airbnb is not going to solve climate change, but
we all have a responsibility to do what we can
and use our capacity to help take steps forward,”
said Lehane, senior vice president of global
policy and communications.
“A lot of travel in the world takes place in and
around big events,” he said. “Can we find ways
when people are going to travel around these big
events, to make them much more sustainable?”