Annika Hipple

The birthplace of the American Revolution, Boston is one of the most historic cities in the United States. It's home to the country's oldest public park, university, public library and many other firsts that have given it a unique place in the nation's cultural and political identity. I grew up in the nearby suburbs, and every time I visit the city, there are new things to discover, different cultural influences and evolving neighborhoods to explore, even as the city’s identity remains firmly and uniquely Bostonian.

Bat Conservation International's India Program Manager, Rohit Chakravarty, shares his work and goals.

Designed to promote long-term protection for bats and ecosystems by building capacity in key geographic regions, the exciting new MENTOR-Bat program, a partnership between Bat Conservation International (BCI) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, brings together established and emerging bat conservationists from Colombia, Cameroon, and Indonesia to engage in virtual and in-person meetings, training opportunities, and workshops related to bat conservation.

A magical meeting place of land and sea, Acadia National Park is the crown jewel of Maine and one of the most scenic coastal spots along the entire eastern seaboard of the United States.

The large flying fox (Pteropus vampyrus) is one of the world’s largest bat species, with a wingspan reaching more than five feet. Unfortunately, it’s also one of the most endangered, having disappeared from much of its historic range at an alarming rate in recent decades. Malaysian conservation ecologist Sheema Abdul Aziz, Ph.D. has been studying the large flying fox on the Malay Peninsula and working to protect it ever since she realized it had become increasingly scarce.

One of the most inspiring wartime volunteer efforts in United States history began with a mix-up. On December 17, 1941—just ten days after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor—the citizens of North Platte, Nebraska, received word that a troop train would be passing through, carrying soldiers from Company D of the Nebraska National Guard. Some 500 people, many of them family members and friends of the new recruits, hurried to the local Union Pacific Railroad station, carrying baskets of food an...

Simply put, Norway is spectacular. Along the west coast, shimmering blue fjords carve deep into the interior, with picture-perfect villages hugging the shores and gravity-defying farms clinging to the steep slopes above. Elsewhere, the coastline is less dramatic but still stunning with white-painted towns and countless islands, while interior Norway has some of Europe’s wildest, most beautiful mountains, interspersed with green agricultural valleys and stretches of deep forest. Almost anywhere you go in Norway you’ll find scenery to take your breath away and abundant activities to inspire you.

Boston’s influence on the history and culture of the United States is undisputed. It was here that the American Revolution began nearly two and a half centuries ago, a legacy the city will celebrate over the next few years, beginning with commemorative events marking the 250th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party later in 2023.

City guide to Stockholm covering sights, outdoor activities, hotels, shopping, dining, and more.

Let’s not beat around the bush: Norway is expensive. However, the historically weak krone has made it a bit less so recently, and even if exchange rates change, there are plenty of ways to stretch your budget without missing out on the fantastic experiences the country has to offer. All it takes is a bit of strategic planning and adaptability.

In early 2019, researchers from Bat Conservation International (BCI), together with colleagues from Rwanda, Kenya, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, realized a scientific dream: the rediscovery of the Critically Endangered Hill’s horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus hilli), a species found in only one place, Nyungwe National Park in Rwanda. Since then, ongoing species monitoring has yielded important information about this rare and fascinating bat.

Smaller and more densely populated than the other Scandinavian countries, Denmark forms something of a bridge both geographically and culturally between the far north and the main part of the European continent. With the North Sea to its west and the Baltic to its east, Denmark is also something of a crossroads between Western and Eastern Europe.

Every November, as temperatures drop and the aurora borealis dances overhead, a new Icehotel takes shape in Jukkasjärvi, Sweden, 200km (125 miles) north of the Arctic Circle in Swedish Lapland. Then, as temperatures rise in the spring, the Icehotel melts back into Torne River, from which its ice was harvested. While it lasts, the Icehotel is much more than just a place to stay. It’s a stunning wintry art gallery of themed spaces carved in ice by artists from around the world. Each art suite is unique and lasts only as long as that year’s winter season.

Last September, while attending the Latin American and Caribbean Bat Congress (COLAM), Dr. Melquisedec Gamba-Rios, Endangered Species Research Fellow at Bat Conservation International (BCI), had something of an epiphany after listening to two presentations. One was about an innovative strategy called habitat banking, in which landowners designate land and the other was about the rediscovery of the Endangered Antioquian sac-winged bat, a species previously thought to be extinct. Dr. Gamba-Rios saw a perfect combination: a conservation challenge and a promising potential solution.

Thanks to mainstream successes of stories like CODA, best picture winner at the 2021 Academy Awards, many people in the hearing world are getting a more robust introduction to the Deaf community. And thanks to the first undergraduate Deaf studies course at UMass, the university community is taking a closer look at the vibrancy of Deaf culture.