The delicate balance between humans and chimpanzees in Uganda's Kasongoire Forest is at risk. As forest land and animal habitats are cleared for commercial sugar cane fields, chimpanzees resort to “crop raiding” in neighboring villages — escalating conflict and increasing the risk of disease transmission.
Julian Bement ’26 helped document this growing threat to both human and chimpanzee health as part of the interdisciplinary course, “One Health: Conservation with Communities.” The class allows students to examine the concept of One Health—the idea that the health of the environment, animals and people are interconnected. For selected students, the course culminates in a summer internship with conservation research institutes.
During the two-month internship, Bement, together with Victoria Priester, Cornell DVM ’26, worked with the Jane Goodall Institute in western Uganda. They gained hands-on experience in data collection, community engagement and wildlife monitoring. The internship was structured into four phases.
The first week, the students spent in Hoima and surrounding towns, focusing on human and gender health while also helping the community by planting trees.