Where in the world is department head Dee Denver? Nepal

By Molly Rosbach on Nov. 12, 2024
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A red and gold Nepalese temple situated among misty green mountains.

Dee Denver is a professor and head of the Department of Integrative Biology in the College of Science, where his lab investigates biodiversity and genetics through integrated scientific and philosophical approaches. He led a study abroad program in Nepal in September.

Where were you working?

I was in Nepal in September. We spent time in Kathmandu, in Chitwan National Park in the lowlands, and also the Gaurishankar Conservation Area in the Himalayas.

What languages are spoken there?

Nepali is the main language of Nepal, though there are more than 100 languages spoken by different communities around the country.

What was the focus of your work?

I was multi-tasking. I led an OSU study abroad group for a program called “Intersections of Biodiversity and Buddhist Cultures in Nepal,” and also did some research. Brenna Prevelige, a Ph.D. student who helped me lead the program, was doing research on how Buddhist communities in Nepal use mushrooms for different medicinal and cultural uses. We also brought an exciting new DNA sequencing technology, Oxford Nanopore, along with us and were able to do a little bit of snow leopard DNA sequencing while we were there.

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Group of study abroad students smile while standing on a grassy hill in Nepal.

Dee Denver and study abroad students pose for a photo in Nepal.

How much time have you spent there?

The study abroad program was three weeks long, and this was my second time to Nepal. I have also traveled to other places like India, Sri Lanka and China to do research on the intersections of Buddhist and scientific thinking.

What’s the best food you’ve eaten there? 

Dal bhat! This is an amazing lentils and rice dish that one encounters all over Nepal. It's also gluten-free, which is super important for me since I have celiac disease. I ate dal bhat every single day for three weeks (often multiple meals per day) while we were in Nepal.

What’s the most non-touristy thing you did? 

We visited amazing and breathtaking Buddhist monasteries in the Himalayas and had conversations with monks about how they think about and value biodiversity and nature.

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Two small rhinoceroses graze in a grassy park in Nepal.

Dee spotted two rhinoceroses hanging out in a park in Nepal. 

What’s an important phrase you’ve learned to say in the local language? 

The most important word for me was “dhanyabād,” which means thank you. There were so many wonderful, welcoming, and wise Nepali people who supported me, Brenna and the OSU students in so many ways. My heart is just full of so much gratitude for all of the support.

What’s one thing you’ll take home? 

One big “take home” that I try my best to live by here in Oregon is the flexibility and patience that is essential to happy and successful travel and time in Nepal. Conditions and circumstances are always changing in life, so it's important to have an open and flexible mindset to navigate all the unexpected twists in the road with ease.

Who are your closest local colleagues? 

I work very closely with the National Trust for Nature Conservation in Nepal. My closest collaborator with that group is Dr. Madhu Chetri, one of the world's leading snow leopard scientists.

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Professor Dee Denver smiles under prayer flags with misty mountains in the distance.

Professor Dee Denver in Nepal.

What’s the biggest challenge of working there?

The weather can pose significant challenges, especially when we were there at the tail end of monsoon season. Heavy rains and landslides can cause catastrophic challenges and require one to change plans on the go. Right after our group left, Nepal experienced massive flooding and landslides that caused enormous damage — it made the international news in outlets such as the BBC and New York Times.

Besides family, what did you most miss from home? 

I missed my canine companions, Barley and Rey, but that's kind of cheating since I consider them family. I also missed having time to relax and chill — we were constantly on the go and figuring out logistics throughout our three weeks in Nepal. But it was worth it.

What piece of advice would you give others who might travel there?

Go to the Boudha Stupa in Kathmandu. This is an amazing sacred location for Buddhists that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can walk around the stupa to calm your mind and body alongside monks, nuns, local community members and other international visitors to this place of Buddhist pilgrimage.