Field Work Term Spotlight: Tisa Shrestha
Tisa Shrestha '26 studies Architecture at Bennington and supplements her Plan with coursework in Mathematics and Environmental Studies. During the 2024 Field Work Term, Shrestha worked at Local Initiatives for Biodiversity (LI-BIRD), a Nepal-based NGO that supports the sustainable management of natural resources in support of smallholder farmers.
How did your FWT relate to (or diverge from!) your studies at Bennington?
At LI-BIRD, I worked as a research intern in their Multihazard Anticipatory Action project, which aims to develop an effective anticipatory landslide/flood risk management plan by establishing early warning systems (EWS), providing agricultural advisory services, and implementing an information dissemination plan for the Goche watershed in Gurbhakot Municipality, Surkhet (a district in western Nepal).
This was a research-intensive position, where I worked a desk job contributing to the project's detailed implementation plan (DIP) and environmental and social safeguarding policy (ESSP), and I also went to site visits to hazard map and navigate the project’s potential threats to the community. This internship initiated my interest towards environmental studies and climate change-related issues. After this experience, I had a concrete will to study environmental studies, along with architecture.
What did a typical day at your FWT site look like?
On office days, I worked from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. I’d catch up with my supervisor in the morning, work on the detailed implementation plan until lunch, and then the afternoon often involved meetings with other collaborators or partner organizations like WHH (Welthungerhilfe) and People in Need-Nepal (PIN). Then, I’d do research and planning for next steps on the project.
On site visit days, there were no set time or hours—we were there almost all day. We would meet the administrative authority to plan to further the project. Then we’d check the site out and talk to people in their communities.
What surprised or challenged you the most about your position?
As an architecture student, I’m used to constantly drawing, modeling, and verbalizing my work. In the beginning, the internship felt out of place for me. However, later I realized that I was still engaging in design and planning, albeit through research, advocacy, and writing, which I did find rewarding.
This internship sparked my curiosity about the intersection of architecture and disaster mitigation. It informed and supplemented my studies at Bennington, along with helping me narrow down the vastness of the work I am doing here.
What do you hope to do for your next FWT?
I am planning to work with the Al Held Foundation as a Museum Intern for the summer. It is a remote position where I will most be helping them with cataloging and curating. I am super excited for it!