My name is Sejal Rathi, and I am a rising sophomore from San Jose, California. I am
pursuing a major in Computer Science and Engineering (6-3). I was an intern at Conservation X
Labs this past summer. Conservation X Labs is focused on applying technology,
entrepreneurship, and open innovation to source, develop, and scale critical solutions to the
underlying drivers of extinction. There, I was a part of the Sentinel team, a product that used AI
to monitor for invasive species, poaching and wildlife tracking, zoonotic diseases, and changing
animal behavior.
The Sentinel provides real-time information through satellite and cellular networks,
giving conservationists the ability to rapidly respond to wildlife-related threats
through smart, data-driven decisions. Getting to work on the Sentinel was an incredible
experience, and gave me in-depth insight into how the spheres of technology and environmental
issues can be merged together to create something truly impactful. Although I’ve gotten the
opportunity to work on various projects in the past, this experience showed me the power of
collaboration and innovation in creating a tangible change in a field that is growing
more important every day. The internship gave me the chance to grow both
professionally and personally, as I was able to learn how to effectively contribute to a
team while also getting to explore creative approaches to building working machine
learning models.
As I reflect on my internship experience, I am determined to integrate social impact
into my future career. Seeing firsthand how impactful projects like the Sentinel are
have made me committed to leveraging my skills and resources to drive positive
change. I am hopeful that in the future, I will be able to continue making a meaningful
difference through technology.