By Grace Johnston – Contributor

It’s hard to overlook the ‘E’ (Excellence) in B.E.S.T. and it’s natural to be a little daunted by this sizable fund. However, projects don’t need to achieve peace on earth and recipients will quickly debunk this concept knowing it to “fund students’ dreams” (Blumer). B.E.S.T. focuses on personal passion, academic interest and career development, a notion Anaelle Bohbot (Gator) is striving to make known. The five weeks she spent learning Spanish, studying algae and exploring Almeria, Spain, were socially, culturally and personally transformative, the exact intention of the fund. 

Originally from Montreal, Gator studied for a Visual Arts degree at Concordia. She was pulled to Coaticook for landscaping and fell for the Eastern Townships. Gardening allowed her to slow down and become immersed in her natural environment. It felt instinctive to explore this side of herself but she needed more stimulation and applied to Bishops in the pursuit of sustainable agriculture. Once in her Bachelor’s she quickly switched her major from Ecology to Biodiversity, diving headfirst into the sciences. She became fascinated with algae, a growing focus in the field for its carbon-capturing potential. This curiosity led to her latest research project in Almeria, Spain focusing on algae’s potential as a sustainable treatment for wastewater. 

In Spain, she spent her first week in Seville, realizing her lifelong dream of learning Spanish, her mother’s native language. This primed her for the latter portion in Almeria, working with the Andalusian Institute for Research and Training in Agriculture (IFAPA) on data analysis and collection. The project focused on realizing the potential of microalgae in wastewater treatments, which use 80 per cent less energy than traditional methods. She maintained two algae-growth ponds, collected daily samples and in Spanish fashion was typically finished by noon. 

This draw to Spain was not only of academic interest but great personal and cultural significance to her. Gator descends from a Jewish community that was exiled from Spain to Morocco in the 15th century. Both her parents are Jewish-Morrocan, though her mother was raised in Spain. Gator has both Spanish citizenship through her mother and a tumultuous ancestral history in Spain. Therefore, these five weeks in Andalusia were as much an exploration of her family history as they were an academic venture. Experiencing the research facility, exploring her ancestry, immersing herself in Spanish culture and learning her mother’s language both disillusioned and re-inspired her life plan. Now in her final year at Bishop’s, she is creating a student handbook so that more B.E.S.T. applicants may share in these opportunities. 

After convocation, Gator has her heart set on one thing only … returning to Spain. Even a run-in with bedbugs did not dissuade her. She is interested in continuing lab work and is gravitating towards medical research, but is most focused on bringing this work to Spain. The vibrant culture, emphasis on social engagement and innate familial connection challenged her to rethink what she valued in a community and career. She is most inspired to learn Spanish and embrace a culture that’s been waiting for her.