Field Crew Interview - Cindy Wu
Each week we have featured interviews with past and/or future Expedition Crew Members, and if you've been keeping up, you know that each and every one of them has their own fascinating story. This wasn't a coincidence - our past participants have always been interesting, smart people that we truly enjoy being around and learning from. As you will read in our interview today, that's not just my opinion. That also has been the experience of our interviewee, Cindy Wu. What Cindy is too humble to say (or probably realize) is that out of the hundreds of wonderful people we've had join us over the years, I can say that none are more interesting than Cindy. I launched my first campaign on Experiment in 2015. Shortly after that, I randomly found a YouTube video of Cindy Wu, Founder of Experiment, saying when she was young she wanted to be a paleontologist. So on a whim, I emailed her and invited her to come out. Within minutes, seemingly, she enthusiastically replied "Yes!" and was recruiting friends.
I know now that this was one of the seminal moments of my life. This moment set me on the path to where I, and the Bighorn Basin Paleontological Institute, are today, and more importantly, where are going. Their journey from research scientists to entrepreneurs, and their leap of faith in co-founding Experiment, and the vision and work ethic it takes to do what they have done, has been so incredibly inspiring to me. I can honestly say that the BBPI likely would not exist without that chance meeting.
Cindy and Denny have both been part of our expeditions twice, and we're hoping to have them return soon. Without further ado, here's our interview with Cindy.
Where did you grow up? What was your childhood like and what did you want to be when you grew up? I grew up in Seattle, Washington. During the day I spent most of my time biking around the neighborhood exploring the “forests”. On rainy days I spent most of my time playing video games like Pokemon, Super Smash Bros., and Mario and online games like Neopets.
Early on in my childhood I wanted to be a paleontologist. Later my dreams shifted to becoming a zookeeper. When I learned that I would mostly be cleaning cages, I said I wanted to be a vet. When I learned that I’d be mostly putting dogs to sleep, I really didn’t know what I wanted to do. A small part of me always wanted to be a video game designer, but that didn’t seem very realistic to me. I still haven’t grown up and still don’t know what I want to be.
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You joined the expeditions two seasons. How did those two experiences compare with each other, and how did they compare with your expectations before you arrived?
The first expedition was a big deal because a group of my friends rented a SUV and drove from San Francisco to the Bighorn Basin. This was my first big outdoor camping trip, and I loved being outside. If I could sleep under the stars every night I would. Beyond the expedition I had the opportunity to visit Yellowstone, Jackson Hole, and Glacier National Parks.
The difference between the first time and the second time is the first time I didn’t know what to expect. Everything was new. This is a good thing, but it can also be overwhelming. The first time out I had to figure out where we were, what to wear, what to bring, and how to do all the things. The second time, I did know what to expect so it was easier for me to make my time out in the field more productive.
What was your most memorable experience from the digs? The people are always the most experience memorable for me. During the first dig I met someone who would later become one of my closest friends and roommates when I moved to New York City. During the second dig I also met someone who would become one of my closest friends. He introduced me to caving and we also went on lots of adventures excavating in New Jersey.
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Were there any experiences for lessons from the digs that have carried over into your personal and/or professional life? The reason why I think everyone should go on the dig is because in today’s society we rarely get the opportunity to do repetitive and labor intensive work. There is something therapeutic about repetitive work and it is a feeling you can’t really understand unless you’re in it. In my work at Experiment, a lot of what I do is repetitive. I tell the scientists the same things day in and day out. Going on the dig gave me a new found appreciation for this type of service work.
You once asked Denny (your Experiment co-founder) “When the Bighorn Basin Paleontological Institute succeeds, what will the world look like?” What does that success look like to you? In my opinion Bighorn Basin Paleontological Institute makes the first steps towards joining a paleontological excavation clear. Anyone anywhere in the world can now join for a week expedition or a day expedition. Of course you have to be able to financially afford the trip, but now anyone that truly wants this experience can start saving up. In a world where Bighorn Basin Paleontological Institute succeeds, anyone anywhere in the world will have the opportunity to be actively involved in paleontology.
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What is one piece of advice you would give a new participant?
If you’re on the fence about going this summer think about if you would regret not going. If you’re going to regret not going, go. If you’re already going when you get there introduce yourself to everyone on the first day. By the last day you’ll wish you had gotten to know the crew earlier.
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Anything else you want us to know? I love you guys.
If you are interested in the expedition and many other fascinating people like Cindy on a dinosaur-hunting adventure of a lifetime, please see our experiment campaign: www.Experiment.com/BBPaleo2018.
If you can't make the expedition but still want to help out visit the campaign and find out how even small donations go a long way. And thank you!
If you'd like to hear more about Cindy and Denny's story, check out this video:
Here's another great interview with Cindy:
Perhaps the best one:
1 comments
Perhaps the best one: