Stephanie Hill will set off today on a conservationist's adventure.

She will be participating in two expeditions in Greece and Hungary with the organisation Earthwatch.

Earthwatch is an international, non-profit, non-political organisation which is behind expeditions in more than 130 different locations worldwide.

Their philosophy claims that by matching citizens and scientists global awareness will be raised and the earth will be better cared for.

Their projects cover a vast number of conservational efforts such as rain forest replantation, archeological research and the monitoring of endangered species.

"I've always been interested in the planet and preserving it for future generations,'' Ms Hill said.

She has previously worked with Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, and helped organise the Earth Day celebrations two years ago. But her Earthwatch experience will be a first.

She learned about its programmes on the Internet and has been planning her journey for six weeks.

The first two-week programme she will take part in a genetic and behavioural study of agrimi goat populations in Crete.

Participants work with scientists to record agrimi behaviour, find agrimi skeletal remains and capture the goats to record statistics before releasing them.

Presently, the agrimi are losing their genetic identity as the species suffers the consequences of inbreeding.

Such ramifications will mean that the goats will be less capable of dealing with diseases, changes in climate and other threats to survival.

The data that is gathered on the expedition will be used to determine just how genetically pure different populations are.

This information is then given to the Greek government to prioritise conservation efforts for the goats that are the island's national symbol.

Without running water or bathrooms, participants are warned that their living conditions will be as rough as the terrain that they will be surrounded by.

After her first expedition, Ms Hill will travel through Italy for ten days before beginning her second Earthwatch excursion in Hungary.

There she will be monitoring migrating birds at a massive wetland banding station.

Volunteers capture and band the birds and record their weight, sex and measurements.

"It's going to be fascinating especially as we have a lot of migrating birds in Bermuda,'' Ms Hill pointed out.

A full-time student at the Bermuda College, Ms Hill said: "It's going to enhance my education and once I have that knowledge I can encourage and help facilitate other people going.'' After completing the programmes she will be a field representative for Earthwatch.

And Ms Hill said she was anxious to share the programme with Bermudians.

"I want to inspire other to do this because I know how experiences like this can open doors,'' she explained.

Preparation for the trip has meant eating right, extended walking, hiking, weight lifting, and breaking in her new hiking boots.

Ms Hill expressed her gratitude when she said: "A huge, huge thank you to the people who have supported me both financially and morally. Without them I would not be going.

"The College has been very supportive, as well as the Aquarium,'' she pointed out.

Ms Hill also mentioned that the Aquarium was interested in having an Earthwatch expedition on the Island.