My name is Russell Taylor and I have completed a PhD on Development Studies at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand. Since beginning university I have primarily studied the biological sciences and ecology specifically. My Master of Science research focused on identifying the factors that influence community structure and food webs. After completing this degree I taught a number of university undergraduate environmental sciences papers and supervised first and second year laboratory courses in ecology, evolution, form and function and invertebrate physiology. In 2005 I participated in sailing trip in the Kingdom of Tonga where I saw issues that I felt a need to participate in. As a result of what I found in Tonga I founded  EcoCARE Pacific Trust (a New Zealand registered charitable trust) that participates in aid and development programmes for under-developed nations. EcoCAREs programmes target health, education and environmental issues and we utilize Information Communications Technologies and expertise to build capacity in communities and nations. I apply basic ecological principles to development which suggest that organisms exist in their environment if they are able to identify and sustainably utilize their available resources.