Reyhane Rastgoo: A research journey during COVID-19

This photo shows a person clad in jeans, a blue shirt, a black head scarf, and a black mask sitting on a bench and taking notes on a clipboard. Also on the bench is a man in gray pants, a plaid shirt, and a gray or light blue face mask. — Reyhane Rastgoo interviews a local man in a village in Golestan Province, Iran. Photo courtesy of Danial Nayeri.

This piece was written in the spring of 2025 by GRAD 5144 (Communicating Science) student Reyhane Rastgoo as part of an assignment to write a personal narrative about her research.

It was back in summer 2021, and I was very anxious. The reason for my anxiety was a tiny virus named “COVID-19.” I had planned to collect data from the field for my master’s thesis, but this virus had ruined all my plans. When COVID-19 first hit, I thought it would only last a week or two. Then it went longer, and I thought maybe it would be over in a month.

This photo shows a mist-covered mountain in the background, deep green forest, and a village of a few houses. In the foreground is a meadow of white-blooming flower. — The forest meets a village in Golestan Province, Iran. Photo courtesy of Reyhane Rastgoo.

But here I was after a year or so, and nothing had changed. I remember sitting on my bed. My anxiety was killing me. The wind was blowing on that scorching summer day. My mom brought me some fruit, and while eating those fresh summer fruits I tried to find a way to make my field trip happen.

The main obstacle was traveling to Golestan province in Northern Iran, which was at least a 10- hour drive from my home. At that time, because of COVID-19, travel was banned unless urgent and with prior approval. Another barrier was that I could not travel to 26 remote villages all by myself and interview 400 people, at a time when people were afraid to even speak to their relatives.

This photo shows a dirt road running between small buildings and a tree-covered mountain in the background. — One of the villages in Golestan Province, Iran, where Reyhane Rastgoo collected data for her master’s degree. Photo courtesy of Reyhane Rastgoo.

I had always been passionate about the topic I chose for my master’s thesis. It was focused on the human dimensions of wildlife, and I planned to assess the attitudes of rural people toward brown bears in a region that had many conflicts with brown bears and a high report of bear death caused by humans.

I also loved Golestan province! I had traveled there many times during my undergraduate years, made great memories with my friends, and enjoyed the rich biodiversity and great weather.

This photo shows a steep and narrow street between a building on the left and a wall on the right. More buildings can be seen below and a mountain in the background. — A steep descent in a village in Golestan Province, Iran, where Reyhane Rastgoo collected information about encounters with brown bears. Photo courtesy of Reyhane Rastgoo.

But many challenges stood in the way of reaching my goal. I had to defend my thesis by the end of the year, and there was not much time left. As I write this story, all those helpless and anxious moments come back to me.

A couple of days passed, and after much effort and with the help of a stranger, I was able to get the travel approval. It was like magic! The timing was perfect as my close friend, Danial, and my boyfriend (now my husband), Omid, were able to join me and help me with data collection. I was on my way!

This photo shows six women wearing headscarves and seated on the ground with their backs to a brick wall. In front of them is another woman with a clipboard. — Reyhane Rastgoo interviews local women in a village in Golestan Province, Iran. Photo courtesy of Danial Nayeri.

This trip turned out to be one of the greatest memories of my life. We met great and hospitable people and visited unique villages that, if not for this trip, I would never have visited. I made precious memories with Danial and Omid and learned much about myself. I learned flexibility, resilience, communication, and, most importantly, I learned the value of having supportive loved ones.

I was able to defend my thesis at the expected time and earn the highest grade, and I have tried to spread the words of local communities since then so that their concerns are heard and respected.

This photo shows a clearing in a forest with dozens of brightly colored bee hives. — Beekeeping site in a village in Golestan Province, Iran, where beekeeping is a source of income for many locals. Photo courtesy of Reyhane Rastgoo.

Now, in a couple of months, a peer-reviewed paper I wrote with my team on that project will be published, and it will remind me of my goal: to ensure that conservation decisions are fair to the people living close to wildlife so that both people and animals live together peacefully.

For more information about Reyhane's current research, visit her website: https://reyhanerastgoo.carrd.co/ or that of the lab she works in: Dayer Human Dimensions Lab: https://dayer.fishwild.vt.edu/.