The Ebony Project, a partnership between the UCLA Congo Basin Institute and Taylor Guitars, seeks to make a transformative difference at the intersection of science, community and sustainability. This year marks the 10th anniversary of working toward intertwined goals: restoring the Congo Basin’s population of ebony trees, a slow-growing species prized for its dense, dark wood, and empowering local communities in Cameroon.
Dylan Simmons, who graduated from UCLA in spring 2026 with a degree in environmental science, experienced the project’s impact firsthand when she attended a spring trip to Cameroon through the Institute of the Environment and Sustainability’s senior practicum.
As someone whose lifelong passions are art and the environment, working on the Ebony Project was a dream opportunity. I’ve always loved music, especially growing up with my dad’s Taylor guitars around the house. But I also felt drawn to work that makes an impact bigger than myself.
Now, as a UCLA alumna who double majored in communication and environmental science and minored in geography/environmental science, I’ve grown accustomed to my record label coworkers’ puzzled looks when I explain my diverse professional and academic pursuits. At first glance, most will find few crossovers between music and sustainability — but to me, this intersection is not just apparent, but of vital importance in the face of global climate change.
Environmental work must always prioritize the consent and knowledge of local Indigenous groups as the past and present stewards of the land. The Ebony Project's intersectional lens embodies this new era of environmental research and conservation that my generation of graduates is embarking upon.
During our time in Cameroon, my team of fellow UCLA undergrads greatly benefited from and relied upon the experience of those we worked alongside: Cameroonian graduate students and local villagers participating in the Ebony Project.
Sharing stories, snacks, songs and vernaculars (across English, Baka, French and Mandarin) — forging these lifelong connections despite the speed bumps of language barriers — was what I will always take away from this experience.
I invite you to explore the latest episode of the UCLA College’s “Tell Us What You Know” podcast, which spotlights the Ebony Project: its history, a handful of the people who have been integral in its success and why this work is so vital to the health of our planet — even if the results won’t all happen in our lifetime.
"Tell Us What You Know,” an original podcast by the UCLA College, highlights and uplifts voices from across its five divisions.
