Amadeus DeKastle has been living and working in Kyrgyzstan since 2009. He holds a BSc in Biology and MA in Education from Liberty University, USA, and an MSc in Entomology from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln, USA. He co-developed the “Central Asian Nature Guides” smartphone application with Plateau Perspectives in 2015 and subsequently led the creation of its first citizen science digital field guide and data tool, “Butterflies of Kyrgyzstan.” He also has consulted for University of Central Asia (UCA) through the Mountain Societies Research Institute.
Currently, he is Assistant Professor at the American University of Central Asia (AUCA) teaching undergraduate and graduate classes. He is also pursuing a PhD in Ecology at the University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS) with research on environmental impacts of road infrastructure developments on freshwater habitats in Kyrgyzstan.