As a Consultant at The Research Institute, Patrick Ulele Chikoti is leading research on issues of environment, energy, tourism, agriculture, business, and economic empowerment. While in the U.S., Chikoti worked with Unite Oregon in Portland, where he supported inclusion in local government participation for communities of color by canvasing and incorporating people of color's ideas into the development discourse of city council. Since his return to Malawi, Chikoti has established a nature reserve at Likoma Island in Lake Malawi to help preserve the remnants of indigenous forests and animals on the Island and is training community leaders in environmental protection around the country.