My learning experience this summer was a four week Governor's School where I worked at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science. While there I wrote a journal for every work day just talking briefly about what I had done at VIMS. I am really glad I wrote them and looking back it is cool to read them again.
June 23, 2008
The first day was mostly just an introduction to VIMS. It was moderately painless, but I was anxious to actually get started. The best part was probably going out on a boat for a quick ride and we reviewed some things like how to tell if the tides are coming and going and safety skills. After lunch I met with my mentor, Rochelle Seitz. We discussed my project a bit and worked on the mentorship contract. It was exciting to see how I’d be spending the month. Then, we went down to the docks to prepare for the next days trip on the Bay Eagle.
June 24, 2008
On Tuesday I got to go on a trip down to the mouth of the
While the zooplankton trawl gathered organisms in the water column we used a box core to sample from the bottom sediment. We sorted through what we collected and identified a large variety of worms and some clams, as well as getting to check them out under the microscope. This was a really cool opportunity for me and I feel like I learned a lot. Also, we were able to use an otter trawl and catch a huge amount of fish, jellies, crabs, and other random organisms. I really liked this and being able to get my hands dirty counting and sorting the blue crabs and other animals.
Just over all, it was a great day and would do it again anytime. I feel like I learned so much and got to spend quality time with professionals and others that are a little further along in pursuing a career in marine science.
June 25, 2008
On the third day I didn’t do all that much. We prepared to leave for the field to do research on the Patuxent (as in we loaded up the truck and got all the tools we needed as well as making plans on how to get to sites in the best possible way). Other than that, I just sorted samples. We left around two and drove to Soloman’s
June 26, 2008
The day in the field went pretty well. We collected data from all 12 sites. We were pretty successful with the location and only ran into a couple of problems evolving water depth and other small geographic problems. It was cool being able to go hands on into field research and being able to see how things are done and what is used.
June 27, 2008
Once we were done returning all the different tools and things we used on our trip, Friday was mostly sorting. We spent the first half of the day finishing up the blue crab sorting before we were able to sort the benthic samples for my project. Sorting is sort of a numbing job, just sitting forever in one place separating tiny pebbles from tiny invertebrates. It was a bit easier though knowing that what I was doing was going towards my results for my projects. Other than sorting, I didn’t really do that much.
June 30, 2008
Monday again was mostly sorting. We got through five more site’s samples. It was a really draining day. My back was killing me my eyes were strained, but we got a lot of the 3 mm samples done so that was good. I feel like it is giving me a realistic depiction of what the marine science field is like, not just going out in boats and collecting samples. There is a lot of tedious counting, sorting, and organizing. I’m not saying this is a bad thing, but it is making becoming a marine biologist, seem more possible and less like a childhood career dream.
July 1, 2008
Tuesday was another long day in the lab. We finished all but two of the samples and I got a chance to meet with Rochelle to talk about my project. She straightened out a couple of things so I felt better prepared to have my rough draft ready for Thursday. Also, Cassie, Sarah, and I sat and talked about what we are going to do about getting the predator samples. We discussed some different methods and settled on the idea of staying up in
July 2, 2008
On Tuesday we finally finish the 3 mm samples. That just meant that we still had the 500 μm samples to go through and identify and take the biomasses of all of the organisms found. Also, we did more work to analyze the sediments. Everything is going really well. I don’t want to write my paper, but I have no issues and of course I am going to do it. Cassie is sort of becoming my sub-mentor which is pretty cool. She knows a lot about all this stuff and has been really willing to help out with what ever questions I had. (She was helping a bit with my paper)
July 3, 2008
Thursday was a pretty chill day in the lab. There wasn’t a ton to do. First I help Cassie finish up the sediments and did some mild IDing. I am learning a bit about the differences in clams and becoming more familiar with the names. Other than that I just worked on my paper. I talked a little bit with Cassie and Rochelle and they both gave me some more pointers. That was pretty much it though.
July 7, 2008
Monday in the lab was mostly IDing and sorting. I started to really get the different bivalves down. First though, I went out and helped Seth take some samples just out by the docks for his project. It was a good break from the lab and when I was done I went back to my own. Some of the samples took a really long time (having over 200 Gemma gemmas) but they were manageable. Besides that, not too much happened. I was a little bummed to find out that my day in the field would be pushed back again, but it’s alright. There was still plenty to do. I helped Katelyn (the summer aid) with some really terrible, obviously hypoxic samples those were pretty terrible…
July 8, 2008
On Tuesday, I IDed and measured. That was pretty much it. It wasn’t fun work, but it was rewarding to see the results of my study. One jar took over three hours and Cassie had to finish it. After lunch, I went back and did some more until there was just a little bit of time left and I sorted some of Seth’s project with Russ.
July 9, 2008
On Wednesday we finished IDing and measuring the bivalves. Now I just need to get the data into a legible form so I can use it… Then, I went and saw a PHD dissertation presentation. It was interesting to see someone in there final stages of getting their PHD. After that I just helped out. There wasn’t a lot to do, but I talked to Rochelle about some project stuff. That’s all.
July 10, 2008
Thursday was a really long day. I got there and worked a little bit on my paper then I went and sort of helped Seth with his project. I didn’t do a lot, but I felt mildly useful. Then I went out with some VIMS people to help get some suction samples of blue crabs in the eel grass. There was a disgusting amount of jelly fish and I kept getting stung. It wasn’t really fun but more field experience I guess.
July 11, 2008
Friday was a really lazy day. Cassie didn’t come in, and Katie wasn’t there, but Sarah and I tried to identify the polychaetes. It was really difficult and we didn’t get very far but I learned a little bit about identification and how difficult it is without an expert in the area. After that, I didn’t have much to do, so I just went to the beach and read.
July 14, 2008
For the first half of Monday, I just looked at what I had for my presentation and tried to figure out what I was supposed to be doing, but I didn’t really know, so it was difficult. I knew I was supposed to be doing something with the statistic software I had installed on my computer but I didn’t even know what my goals were so I was really stuck. Later I went over to Taylor and Lindsey’s office and Kersey was really willing to help me, which was really cool of him, but since I didn’t know why I was doing what he was trying to show me I didn’t really understand any of it. But it did give me a decent start and I felt a little bit better when it was explained again
July 15, 2008
Tuesday was pretty much souly dedicated to my graphs and statistics. It took the entire day, but I got all the graphs and P values and all of that DONE. It was glorious. I got a lot of help from everyone felt like 345234x better about my project than the day before.
