Marine Mammals Research & Conservation

This placement has contributed towards my university placement year and has also prepared me for my following placement in Greece where I will completing similar work and activities.

My remote Marine Mammals Research & Conservation internship aligned with previous working experience, as well as interests that even preceded my studies both in undergraduate and graduate school. It helped me learn how to be better with managing projects and my workload on a schedule that I create, as well as how to effectively communicate my progress to my program supervisor. I'm grateful to have been connected to such a program and hope to work with them in the future - maybe even in person to collect the fieldwork. Although it was only a remote position, I was able to challenge myself and learn how to use programs I wouldn't otherwise have learned on my own - such as a behavioral analysis program and writing with R. I hope to find a more permanent or long-term position sometime in this field and this was an incredible stepping stone for that journey.

I chose this program because it promised flexibility and career insight. I enjoyed a lot of independence and was able to work on a research project which was structured as realistically as possible. I enjoyed meeting my mentor and appreciate all I was able to learn from her. I think it is always beneficial to have some kind of experience to be successful in any work field. Since I started without any knowledge about scientific research with marine mammals, everything I was able to do, and that was shared with me by my mentor, was a learning point.

This internship has given me a 30,000 foot view into the world of marine mammals and has helped me begin in developing that skillset further. My internship gave me an opportunity to work independently on a project studying the behavior of two species of dolphins in the Mediterranean. There is not a lot of data from this area on these two species and they are both in decline, with the short-beaked dolphin listed as endangered in the Mediterranean. This project contributed toward the development of some baseline data on these two species in the short-term, while also helping the organization with best-practice decision making in the long-term, to help protect these species. My number one take-away was learning just how important proper data collection is when it comes to analyzing data. I feel more empowered because I was able to analyze data from marine mammals, namely dolphins, that I had very little general knowledge of in the beginning. My most significant learning points were using BORIS, and understanding what different states, events and categories of behaviors various dolphin species perform. The supervisors and staff are extremely helpful in guiding you in the right direction and being supportive and patient. I would advise other interns to take every opportunity to learn from those you are working with. They want to help you grow and they have a wealth of knowledge in this area!

I learned a lot about professional communication and how to work in a workplace with someone you are reporting to. I have also learned valuable skills in writing about research. I was able to construct my own literature review and research proposal. I was able to get feedback on these papers as well, helping me improve my skills. My host organization was always willing to meet with me if I needed anything. They made it clear that if I was ever confused or unsure of my tasks, they were more than willing to help me! During my research, I conducted my own research project using data collected from observations done in the Aegean Sea. I wrote both a literature review and research proposal in order to prepare for the study. I used a behavior cataloging software, BORIS, to collect data on the videos. Additionally, I used GIS mapping software to create maps to compare location of sightings to numerous variables. My biggest takeaway was learning how to use GIS software. A GIS class is a requirement in my major at university and I feel much more confident going into that class knowing that I have some experience with it.

Having completed my internship, I have gained a huge amount of knowledge and awareness relating to marine mammals and conservation. The biggest part of my role was analyzing photos of dolphin fins to assess the quality of the photos, the type of fin and whether they were already included in the organization’s catalogue. By identifying and cataloguing individuals from a marine mammal species (such as the short-beaked common dolphin) the researchers could estimate the population in that study area to understand whether it has decreased or increased throughout the years. As a result, I feel more confident and comfortable talking to others in this field and feel I can act on matters that are relevant to my studies and my career. Overall, I feel more empowered in my field. Despite being restricted from doing physical field internships because of the pandemic, I am eager to learn more about marine conservation, and no obstacles will stop me from doing so. I think this will be beneficial in the future both on paper and in interviews, as it shows my eagerness and passion for marine conservation and my problem-solving skills.