Sea Turtle Nesting Beach Pollution Assessment

SEA TURLE NESTING BEACH POLLUTION ASSESSMENT

six opportunities in Panama and Costa Rica
All six interns will be implementing the NOAA Pollution surveys weekly from July 1 to mid August 2013 and collecting data on nesting turtles at night.

Locations:

  • 2 interns at Tortuguero, Costa Rica;
  • 2 at Guanacaste, Costa Rica;
  • 2 at Isla Canas, Panama.

We aim to have final papers to SDSU and UCSD on Aug 13.

Hourly Breakdown of Credits:

June – August: 5 days a week work in the field for the host organization around 4-6 hours a day for a minimum of 150 hours.
3 days a week (or all in one day), collect data for your paper, write your journal, for a total of 100 hours.

Scientific Concepts Covered:

  • The scientific method
  • Empirical quantitative and qualitative data collection
  • Interviewing experts for data
  • Hypothesis testing
  • Random sampling
  • Extrapolation
  • Data storage, exploration, and descriptive statistics
  • Regression analysis
  • Ethical animal handling
  • Ethics in science

Presentation of results written, graphic, web-based and oral

Schedule and Homework:

April 14 – Mandatory Skype Orientation 11 am to 3 pm

April 29 – First Scholarship essays due

During the internship, every Weds email, Skype or call Katherine in San Diego with your progress.

July 7 – Homework assignment #1. Email your database in excel to Katherine

July 21 – Homework assignment #2. Email your database in excel to Katherine with graphs of your data

Aug 3 – Homework assignment #3 Draft scholarship essay and power points and database due to Katherine

Before Aug 7 – Perform accumulation data collection

Aug 7 – Stop data collection. Skype call with Katherine.

Aug 8– Give the power point presentation to your supervisor, other volunteers, and the neighbors or friends who may be interested. Write down their comments and questions. Katherine will solicit supervisor evaluations.

Aug 13 – Second scholarship essay, database, and power point with corrections incorporated (worth $250)

Aug 16– SDSU Bio grades issued

Aug 30 – Final journals, databases, power points, and 15 page papers due with statistical results, supervisor comments, conservation recommendations, photos, etc. incorporated. Provide screen shot of NOAA online database filled in.

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND FURTHER DETAILS ABOUT THIS PROGRAM CONTACT: Katherine Comer Santos