Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - January/February 2013 - (Page 40)

one step ahead College in the Field “It seems to me that the natural world is the greatest source of excitement; the greatest source of visual beauty; the greatest source of intellectual interest. It is the greatest source of so much in life that makes life worth living.” —David Attenborough “It’s practically impossible to look at a penguin and be angry.” —Joe Moore When I chose to attend Harvard, I knew I would relish the intellectual vitality of the campus and immerse myself in the cultural aspects of Cambridge and Boston. Yet I was perhaps even more excited about the possibility of the greater world beyond. Ever since high school, when I first discovered a passion for marine biology research, I knew I would pursue studies in environmental and conservation biology. And what better way to do that than through glorious first-hand, mucking-through-the-mud, in-the-field research? Luckily, the opportunities abound in college for such experiences outside the campus gates. You can find these opportunities both through classes as well as through a little searching on your own. In my freshman year, I took a class on invertebrates. The course field trip during spring break took me to Panama (yes, really!). Rather than partying on the Panama City Beach like most spring breakers there, my classmates and I snorkeled through coral reefs and mangrove roots to collect and study different species of marine invertebrates in the lab (which I argue is much more fun!). I explored everything from the organisms living in a dolphin skull I found to the embryonic development of nudibranch eggs. This year, a course on biological diversity has taken me to the Boston Harbor Islands, where we cautiously navigated through brambly forests and “haunted” tunnels to collect insects for subsequent disease screening and phylogenetic study. But I must get to the penguins. When I was a kid, whenever adults asked me what I wanted to do when I grew up, my answer was, “I want to live with the penguins.” This past summer, I found an opportunity to intern with by Bonnie Lei biologists at the University of Cape Town, South Africa, to study the thermoregulatory behavior of African penguins on their colony on Bird Island. The highlight of this experience was living on an island off the coast of South Africa with one fellow scientist and the largest breeding population of endangered African penguins in the world. Let me clarify now that although adult penguins are cute as they waddle with happy bellies full of fish, and their chicks are adorable balls of gray fluff begging to be cuddled, looks can be deceiving! Their beaks are razor sharp, designed to tear through flesh, and those powerful flippers of theirs—so efficient at propelling the birds underwater—are also well designed for smacking errant researchers. But I loved them, and I loved the field work. Every day we measured the temperature of different nests and areas on the island and monitored the thermoregulatory behavior (such as panting or raising wings) exhibited. I would walk around the entire island perimeter, keeping bird counts and looking out for predated penguin eggs, and even had time to indulge in some en plein air watercolor painting. I participated in a penguin rescue effort when the largest storm in several years blew in with gale force winds. I was living my childhood dream and exploring my future. Often when you arrive at college, it’s easy to become attached to your life on campus. But what I learned by venturing outside Harvard’s gates has allowed me to return to campus more passionate than ever about research and advocacy. I have seen the difficulties (mosquitoes, no showers for a week, canned beans...again!) and immense joys (convincing local fishermen to join the conservation efforts, running through the storm to bring an abandoned chick back safely) that come with a life of research. I never could have gotten these experiences in the classroom. That’s why I encourage you not to settle for life or learning or research based only on campus. Be sure to seek opportunities that will allow you to learn from the real world beyond the campus gates. bonnie lei is a sophomore at harvard. When she is not roughing it in the wild for her newest field adventure, she can be found dabbling in her latest culinary experiment or writing poetry by the Charles river. she is also passionate about her work on nutrition and health education programs in Uganda, and on food science education for Boston-area middle school students. 40 imagine Jan/Feb 2013

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - January/February 2013

Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - January/February 2013
Contents
Big Picture
In My Own Words
The Week I Turned Green
No Turning Back
Landsat: A Continuing Legacy of Earth Observation
Sensing Danger
The Black Gold Miners
Cleaner Water, Brought to You by Sunlight and Science
Journey to the Frozen Continent
CTY Paleobiology
Selected Opportunities & Resources
Innovation in the Real World
Off the Shelf
Word Wise
Exploring Career Options
One Step Ahead
Planning Ahead for College
Students Review
Creative Minds Imagine
Mark Your Calendar
Knossos Games

Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - January/February 2013