whale%20 research%20project%202010

19
Whale Research Project A Whale Research Program was created and collaboratively run by Lynn Kent and the Whale Research Lab, Dept. of Geography, University of Victoria for Lynn’s Master’s Thesis. Lynn spent the majority of her undergrad studying marine mammals in Clayoquot Sound. Through her experience and recognizing a need for more Science focused opportunities for students who are blind or visually impaired, she created and ran a week long Whale Research Program this past July.

Upload: sofeya-devji

Post on 12-Jul-2015

116 views

Category:

Travel


2 download

TRANSCRIPT

Whale

Research

Project

A Whale Research Program was created and

collaboratively run by Lynn Kent and the

Whale Research Lab, Dept. of Geography,

University of Victoria for Lynn’s Master’s

Thesis. Lynn spent the majority of her

undergrad studying marine mammals in

Clayoquot Sound. Through her experience and

recognizing a need for more Science focused

opportunities for students who are blind or

visually impaired, she created and ran a week

long Whale Research Program this past July.

Flores Island

Unchartered

Waters

Cathy Bell (O&M), Dr. Kim Zebehazy, students and Lynn Kent

Three students attended the camp from across Canada.

Prerequisites included enrollment in a post-secondary

program and strong Orientation and Mobility skills for the

variety of new terrain that was encountered.

On the first day the students

encountered twenty six gray

whales.

Activities that are normally carried out by a field research team

were made accessible for the students. Time was spent time

learning on the boat, in the field and in the laboratory.

Activities that are normally carried out by a field research team

were made accessible for the students. Time was spent time

learning on the boat, in the field and in the laboratory .

Gray

Whales

After a week in the field, the

students had shown a

depth of understanding and

confidence as members of

a marine research team.

Dropping Crab traps

for dinner!

Tossing a dive net

to collect a sample.

Students built an understanding of boating safety, the

local environment and basic whale science including

building a life-sized gray whale.

“Drifter”

our Research Vessel

Life-sized

Gray Whale

Throughout the week students worked

collaboratively on a case study that they

presented at the end of the program.

Gone Fish’n

Beautiful BC

Fried Egg Jellyfish

(Phacellophora jubatus)

First Beach

Additional Learning opportunities included

learning about coastal ecology during beach

walks, kayaking and fishing.

Sunflower Sea Star

(Pycnopodia helianthoides)

Ponar Sample

from Cow Bay

where two Gray

Whales were

feeding.

The Moyeha Falls

Students could lean

out of the boat to

feel the water & the

moss growing on the

rocks.

“First off, I really liked

being able to go out

on the boat ...

and experience

firsthand what

whale researchers

go through on a

daily basis.”

Gray Whale

Exhalation

Steller Sea Lion

(Eumetopias lutris)

Sea Otter

(Enhydra lutris)

Challenging Terrain

Strong O&M a must!

The hostel &

home of the

UVic Whale

Research Lab.

“I just have to say, thank you for

an incredible opportunity and I

hope that it can be given to many

others and that it will change

people’s minds about their career

and how people look at the “blind”

in general.”

“WHAT AN

AMAZING WEEK!”

Exploring the intertidal shore of First

Beach (Flores Island 2010)

To find out more about the Whale Research Project and

to possibly have your students participate , contact Lynn

Kent - Vision Outreach Coordinator (PRCVI) at

[email protected]