Summer 2022: Sunny Days Ahead
While I didn't take classes this summer quarter, here is an exploration of my very first Experiential Learning activity and the sunny adventures alongside it!
Marine Science to the MAX
My "Research" Experiential Learning Activity with the coolest scientists and artists ever.
In the final weeks of spring quarter, people from every corner of the UW campus and beyond were in a rush to beat the summer internship and job application flurry. Having known about the Astronomy Department's intentions of having me stick around for the summer and into the school year, I was not that eager to jump into, yet again, another job.
However, I had my eyes set on a few opportunities out there that involve research or engagement in my marine science field.
While the first internship I applied to during the application frenzy never came to fruition, I was not all too disappointed. My Marine Biology advisor Joe Kobayashi sent out an email to the MarBio email list a few days after my rejection that I simply could not get out of my mind.
The email was asking for a student research assistant with marine science knowledge and a willingness to photograph a field location for the duration of the summer. The team was particularly interested in marine mammal stranding events, and what they reveal to the communities around them. With Seattle having a history and reputation of strandings and close contacts with marine mammals of all kinds, this was the great location for their study.
What drew me into applying was the emphasis on the close-knit Arts-Sciences collaborative nature of the project, and I knew it was perfectly between my interests in creative work and marine biology research. With my resume and cover letters freshly polished from my first internship application attempt, I worked on my application materials a little more before sending them into the designated email address. A few days later, I found myself interviewing with one of the researchers, Astrida Neimanis, and was eventually selected alongside a UW Master's student Jess Carrington!
I met with Astrida and Patty (another lead researcher for the project) during my last week of class at UW in June, and officially began my work as a photo-docmentation assistant for the project soon after!
From the start, I knew that I wanted to be a valuable resource for the lead research team in terms of giving both the scientific and cultural context of the field site over the duration of the summer. One of the goals that I maintained to track during my engagement with the research project was learning how to integrate the creative and science-communicator sides of me, or as I mentioned in my initial Experiential Learning application, learn to use “human nature to my advantage when communicating pertinent information.”
I can certainly say that I achieved that goal this summer! I got heaps practice developing reports and these "mini-presentations" on conditions, special events, and observations during this research project. All of the material I prepared would help the lead researchers understand what was going on in and around the site during our monthly zoom meetings, especially since they were all based out of town (and some overseas!). Some photos of my field visits are below this EL portfolio entry!
During my engagement with this research project, I discovered that fine line of intersection between my scientific interests and creative interests, and how that was different across other people's projects and goals. I recall listening in on Astrida and Patty's conversation about striking the perfect balance of creative obscurity and scientific clarity/bluntness with their eventual presentation event in September with the Henry Art Gallery. As a student fresh out of a STEM-heavy spring quarter, I was incredibly intrigued to engage in that conversation with them to break away from my "blunt STEM-y brain" and see where their personal creative and scientific compasses aligned for the "voice" of the project.
Striking that balance and finding the right "voice" was something I never properly considered before this conversation, and with that realization, I found myself making more conscious decisions about my photography style during my photo-documentation field visits. I was so accustomed to taking bland, boring, straightforward shots of my subjects for observational purposes in the past, and I often reserved all of the “pretty-looking” photos and techniques for my strictly-recreational shoots. Now, I had the courage to combine the best of both worlds and make these aesthetically and artfully pleasing compositions while still getting enough of my subject and its contextual surroundings to still provide our lead team with the information they needed to craft their presentation event.
Taking this balance between my two fields into account well into my professional future will most certainly provide me with valuable opportunities to capture audiences beyond the scales I've seen in the past. My current and future coursework relies heavily on excellent communication skills and alternative forms of information delivery, and I’m glad to say that the delivery style of my work with Learning Endings is under my belt and ready to go! With the skills and experiences I gained during this research opportunity, I'm walking away with a much greater appreciation for those who strive to make these interdisciplinary projects a reality, and especially those who advocate for their importance in the academic setting.
Every research project does not have to be the perfect cookie-cutter, end-all-be-all, scientific paper. It can be something artistic and exciting too! There is so much value within the ideation of a research project, especially when you experiment with crafting new experiences and styles, ultimately with a goal of diversifying the way folks interpret important information. Some information is best communicated when people are able to piece it together with their own context and minimal lecturing guidance. We, the researchers and presenters, are simply the facilitators of that very special journey, and I’m so happy I got to practice my new skills while educating my community about the importance of marine life, marine mammal interactions, and strandings this summer.
View my Experiential Learning #1 Application Materials here.
