Isabelle Meegan
21 March 2018
14 February 2018
15 November 2017
We spent the first part of our day discussing what we need to accomplish for the day. We have two sub-groups, as of right now. We have the certified divers, and those who are working on it. I am certified, so I spent the first part of the morning planning our next service days. We are planning to set the dock traps on December 10, 2017. This date was chosen because we want to leave the traps for a month before the next service learning date (Jan. 10). On January 10, 2018 we are planning to split into two groups. Group One will dive and collect trap set 1. Group two will collect the dock traps. On February 14, 2018, we are planning to check the traps that have been set, and analyze our data. We want to finalize our dock and dive traps. On March 21, 2018, we want to check our traps, which will be set by this time, and analyze our new data. On our last meeting day, April 18, 2018 we are going to wrap up our data. We will then prepare for the Service Learning school presentation. While many of these dates seem repetitive, we need to collect data on a consistent time interval.
For the second part of the morning, we built a new kind of trap. We used PVC pipe and zip ties to attach the twine. I cut the twine, which is the same diameter of the preferred settling substrate. The pipes are to be mounted on docks, which will hopefully catch lobster larvae. The formula for building these types of trap is the three sets of a clump of 26 4 inch strings per PVC pipe. This creates three separate clumps, which allows for easy data collection. The color and diameter of the string is meant to mimic the eelgrass that the lobster larvae settle on. This trap can be mass produced and it is easier to have an assembly line attempt going.
In the afternoon we took samples of red algae. To prepare ourselves for sorting through our data, we searched through a (plastic) boat of red algae. We searched for organisms in the microscope. I found an anemone, a shrimp, and various types of worms. This activity proved harder than the task sounded. From this activity, I really strengthened my skills with a microscope. I learned about different techniques to find living organisms and/or species of interest. Seeing these small organisms up close was slightly alarming. This was my favorite part of the day, because I got to see and learn about these animals up close. Dr. Haney is a great and knowledgeable resource that I really enjoyed having access to. He helped us identify mysterious organisms and taught us a little bit about orientating ourselves in the microscope.
This Service Learning day was a mixture of administrative necessities and scientific experience. I learned a lot about what being a scientist is like (more of the fun side). I enjoyed using the microscope and working with the samples. I am excited to start to collect our own data and dive!
4 October 2017
I spent my first Service Learning day building lobster traps. While this work was not the most invigorating work, I learned about patience, creativity, and the scientific process. Building the traps involved evaluating previous studies. I read studies from Mexico to the Caribbean, and worked towards finding effective trapping solutions for lobster larvae. When we moved to making traps, we looked , modified, and tried different models. Reading these studies connected me to the greater scientific community. I spent the first part of our day reading various studies and their purpose. From these studies, I understand more thoroughly the scientific process and the amount of work involved. I enjoyed reading about how scientific studies that seem minor and unconnected can change small facets of a big world. I think the hardest part for me was sifting through the copious amounts of extraneous information to find the impactful conclusions for our project. Personally, I loved making the lobster traps, because it was simple yet somehow meditative and therapeutic. The simplicity of the task tested my patience, but allowed me time to reflect. This reflection allowed me to think about what I want to get out of this project, and how this project changes me. I discovered that reading these seemingly obscure papers gave me hope for my own scientific career. I am looking forward to our next day!
Hi, my name is Isabelle Meegan and I am a part of the COAST Service Learning Project. I love the ocean and science, which lead me to this Service Learning Project. In my life, I do pretty much every water sport, sailing, swimming, and diving. I grew up in and around the water, which encouraged my fascination with underwater creatures. Crystal Cove State Park has a special place in my heart because my family and I spend many Sunday mornings walking up and down the beach. I am interested in preserving the park through learning about the amazing creature that it protects. SCUBA Diving aspect also interests me, because this project is an opportunity to explore and learn more about the underwater world. I am very excited to explore and experience the underwater world.
14 February 2018
15 November 2017
We spent the first part of our day discussing what we need to accomplish for the day. We have two sub-groups, as of right now. We have the certified divers, and those who are working on it. I am certified, so I spent the first part of the morning planning our next service days. We are planning to set the dock traps on December 10, 2017. This date was chosen because we want to leave the traps for a month before the next service learning date (Jan. 10). On January 10, 2018 we are planning to split into two groups. Group One will dive and collect trap set 1. Group two will collect the dock traps. On February 14, 2018, we are planning to check the traps that have been set, and analyze our data. We want to finalize our dock and dive traps. On March 21, 2018, we want to check our traps, which will be set by this time, and analyze our new data. On our last meeting day, April 18, 2018 we are going to wrap up our data. We will then prepare for the Service Learning school presentation. While many of these dates seem repetitive, we need to collect data on a consistent time interval.
For the second part of the morning, we built a new kind of trap. We used PVC pipe and zip ties to attach the twine. I cut the twine, which is the same diameter of the preferred settling substrate. The pipes are to be mounted on docks, which will hopefully catch lobster larvae. The formula for building these types of trap is the three sets of a clump of 26 4 inch strings per PVC pipe. This creates three separate clumps, which allows for easy data collection. The color and diameter of the string is meant to mimic the eelgrass that the lobster larvae settle on. This trap can be mass produced and it is easier to have an assembly line attempt going.
In the afternoon we took samples of red algae. To prepare ourselves for sorting through our data, we searched through a (plastic) boat of red algae. We searched for organisms in the microscope. I found an anemone, a shrimp, and various types of worms. This activity proved harder than the task sounded. From this activity, I really strengthened my skills with a microscope. I learned about different techniques to find living organisms and/or species of interest. Seeing these small organisms up close was slightly alarming. This was my favorite part of the day, because I got to see and learn about these animals up close. Dr. Haney is a great and knowledgeable resource that I really enjoyed having access to. He helped us identify mysterious organisms and taught us a little bit about orientating ourselves in the microscope.
This Service Learning day was a mixture of administrative necessities and scientific experience. I learned a lot about what being a scientist is like (more of the fun side). I enjoyed using the microscope and working with the samples. I am excited to start to collect our own data and dive!
4 October 2017
I spent my first Service Learning day building lobster traps. While this work was not the most invigorating work, I learned about patience, creativity, and the scientific process. Building the traps involved evaluating previous studies. I read studies from Mexico to the Caribbean, and worked towards finding effective trapping solutions for lobster larvae. When we moved to making traps, we looked , modified, and tried different models. Reading these studies connected me to the greater scientific community. I spent the first part of our day reading various studies and their purpose. From these studies, I understand more thoroughly the scientific process and the amount of work involved. I enjoyed reading about how scientific studies that seem minor and unconnected can change small facets of a big world. I think the hardest part for me was sifting through the copious amounts of extraneous information to find the impactful conclusions for our project. Personally, I loved making the lobster traps, because it was simple yet somehow meditative and therapeutic. The simplicity of the task tested my patience, but allowed me time to reflect. This reflection allowed me to think about what I want to get out of this project, and how this project changes me. I discovered that reading these seemingly obscure papers gave me hope for my own scientific career. I am looking forward to our next day!
Hi, my name is Isabelle Meegan and I am a part of the COAST Service Learning Project. I love the ocean and science, which lead me to this Service Learning Project. In my life, I do pretty much every water sport, sailing, swimming, and diving. I grew up in and around the water, which encouraged my fascination with underwater creatures. Crystal Cove State Park has a special place in my heart because my family and I spend many Sunday mornings walking up and down the beach. I am interested in preserving the park through learning about the amazing creature that it protects. SCUBA Diving aspect also interests me, because this project is an opportunity to explore and learn more about the underwater world. I am very excited to explore and experience the underwater world.
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