Dear Ecologgers, I am a graduate student at UCSB and as I move ever closer to my PhD commencement date (yikes!), I have been reflecting on the things that I have learned during my tenure. I am an ecologist by training and have been fortunate to have had my field work take place on a beautiful island in French Polynesia.
When I embarked on my first field season, there were many things that I considered--what equipment do I need to bring so I can set up my experiments, what will I have access to on a remote island, backup plans for when everything fails...the typical things that graduate students think about. I talked extensively to other students in my lab and I felt that I was well prepared for the field season ahead. Since this first field season, however, I have realized that there are many things that no one ever tells you when you are about to start field work. Things that most entering graduate students would never think to ask. I have started a blog (xueyinghan.wordpress.com) where students from all disciplines can share their experiences about graduate school. My ultimate goal is that this collection of stories would be turned into a book for the public to enjoy. If you are wondering what kind of topics I am thinking about, please read my experience (Nitrogen addition in a coral reef ecosystem: http://xueyinghan.wordpress.com/2013/06/06/nitrogen-addition-in-a-coral- reef-ecosystem/) for a sneak-peak of would-be stories. If you are interested in sharing your story, please respond to this email. Please also indicate whether you would like your name to be associated with your story or if you would rather stay anonymous. Happy reading! Shirley
