Hi Lara, I'm looking to do volunteer work in the Caribbean and haven't found much available (or have sent emails and had no reply) could you please do a quick name drop for me?
All the best Katharine > On 24 Mar 2017, at 4:37 am, Lara Brenner <ljbre...@gmail.com> wrote: > > When I see posts like this, I interpret it as an exorbitantly expensive > vacation to the Great Barrier Reef. No one seriously interested in a career > in marine biology should ever think of doing something like this. For $3000 > you could live for months in the Caribbean doing volunteer work that will > actually give you marketable skills. I think it's fine to advertise something > like this but ethically it should be marketed to tourists, not aspiring > biologists. > > Even better would be to compensate people financially if you expect them to > work. If your budget doesn't allow for that, adjust your expectations > (shorter work days, less experienced field techs) and provide housing/a food > stipend/other benefits. > > We need to do everything we can to ensure that careers in conservation are > possible for people who don't come from wealth and wealthy nations. > > -Lara > >> On Thu, Mar 23, 2017 at 11:01 AM, Annette Narzynski >> <anarzynski2...@my.fit.edu> wrote: >> I am happy to see this being discussed. A similar discussion has recently >> started in Coral List. Steven Carrion has made an interesting point about >> the role that the listserv itself plays on these kind of posts. I think it >> would also be valuable to discuss what aspiring scientists, professors, >> researchers, and those involved in hiring can do regarding the issues >> associated with positions like these. >> >>> On Thu, Mar 23, 2017 at 9:08 AM, John Anderson <jander...@coa.edu> wrote: >>> Very much agree with Steve's post here. Given the already high cost of >>> university, this seems sheer exploitation. Is also a really interesting >>> demonstration of the "charismatic megafauna " issue in conservation... >>> >>>> On Thu, Mar 23, 2017 at 6:54 AM CARRION Steven <s1681...@sms.ed.ac.uk> >>>> wrote: >>>> The whole "unpaid" vs "paid" vs "exploitative" internships discussion has >>>> been discussed in ECOLOG before but I had to bring it up again after >>>> seeing this post. >>>> >>>> A "research assistant" position wherein students have to pay a almost 3 >>>> grand to participate in an activity less than a week? And this covers >>>> accommodation and food? This amount of money is what people pay to go on >>>> luxury cruises. This seems like it's a way to fund the organization's >>>> research costs while being provided with freely given labor. Exploitative >>>> is the nicest way I can put that. >>>> >>>> I don't think these types of posts should have a place on academic list >>>> serv. or if they are included they should more accurately be called >>>> for-profit/paid volunteering. >>>> >>>> Best Regards, >>>> >>>> Steven Carrion >>>> University of Edinburgh >>>> >>>> > On Mar 23, 2017, at 1:16 AM, Lesley Douglas >>>> > <lesley.doug...@blueplanetmarine.com> wrote: >>>> > >>>> > The Great Barrier Reef Whale and Dolphin Research Programme is led by >>>> > Blue Planet Marine and operated in collaboration with the Cetacean >>>> > Ecology and Acoustics Laboratory at The University of Queensland, >>>> > Australia. http://gbr.blueplanetmarine.com. >>>> > >>>> > Running from July to September 2017, there are opportunities for >>>> > Research Assistants (RAs) to join the Programme. As a RA, you will work >>>> > in an exceptional location with world leading scientists. You?ll be >>>> > exposed to a variety of research techniques, including: the latest in >>>> > genetic sampling; acoustic recording of social sounds and whale song; >>>> > behavioural observations; video recordings; and photo-identification. >>>> > You?ll be involved in data management, and in the day-to-day activities >>>> > of the research vessels. >>>> > >>>> > The Programme is based on a live-aboard research vessel in and around >>>> > the world-famous Whitsunday Islands. The aim of the Programme is to >>>> > collect data on the breeding sub-stocks of south west Pacific humpback >>>> > whales. These data are important because organisations such as the >>>> > Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission don?t have >>>> > enough information to make decisions on whether these breeding sub- >>>> > stocks should be managed together or as separate populations. The IWC >>>> > Scientific Committee has even identified the collection of these data as >>>> > highest priority research for these populations of whales. The Programme >>>> > is targeted, it?s scientifically robust, it?s relevant and >>>> > it?s exciting. >>>> > >>>> > The Programme will: >>>> > * Identify areas of the Great Barrier Reef that are most important >>>> > for humpback whale breeding activities; >>>> > * Gather information regarding the structure of the east >>>> > Australian humpback whale sub-stock; and >>>> > * Gain a better understanding of whale acoustic communication and >>>> > the potential for anthropogenic impacts within the breeding grounds of >>>> > the Great Barrier Reef. >>>> > >>>> > This is a great opportunity to: gain valuable experience and skills to >>>> > further your career with marine mammals; make valuable connections with >>>> > some of the world?s most respected humpback whale researchers; work on a >>>> > meaningful research programme; and experience one of the seven wonders >>>> > of the natural world. >>>> > >>>> > * The participation fee for a six-day research trip is $2,995 >>>> > Australian dollars, including tax. >>>> > * The participation fee for a twelve-day research trip is $5,690 >>>> > Australian dollars, including tax. >>>> > >>>> > If you pay on or before 14 April 2017, you?ll receive an early-bird >>>> > discount of $300 Australian dollars off the Programme fee for each trip >>>> > booked. >>>> > >>>> > The Programme fee covers accommodation and food aboard the research >>>> > vessel. RAs are responsible for all costs associated with travel to and >>>> > from the Programme. >>>> > >>>> > No prior experience is necessary and training will be provided. >>>> > Preference will be given, however, to individuals involved in marine >>>> > mammal science courses or related institutions and/or with prior >>>> > volunteer marine mammal field experience. Places are limited to ten RAs >>>> > on each research trip. >>>> > >>>> > To find out more about The Great Barrier Reef Whale and Dolphin Research >>>> > Project (including the dates of research trips) visit: >>>> > http://gbr.blueplanetmarine.com or read the attached brochure. You can >>>> > secure your place today by paying online. >>>> > >>>> > Best regards, >>>> > Lesley >>>> > >>>> > Lesley Douglas, MSC. >>>> > Marine Scientist | Nelson Office| Ph: +64 (0)27 631-9000 | >>>> > Email: lesley.doug...@blueplanetmarine.com | www.blueplanetmarine.com >>>> > PO Box 3639, Richmond, Nelson, New Zealand >>>> >>>> -- >>>> The University of Edinburgh is a charitable body, registered in >>>> Scotland, with registration number SC005336. >>> >>> -- >>> John Anderson >>> W.H. Drury Professor of Ecology/Natural History >>> College of the Atlantic >>> 105 Eden St >>> Bar Harbor >>> ME 04609 >
