Thank you, Steven, for sharing your thoughts on paid-volunteer positions. I am often discouraged and frustrated by such positions. I understand that they can be a way to fund a project, but it really undervalues the whole field, not to mention that it gives those people who are financially privileged an upper-hand by giving them access to field experiences that the rest of us can't even consider based on our financial situations. In fact, a position like this makes it more important to have money than to have an education. When I was an undergraduate student, I found it hard enough just to afford to forego a salary, never mind paying to volunteer on a project. The fact that you can have experience and a PhD and only get paid around $35,000 for some post-docs is, I believe, related to the kind of thinking behind these kinds of positions. Exploitation is definitely right. The whole thing is absurd, and it pushes out people who are hard-working but don't have external financial support (e.g. from family) to fall back on.
I fully support Steven's suggestions about such postings on this listserv. Sincerely, Victoria --- Victoria Lukasik, MSc PhD Candidate University of Calgary On 22 March 2017 at 19:27, 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.douglas@ > 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. >
