 | Academic Update
We reached the middle of the fall session and it seems that the students got here just yesterday. After an unusual start, with students joining us from the Turk and Caicos program, we have had a great experience with a very diverse group. The interesting Directed Research projects made for an exciting session. The projects include looking into the mangrove ecosystem, the effects of hurricanes as a natural disturbance for osprey population, sea turtle conservation and ecology, and ecotourism as an alternative for sustainable development. Students have been great and very patient with schedule modifications due to the passing of hurricane Norbert over the region. We experienced minimal damage at the center, which was not enough to stop us from carrying on with the session. Additionally, students and staff were away for the mid-session break, exploring the wonders of the Baja Peninsula. There is more learning, travelling and exploring to come in the second session.
- Gustavo Hinojosa, Center DirectorStudent Reflections
After an amazing camping trip to Loreto, it was fieldwork as usual back at school. Yet, even as classes and our Directed Research projects started to pick up, we still had time to make it into town to do some teaching. This past Thursday, we went to the local primary school to help six to ten year-olds better understand the importance of recycling and environmental consciousness. It was a ridiculously good time. The group really got into it, donning turtle costumes and homemade “recycling hero” outfits. Although some of us lack the necessary Spanish skills to speak effectively to the students, we made sure we got our point across with skits, games, and of course, candy. The students were particularly excited when Josh walked into the classroom wearing a green turtle suit. Overall, it was a great time and all of the students were grateful that we spent the day with them.
- Jake Gire, Trinity College  In the final month here in Baja California Sur, we have been focusing a lot of our time on our Directed Research projects. As a member of the sea turtle and mangrove research group, I have had the opportunity to experience many things that would not have been possible at my home institution. This past week, we continued our sea turtle monitoring work while camping. Up to this point, the only species we caught was the green sea turtle, but we were lucky enough to see a hawksbill. Even though we have experienced so many things during our stay here, new things keep popping up that make me realize how lucky I am to be here. Along with our work with live turtles, one student is researching sea turtle mortality in the bay. Yesterday we went to Alcatraz, a small fishing village, to look for deceased turtles. I think we were all shocked to find the remains of 21 turtles in the town dump. Although sea turtle education programs have really taken off in Mexico, this experience made me realize how much work still needs to be done in order to protect this species.
- Sarah Dean, Ohio State University
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