Dear Terry,
I just wanted to get in touch to let you know how I have used the grant which the charity provided me last year.
This July I travelled to the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico where I spent two weeks as an Undergraduate Research Assistant with Operation Wallacea. This involved working alongside scientists in the field on research topics in biodiversity and conservation and helping to gather primary data. During the first week, I was based in the UNESCO Calakmul Biosphere Reserve. Through a series of evening lectures, I completed an introduction to the Ancient Maya and Mayan Jungle Ecology course. Each day I aided teams of field biologists to complete standardised surveys on a series of key taxa to assess the importance of the unique Aguada habitats. This included setting up mist nests to catch birds and bats as well as analysing camera trap data. I also visisted and climbed the ancient temples of Calakmul. In the second week, I completed a Caribbean Marine Ecology course including the survey techniques used in the marine environment to assess the status of reefs and their associated fish communities. Each day I went on multiple snorkel surveys in Akumal Bay and collected primary data contributing to projects monitoring Sea Turtles and Seagrass ecosystems. All whilst meeting other University students from around the world with similar interests and making some friends for life.
This experience really was once in a lifetime and I wouldn’t have been able to fund it without your grant so I am really grateful!
Kind regards,
Rosie
