Week 1:
Embracing the Tide

May 30, 2023

Immediately upon entering the Hobcaw Barony, the grounds for the Baruch Marine Institute, I was welcomed by the lush South Carolina coastal forest. The property is home to a host of essential wildlife from 10-foot alligators to microscopic plankton. Sitting on over 16,000 acres of protected wilderness, the Baruch Institute is where I’ll be calling home for the next 12 weeks. Hi, I am Nikita Colling, an environmental studies major at Cornell College. This summer I am interning at the Baruch Marine Institute for Marine and Coastal Sciences. I am happy to welcome you along to my blog where I’ll be sharing my experience throughout this journey.

My first week was packed with action. I helped a team of researchers conduct sonar mapping of the North Inlet benthic floor. This was a project that started over two years ago but due to Hurricane Ian, and some technical difficulties, it had been postponed. Fortunately on this outing the senior researchers were able to collect all the data they needed. As we were arriving back at the dock a small family of dolphins made a surprise appearance.

We also began the setup of our Shrimp experiments this week. Shrimp are an essential component of South Carolina’s ecology and economy. The goal of the experiment is to test how different densities of White and Brown Shrimp affect growth and survival. We primarily worked on setting up the cages for our experiment. Many of them needed repairs and cleaning from last year. We are currently waiting for both White and Brown Shrimp to be in season. Brown Shrimp breed and spawn earlier than White Shrimp so we have to wait until mid June to begin collecting.

The living situation is incredible. The dorms are surprisingly well equipped, and all the other interns are really nice. There are many activities to enjoy such as volleyball, basketball, and fishing. The surrounding town of Georgetown has a beautiful historic downtown that’s right along the waterfront.

This opportunity has really opened my mind to what it means to be a field researcher. I’m very appreciative of the opportunity to translate the skills I’ve learned in my class, and translate them to field work. It’s been helpful that I’ve had many opportunities reading and analyzing scientific papers. I am more equipped to answer and engage in meaningful discussions. I also love the fact that many of the senior researchers get to pick and choose projects they are interested in. The day to day activities for a researcher are variable. Some days you’ll spend the whole day in the field collecting samples, or taking measurements. Other days when the weather is less favorable will be spent writing up analysis or conducting indoor research.

Reflecting on my first week at the Baruch Marine Institute, I am really excited to continue working alongside my fellow interns, and senior researchers. Everyone has been so welcoming, and interesting to work with. I am excited to go on more boating adventures, and get experience collecting and analyzing samples.