Ocean Alliance, Gloucester, Massachusetts

This past summer I was a field research and environmental education intern at Ocean Alliance in Gloucester , Massachusetts . Ocean Alliance is a non-profit organization that strives to protect and conserve whales and oceans through research and education. Ocean Alliance focuses on three main projects. First, the organization has just completed a five-year expedition, the Voyage of the Odyssey. The Odyssey and its crew spent the past five years sailing around the world collecting blubber samples from sperm whales to indicate levels of chemical pollution in the oceans. Another project studies southern right whale populations off the coast of Argentina . This study has been going on for the past 35 years, the second longest study on any animal species. Lastly, Ocean Alliance is affiliated with Cape Ann Whale Watch, where the naturalist and interns provide the education on the boat to all the passengers and at the same time, get a chance to collect data on whale behavior.

As a field research and environmental education intern, I was expected to spend at least four days a week aboard the whale watch vessel and one day at the Ocean Alliance office. Projects at the office included sperm whale photo identifications and entering various types of data. On the whale watch boat I was expected to become proficient with various teaching tools that were used to educate and engage passengers. Teaching tools on the boat included baleen samples, teeth models, a map of the ocean floor, humpback whale songs and a photo identification game. I was also responsible for collecting different types of data when we were watching the whales. Each trip there were quantitative and qualitative data collectors. Quantitative data collectors would keep track of the different behaviors of the whales that we were observing as well as the number of times each behavior occurred. Qualitative data collectors would keep track of weather as well as how long the whales were diving for and anything thing else that might seem relevant to the whale watch trip. Another responsibility was to become comfortable and confident to speak on the microphone during whale watches. Lastly, the interns and the supervisor had weekly meetings in which we discussed our progress and were required to share an article about whales, oceans, marine-life, etc. that interested us.

Along with Cape Ann Whale Watch, Ocean Alliance also completed a series of projects throughout the summer. These projects included educational workshops for teachers and a program for children called Ocean Detectives. Ocean Detectives allowed children to explore different marine organisms and their environment through various activities that explored the ocean. World of Whales was another one-day workshop geared toward teachers. This workshop provided teachers with educational tools that they could use in the classroom to educate children about whales and oceans. Ocean Detectives and World of Whales both took place on the whale watch boat.

Ocean Alliance also works with two other workshop groups. First, the Museum Institute for Teaching Science (MITS) was a workshop for teachers to learn about different methods of teaching math and science that are inquiry based rather than the traditional style of teaching. This group had a one day workshop on how to incorporate the ocean and whales in teaching math and science within their classrooms. Another group from the University of Georgia visited to learn about different teaching tools used on the boat and methods for interacting with students. These two workshops occurred outside the boat and the Ocean Alliance, however both groups were able to attend a whale watch as a part of their program.

My main objectives prior to the start of the internship were to become more familiar with whales and feel comfortable educating others and answering questions, to become better at identifying different whale species and behaviors, and lastly to be comfortable speaking on the microphone during whale watch trips. Throughout the summer my objectives were met. I was able to familiarize myself with a variety of whale species and not only was I able to identify different species, but also individual humpback whales. I was very comfortable talking to passengers, especially children, answering their questions and bringing around the various teaching tools that were used on the boat. Throughout the duration of the summer I also gained more confidence in public speaking. By the end of the summer I was capable and comfortable enough to speak on the microphone and to tell people what was happening during the entire trip.

My internship with Ocean Alliance was an incredibly valuable learning experience. I've never had any experience working with whales and this was the perfect opportunity. Not only did I have a chance to learn about whales, but I also got to pass my knowledge along by talking with passengers on the boat. This internship also allowed me to learn about different aspects of the marine environment and conservation efforts towards marine mammals. This experience was very helpful in preparing for my senior integrative project. Our weekly meetings allowed interns to share environmental/marine-related interests. This was helpful because it expanded my awareness of environmental problems and made me want to learn more about them and to find out if there was anything that I could do or change in my own life to make a difference.

For my senior project I would like to write a proposal for Cape Ann Whale Watch to convert their current whale watch vessel, Hurricane II, into a more environmentally friendly boat. For this project I would provide information for the owners of Cape Ann Whale Watch on how they could become friendlier towards the environment. This would include the use of biodiesel, biodegradable products and increasing local support for the company. I would also like to conduct a survey with actual whale watchers to find out if the general public would be interested in a “green” boat.