Agency Sponsor: Alex Jones, asjones@ucsc.edu
If Interested, submit the Campus Natural Reserve Internship Application. This is an unpaid internship.
# of Interns:
Agency Description:
The FERP provides exceptional opportunities for all UCSC students to learn the natural history of their campus and the tools of field-based ecological research – no prior experience is expected, and students of all backgrounds, interests, and majors are welcome. The underlying FERP monitoring data are all collected by UCSC student interns and assistants, and the FERP also serves as the site of numerous student research projects, fostering research and inquiry-based teaching about ecology and evolutionary biology in a changing world. FERP interns act as field technicians on our woody-plant census project, collecting data that is used by scientists around the globe to track the impacts of climate change on forests.
Intern Responsibilities:
FERP interns work in a small crew of fellow students to find and measure tagged trees and tag and map new stems as we recensus the 16 hectare forest plot. Interns walk together for ~25 minutes from the FERP lab on Science Hill up to the FERP, where they then navigate to the 20m x 20m quadrat they will be working in. After gathering gear, students identify, tag, map, and measure the diameter at breast height of all tree, shrub, and vine stems that are 1cm or larger in diameter. They work together and independently to record their measurements on paper data sheets in preparation for later data entry and analysis. Work occurs rain or shine, though hard rain or strong winds cancel field work.
Other Requirements:
Make sure you’re prepared with gear, etc.: We will provide you with tools, gloves, and other equipment needed for your specific project, but you’ll be responsible for keeping yourselves comfortable and nourished. This means dressing in layers, having rain gear if it’s going to rain, having sturdy shoes or rain boots if it will rain, a hat if it’s sunny, etc. We have a few sets of rain gear and several pairs of rain boots to lend you if you don’t have your own.
Also make sure to bring enough water and food, including snacks and lunch if your shift straddles that time period. A good attitude, willingness to work hard and have fun, and lots of curiosity and enthusiasm are really helpful as well.
If you know you are highly sensitive to poison-oak oils, the FERP is not for you —we wear gloves and full-body coveralls, but your footwear, and your skin if you’re not careful, will be exposed to poison-oak oils. It is a woody plant, so it’s actually part of our study and we do actually measure it! If you have a beater pair of shoes or boots, best to wear those, as they will definitely be exposed to poison oak oils.
We will be out in the woods for a full 6 hours! In addition to the above information about staying warm, fed and hydrated, you may want to bring other supplies to keep yourself comfortable out there. We have some extra toilet paper and sanitary products, but you should plan ahead and be prepared to spend 6 hours away from campus.
Shift Interns:
Each shift occurs in a six-hour block on weekdays or Saturdays; exact shift times vary each quarter and are TBD based on crew leader and intern schedules
Location: Natural Sciences 2, Room 490 (Lab) and UCSC Upper Campus (field plot)
Key Words: Biodiversity Conservation, Climate Change, Ecology/Natural History, Plants/Restoration