So, good news arrived early in the webmail Inbox this morning - both Jamie and I (and Dr. Sean Roger's undergrad student, Jobran Chebib) will be getting P. U. R. E. awards! (That's Programs in Undergraduate Research Experience). The P. U. R. E. program is this fabulous U of C invention that awards funding to undergraduate students - of ANY year, which is doubly cool - interested in conducting independent research.
Essentially it goes something like this: you find a supervisor who conducts research you think you'll likely be interested in, and formulate an interesting question based on a review of the literature (or they can help you find a good question that relates to their own research but addresses a novel aspect of it). Then you write up a proposal with hypothesis, predictions, sampling plan, and what you hope to accomplish over the summer... submit by mid-February... wait... wait... This year was stiffer competition than the last - 55 out of 190 applicants in 10 faculties won awards - so it makes the acceptance of your proposal extra rewarding. Also, it's excellent practice in writing research proposals, reviewing literature, formulating your own questions, and working with a supervisor even if you DON'T get the award. This is definitely one of the best perks being offered to undergraduates studying at the University of Calgary (besides some great faculty doing some very interesting, compelling and relevant research).
So this year I'll be sticking to my home turf and staying in Canada. That's OK by me since it gives me a chance to get involved in some great fieldwork with Drs. Vamosi & Vamosi on the BC westcoast. Besides that, I'll be living in a tent for most of the summer, driving around on backroads, wading around in lakes and kayaking between islands where the ferries don't go. This morning I found out that it looks like we'll be heading up to Bella Bella - via an 11-hour ferry ride - to sample prickly sculpin and diving beetles in some island and mainland lakes in that area. Was I interested? Hell, yeah! It also looks like there could be some serious cross-country driving across the BC interior via the backroads... Anyway, I shouldn't give away too much just yet as there's still lots of planning to be done.
But it's great to think of summer, and another field season, being just around the corner: this is, after all, the whole reason I'm so hyped about studying ecology and biodiversity. And now, with the burgeoning realization of the importance of incorporating genetics (which unfolds another old-time obsession of mine, epidemiology and bacteria) into community and population ecology... it feels like we're off to the races. I'm stoked.
That said: there's a little over three weeks left to the semester. A few more papers, a presentation to kick Jamie's butt over (ha!), samples to get ID'ing, a thesis to translate into Spanish (yikes!) and... and... oh right, a couple of finals - are all vying for top priority right now. Nonetheless - it's a great feeling to be immersed to the point of what some might call unhealthy obsession. I love it.
Onward, then!
Congrats on your award!!
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