Samos sea diaries

Hi, my name is Lucy Ingram and I am in my sandwich placement year of a BSc (Hons) in Marine and Freshwater Conservation at the University of Cumbria, in the UK.

This blog will be a record of my 32-week placement with the Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation in Samos (Greece). This placement is part of my ongoing journey towards working within marine mammal conservation as a career, and I hope to use this experience to develop both my practical and professional skills.

Archipelagos Institute, alongside local communities, aims to contribute to the development and establishment of long-term solutions to address and mitigate the threats faced by marine mammals, such as overfishing and pollution including plastic, chemical and noise pollution. The research conducted by the marine mammal team at Archipelagos Institute aims to understand the distribution, dynamics, and abundance of marine mammal populations in response to the effects of these anthropogenic activities in the northeastern Mediterranean.

During my placement, I will be working with the marine mammal team, gaining experience in both fieldwork and office-based work. In the field, I will be involved in data collection and marine mammal identification, while in the office I will have the opportunity to work on reports and presentations. I will also be working on my own project throughout the placement, giving me an insight into what it is like to work full-time while also helping me develop ideas for my dissertation.

I am really looking forward to gaining hands-on experience working with marine mammals and getting to know the people I will be working alongside. I am also excited to explore the island, experience the local culture, and learn as much as I can during my time here.

I hope this blog will give an insight into my experiences throughout the placement, including the things I learn, the challenges I face, and hopefully some of the memorable moments along the way.