From studying to starting my dolphin research
After a first week spent settling in and preparing for the marine mammal test, my second week at the Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation brought some exciting progress.
I finally passed the test, received my research question, and began looking into the scientific literature for my project. It feels like I’m starting to move from preparing for the placement to getting involved in the research itself!
An Unexpected Start to the Week
Monday began with a power cut at the base. I completed the breakfast rota and took part in the base clean, but with no Wi-Fi, we couldn’t fully carry out our planned work.
Instead, I used the time to continue studying for the marine mammal test. Although the power cut disrupted the usual routine, it was a good reminder that sometimes you have to adapt and make the most of the situation.
After a slightly different day at the base, I headed out for dinner in the evening.
On Tuesday, I walked to Kampos and spent more time studying. Having not passed the test the previous week, I was keen to give it another go and move forward with my placement.
I Passed the Marine Mammal Test!
Wednesday was a particularly exciting day because I retook the marine mammal test, and this time I passed!
After spending much of my first week studying, it was a relief to get through it. It was also a reminder that not everything goes to plan on the first attempt, but putting in the extra work can make a difference.
Passing the test meant I could start focusing on the next stage of my placement: my research project.
Introducing My Research Project
One of the biggest milestones of the week was receiving my research question:
Can we predict category behaviour by the event behaviour of short-beaked common dolphins?
My project will focus on short-beaked common dolphins and explore whether their event behaviour can help us predict their category behaviour.
This is the starting point for my research, and I’m looking forward to learning more about dolphin behaviour and understanding how scientists investigate patterns in the behaviour of marine mammals.
Before getting into the research itself, I need to understand what is already known about the subject. This is where the literature review comes in.
A literature review involves reading and exploring existing scientific studies to build an understanding of a research topic. It helps identify what other researchers have discovered, how they have approached similar questions, and where further investigation may be useful.
I began searching for relevant scientific papers on Wednesday and continued working through the literature on Thursday and Friday.
It’s still early days, but it’s exciting to have a specific research question to work towards over the next eight months.
Getting to Know My Supervisor
Thursday also brought another important update: I found out who my supervisor would be for the duration of my eight-month placement.
Having a supervisor will be an important part of developing my project, helping me navigate the research process and work towards answering my research question.
I’m looking forward to learning from their experience and developing my own understanding of scientific research along the way.
Life at the Base
Alongside studying and research, the usual routines at the base continued throughout the week.
Our weekday mornings started with a 9 am meeting to discuss the plans for the day. We also continued with the shared responsibilities, including the breakfast rota and base cleaning.
On Thursday, I walked to Kampos again, and on Friday, I helped with the base clean before tidying my room for the room check.
These routines are becoming a normal part of daily life here, and it’s been interesting getting used to the balance between research, shared responsibilities, and free time.
Of course, there has also been time to relax! I went out for dinner on Monday and had quieter evenings during the week before heading to the bar for another DJ night on Friday.
Two Weeks Down, Eight Months to Go!
Looking back at my first two weeks, it’s exciting to see how much has changed since arriving.
My first week was mainly about settling in and preparing for the marine mammal test. By the end of my second week, I had passed the test, received my research question, and started exploring the scientific literature that will help shape my project.
I’m now looking forward to developing my literature review, learning more about short-beaked common dolphins, and discovering how my research will progress over the coming months.
It’s still very early in the journey, and I have plenty to learn, but I’m excited to see what comes next!
Two weeks down, eight months to go. Let the research begin!
