Discovering Field-work and Stewardship: My Journey at Bodega Marine Lab
An SRJC-BML Internship Story
Akshey Singh is a second-year Biology major at the SRJC with the intention of transferring to a UC in 2025.
I am interested in medicine and public health with the emphasis on epidemiology. I had the wonderful pleasure of being mentored by Luis Morales and Lily McIntire.
During my time spent at the Bodega Marine Lab, my primary goal was to become more familiar with fieldwork. I’m glad to say that not only did I achieve this goal but also developed a better understanding of land stewardship. Working with Luis, I learned about the importance of intersectionality between scientific research and natural history. Another aspect I wanted to see myself in during the program was lab work in which I was fortunate enough to join Lily.
One of the highlighting moments was removing invasive grass species in large group efforts out on the coastal prairie reserve. I learned to distinguish between annual and perennial grasses which is an important distinction for maintaining a reserve’s ecosystem. I also had the unique opportunity to place warning signs against harvesting clams out on the mudflats. Such a task was incredibly fun and important as a protective measure. Another memorable aspect of my internship was surveying seals during low tides. It made me appreciate how humbling it feels to be so close to such amazing animals.
I am super grateful to have also worked with Lily, who researches the effects of water temperature on crabs in intertidal zones. This experience really made me appreciate simplicity and precision, as effective research doesn’t always have to require the most advanced technology. Applying the skills I acquired in my zoology class to dissect crabs to separate the respiring tissue was particularly satisfying.
As the program concludes, I feel very confident and fulfilled with the time I spent at the Bodega Marine Lab. Knowing now that I genuinely enjoy fieldwork and contributing to conservation efforts, I am even more interested in stewardship volunteer opportunities in my local area. It was a wonderful experience to be a part of the Bodega Marine Lab Summer Internship.
About the Program:
The SRJC-BML Internship Program provides summer research opportunities for Santa Rosa Junior College students at the Bodega Marine Laboratory.