Van 1: Team "Relatively Running". Punny, huh?
Whew! This last month has been a whirlwind! My senior year is off to a busy (but fun!) start and I’m running to catch up. I think I’m starting to feel the time crunch of only having one year left and am trying to do everything I possibly can. I got to kick off the weekend before the first day of classes by running the Hood to Coast with my parents and uncle, which is definitely on my list of the most fun athletic things I’ve ever done.
Summer Research Symposium! photo cred: Carol Curtin
Research wrapped up for all summer researchers at a symposium on September 8. There were a record number of posters being presented this year! It was exciting to be able to explain what I had been doing this whole summer and have something to show for it. Unfortunately, not all of my data had been collected, which means I need to spend more time in the lab this semester tying up loose ends. My advisor, Peter Wimberger will be presenting some of this research at a Thompson Hall Math and Science Seminar on December 1st (after he returns from Borneo. He’s visiting the students who are on PacRim!). I’m also going to be presenting this research next semester for my thesis. To see more pictures from the symposium, check out the UPS Biology Department’s Facebook page!
Photo cred: Justin Roberts
Swimming in an alpine lake! Brrrrrr....Photo cred: Justin Roberts
As far as classes go, I’ve been able to take more specialized courses within my major because I’ve now taken the prerequisites to do so. We’re only about three weeks into class, but I love all of my classes so far. A few weekends ago I had two back-to-back fieldtrips! The first was for the seminar that all Environmental Policy and Decision-Making minors take their senior year. We went up to the Sunrise side of Mt. Rainier for a one-night camping trip. Unfortunately, lots of other people were taking advantage of the sunny weekend to get outdoors, and we had to change locations for our camping spot because at one campground they were all full. During the day we went on a little hike, and later my classmates and I gave group presentations about the different types of land use within the Puyallup watershed (which we had driven through on the way up). On the way back the next morning, the group visited a dam and Federation Forest (a Washington State Park) to continue our education on the region. There were three of us who had overlapping fieldtrips, so we had to miss the second day, and instead got up early to meet our Marine Biology class to go whale watching!
photo cred: Rachel Ivancie
Our Marine Biology class drove out to Port Townsend to see some “charismatic megafauna”. Usually the class goes out with a UPS Alum, Eric Pierson, but he was unable to captain our boat this time. We rode out into the Strait of Juan de Fuca towards the San Juan Islands and were able to see two pods of orcas (Killer Whales) just outside False Bay on San Juan Island. We also saw Stellar Sea Lions, (which weigh up to 2,500 lbs!) and lots of Pacific Harbor seals. Along with seeing lots of wildlife we learned a little about the environmental effects of carcinogens on the Marine Environment, and the geologic processes that shaped the area we saw.
The next weekend was Homecoming! My parents were able to stop by on their way from dropping my little sister off at Western Washington to start her sophomore year. Four of my close friends lived on the same floor freshman year, and we’re living together as seniors. Two of my housemates’ families were in town for homecoming, they we were all able to meet each other. The next time all of them are together might be graduation…