Working for the NSRWA this summer has been one of the most unique experiences of my life. I felt like I was able to experience environmental science outside the confines of a classroom. I was able to hone my skills in research and data analysis, while learning about new processes like how to test water for coliform and other bacteria. One struggle of university is wondering if you will be able to put your knowledge to use in the real world or even enjoy your future work. The NSRWA helped me to realize what I will need in the future and what to look forward to.
Everyone has been incredibly kind and inviting since the beginning, which allowed me to comfortably learn and pursue new ideas. I was always treated like I had been a long-standing staff member and everyone cared about who I was and what I wanted to do. I feel like the work I’ve accomplished this summer has allowed me to be more prepared for my future than I thought possible and has given me an opportunity to see what work inside this field entails.
I was assigned the lead for the Headwaters project where we would travel to different sites around the South Shore and collect water samples. These were some of my favorite days as I was able to be out in the field and in the lab. We would then take the samples for testing. After determining the E.coli concentrations I was then tasked with finding potential sources of pollution. This was another part of the work I really enjoyed as being a detective of sorts made me feel like the data I was collecting had a purpose and could lead to a cleaner environment.
The educational opportunities presented by the NSRWA have allowed me to learn so much about the work that I want to do in the future as well as preparing me for it. I’ve gained so much knowledge on how to identify different species and how to deal with those that are invasive. This summer, we’ve established multiple populations of Galerucella beetles which only eat the invasive Purple Loosestrife plant. They act as a form of biological control for this problem and seeing this in action has been one of the most fascinating aspects of the summer.
I consider myself extremely lucky to have had the opportunity of working for the NSRWA this summer and am so grateful for the work I was able to do.