A Glimpse into Field Research Life

The time here is going fast. The third and final week on the marine portion of the expedition has come and gone. It was characterised by rough seas and difficult sailing conditions that made survey work particularly tricky. Thankfully, the weather stayed calm when at high tide one day a few of us arranged to borrow some canoes from the local fisherman and have a paddle through the mangroves.

Through the years I have often wondered what field research life would be like. I have always been interested in biology, geography and the study of the physical world. Back in school I had at one point considered a career specific to this. Something along the lines of the character played by Sean Connery in the film Medicine Man (if you don’t know it, seek it out. It is a quality film). To have had a first-hand glimpse into this area of the scientific world has been very enlightening.

Patience and persistence are important traits of the field researcher. Weather conditions, logistical difficulties and the need to work around nature means that there are long periods where no progress is easily made. However, interspersed within these are moments when fantastic sightings and breakthroughs can come about. And when these come, they can be really invigorating. Vivid reminders of what an amazing world we live in, and how much more is still out there, waiting to be discovered and explored.

I have really enjoyed my time working on the marine section of GVI’s Kenya Expedition. Now I move back onto the mainland, to Shimoni, where I will be starting the forest research aspect of my 10 week program.