I recently finished up a teaching assistantship with Field Studies of Marine Mammals (a Dalhousie University summer field course). The course is pretty incredible because it not only includes fascinating lectures on all aspects of cetacean biology and ecology, but also a camping trip to the Bay of Fundy and multiple days out on a whale watching boat. The students are divided into small groups and each group conducts a mini project while in the field. As the course TA, I supervised two students as they worked on an ecotourism impact study. I also gave two guest lectures (one on sperm whales, the other on acoustics) and helped design and lead an acoustic analysis workshop. All in all, TAing my first Dalhousie course was an incredible experience and I can't wait to do it again! Not to mention I got to visit a new part of Nova Scotia, go camping, spend time on the water, and see plenty of great wildlife (humpback whales, sunfish, Atlantic white-sided dolphins, and EVEN a North Atlantic right whale!); what more can a biologist ask for!
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