Fall 2024 Field Course: Intro to Field Research and Conservation – BIOE 82
NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY
OPEN TO ALL STUDENTS
We are looking for students interested in taking 2-unit, largely, outdoor-based courses this fall. Want to apply? Please read below and then fill out the application/questionnaire HERE. The first review of applicants will be decided on during the third week of October; thus, please have this completed by midnight on September 8rd (the sooner the better).
Course Description
Learn about local animals, plants, and ecology, participate in field sampling (plants and animals) methods and field research in general, work with peers to conduct field observational studies, camp out, and get to know your colleagues. We will meet approximately once a week either in the evening for a lecture or on the weekend for a local field trip. We will also have two overnight camping trips to local Natural Reserves. No experience (science or camping) is necessary, and we encourage you to apply regardless of your major or your experience spending time in nature. The course is open to any UCSC student – you do not need to be a science major. You will receive 2-units of credit. If you have questions, please contact us.
Objective
This course serves as an introductory class that focuses entirely on exposing freshmen, sophomore & transfer students to local habitats throughout the Central Coast of California and how to conduct field-based studies. To facilitate immersive field-based teaching, the course will include two weekend camping trips. Lectures will be scheduled as evening sessions to discuss field trips and provide background information, as well as introductory material in field research.
What do you need?
Nothing! If you are interested in this experience, you are qualified. There will be two weekend overnight field trips to local Natural Reserves (weather dependent). If you do not have camping gear, we will provide it.
What is included?
Everything! Food, transportation, and camping equipment if needed (you don’t need to have your own). There is a course fee in the catalog; however, it will be covered if there are funds available for students in need.
When?
There are two classes this Fall. We are aiming to have a section that is for incoming students and another section for non-freshman. We may mix and match a bit; however, that is the plan for now. There will be two weekend trips that will leave either Friday afternoon or Saturday morning and return Sunday early evening.
Freshman Section
𝐿𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑠
The current schedule (could change slightly) for lectures will be Tuesday afternoons on campus from approximately 1:30 – 3:05 pm. Lectures will not be held every week, they will be held on: 10/1, 10/8, 10/15, 10/29, 11/12 11/19
𝐹𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑑 𝑇𝑟𝑖𝑝𝑠
10/12 Day trip to the Campus Natural Reserve
11/16 Day trip to Ano Nuevo Reserve
10/19-10/20 Overnight trip to Fort Ord Natural Reserve
11/1-11/3 Overnight field trip to Big Creek Reserve (leave Friday afternoon or evening)
Non-freshman Section
𝐿𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑠
The current schedule (could change slightly) for lectures will be Tuesday evenings on campus from approximately 5:20 – 6:50 pm. Lectures will not be held every week, they will be held on: 10/1, 10/8, 10/22, 11/5, 11/19, 12/3
𝐹𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑑 𝑇𝑟𝑖𝑝𝑠
10/12 Day trip to the Campus Natural Reserve
10/26 Day trip to Ano Nuevo Reserve
11/9-11/10 Overnight trip to Fort Ord Natural Reserve
11/22-11/24 Overnight field trip to Blue Oak Reserve (leave Friday afternoon or evening)
How to apply
If you are interested in participating, please fill out this Application/questionnaire by midnight September 8, 2024.
Or cut and paste the following link: https://forms.gle/bvVbYr52izaG8XR19If
If there are any questions at all, contact Gage Dayton (Director of UCSC Natural Reserves) at ghdayton@ucsc.edu or by phone at 831-946-8267. Students will be notified shortly after the deadline regarding their acceptance and given a registration code to register for the course.
Check out the video we used for Summer Session:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQRXLw4Tt9E&feature=youtu.be
Please be sure to get your application in by midnight September 8th – 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫!