Eighteen students in the Museum’s Upward Bound IMPACT program had the adventure of a lifetime, not to mention first-hand experience with nature’s food chain, when they went on an overnight expedition in August sponsored by the University of Miami’s Center for Latin American Studies. They joined the University’s R.J. Dunlap Marine Conservation team at Broad Key research field station, and worked with world-renowned shark researcher Neil Hammerschlag, who studies local shark populations around South Florida. Students researched the habitats of smaller fish when large predators enter the area, learned about migration patterns of sharks and sea turtles throughout the waters off Florida and Latin America, and together they caught (just for temporary observation and tagging) hammerhead, lemon, and nurse sharks. Over the two days, students also spent time snorkeling and kayaking on the reef and along mangrove forests, collecting samples and observing natural marine habitats. As with any experience-of-a-lifetime though, especially in nature, some things are a trade-off. Just as students were observing sharks and marine habitats, all of the mosquitoes in the area were endlessly conducting their own experiments on the student researchers. But the lack of civilization and the soothing sounds and silence of the environment more than made up for it. It was an experience they’ll never forget. Check out what the students have to say about it:

- A research scientist called me up to go and pull in a bait line. I pull and pull and at the other end waiting was a hammerhead shark! I had just pulled in a hammerhead shark! As soon as the shark was secured aboard the boat the scientists went to work and quick. A hammerhead shark is rare and they want to work as quickly as possible as to not disturb it as much. The hammerhead shark was to recieve a satalite tag meaning that tag would allow the shark to be tracked by satellite. –Marlenni

- The nurse shark has rough skin which makes it easier to get shark burn which is when your skin rubs against a shark’s skin the wrong way creating a peeling and soreness of the area.  The first place where we caught a nurse shark was by the mangroves because it was a baby and still needed protection from large animals that could eat it. The shark trip was fun other than shark tagging too, because of all of the other marine animals that I was able to see. There was not anything I would say to improve the trip but a longer time period to stay. –Taylor

The R.J. Dunlap Marine Conservation Program has now released a video from the IMPACT expedition. Get ready to join the adventure.

Upward Bound IMPACT at Broad Key with RJD from R.J. Dunlap Marine Conservation on Vimeo.

Students in the Museum’s Upward Bound program have had tons of amazing opportunities this summer. Upward Bound is one of the US Department of Education’s programs which help first-generation college bound students prepare for college and a degree in science, technology, engineering, and math. Just this summer, check out what students have been able to do: catch and release sharks with University of Miami researcher Neil Hammerschlag, who studies shark species and populations in south Florida… attend an overnight trip to Tampa, visiting the Mote Marine Laboratory and Myakka State Park… attend an overnight trip to Orlando, studying marine life with Sea World’s education program, visiting the Orlando Science Center, and going tubing… go out snorkeling, kayaking, and collecting marine samples to study… the list goes on! And at the end of the summer, students presented their summer-long research projects, which included topics like human impacts on tropical environments, solutions to environmental problems in the Arctic regions, and animals that live in extreme marine environments. Where else could students prepare for college with such cool, real-world experiences?

The definition of lucky: Nine students in the Museum’s Upward Bound program, along with 1 mentor and Upward Bound staff, getting to meet with Neil Hammerschlag of the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science. He is a research assistant professor who studies the behavioral ecology of marine predators. The definition of luckier: these students spending the day with him at the Keys Marine Lab on Long Key, learning about his areas of research study – which include determining habitat and migration patterns of large coastal sharks, and studying how toxins in the marine environment have a greater and greater effect the farther you go up the food chain. The definition of luckiest: students getting to go out on a research boat with him and help to catch (for observation) and gather research on 7 different sharks, including hammerhead, bull, lemon, and nurse sharks. Neil Hammerschlag’s research is meant to advance ocean conservation efforts through science, and these students were privileged to be a part of it.