An interview with Brian Mealey
- 1.What is your job at the Miami Museum of Science?
- I am the director of the Department of Zoological Sciences. I'm privileged to work with a staff and volunteers which are truly dedicated to educating the south Florida community about coexisting with their environment.
- 2. What is required in your line of work?
- A little of everything. We need biological knowledge, administrative skills,
veterinary skills, and grant and fundraising skills.
- 3. Describe a typical day out in the field.
- A typical day in the field: dirty! but having fun. A day in the field would be
getting up at approximately at 4:30 in the morning and arriving at our field site
by 8 in the morning. We will spend anywhere from 5 to 10 hours in the field.
- 4. Describe a typical day in the lab.
- A typical day in the lab is a little more tedious due to a strict routine. It takes about one hour to analyze one blood sample. Usually we analyze 6 or 7 samples in a day.
- 5. How did you get involved with this kind of research?
- Well being a biologist I've always wanted to do field work. A couple of friends came by and wanted to take blood samples for an eagle DNA project and a mercury analysis but were not familiar with sampling techniques. We discussed all of our needs and decided to develop a cooperative project. The terrapin project was developed while conducting the blood work. They are now two distinct research projects.
- 6.What is the importance of this research?
- The baseline values of the blood work could be used as an indicator for the health of the eagles and ospreys populations in Florida Bay. If values change over time this may show improvement or continued degradation of an environmnet.
Understanding how terrapins interact with their ecosystem and having an idea on the size of the population can also be used as an indicator. If you have an estimate of the population and it starts declining then this may indicate a problem in the ecosystem.
- 7. Why should the average citizen be interested in this?
- I guess the question I'd ask the average citizen is, do you want to live? Because
everything that happens in the environment nowadays one way or the other
affects our health. Absorption of pesticides, poor air quality and warming trends could prove devastating for human survival.
- 8. What kind of environment are you working in?
- Florida Bay is an estuary. This estuary is a lifeline for the economy of South Florida. If the restoration of Florida Bay fails it would impact the fishing industries, scuba trade, and tourism, and unfortunately put a lot of people out of jobs. And even though it's called an estuary it's a very harsh environment. Very hot, humid, and high saline conditions. Our equipment takes a beating in this area but it's still fun.
- 9. What do you think of the South Florida Water Management program in which 7 kids help you with this research?
- Well it's wonderful to have organizations, gov't or private, who are willing to fund educational programs. One of the South Florida Water Management District's goals is to educate Floridians, especially students, concerning water quality. If we can have an impact on the students this will hopefully benefit the rest of us. So to have an organization like the South Florida Water Management District which is willing to provide funds for education is truly a blessing.
- 10. Where do you think this research will go?
- In any kind of research no one is really too sure. Judy Brown ,Director of the Education Department shared a quote that I think it was very appropriate for your question. "Basic scientific research is a voyage of discovery. Sometimes reaching it's objective but also revealing unanticipated new information that leads in turn to new voyages." That simply means that with research we don't know. We always hope to have a finale for any kind of research but sometimes your results are not what you expected. These results could lead us into areas where "no one has gone before". We just hope it will benefit Florida Bay, the South Florida community and hopefully to find common ground where people and a very fragile ecosystem coexist.
- 11. If someone wanted to help out or get involved in this project how would they go about doing so?
- These projects are funded through outside agencies and therefore only for a determined length of time. I recommend you become involved in environmental clubs or organizations. Let your teachers know your interest so they can lead you into appropriate programs. Volunteering sometimes will put you in the right place at the right time.
- 12. Tell me a bit about your educational background and how you became director of the Wildlife Center.
- Well I received my Bachelor's in Science from the University of Miami. My advisor recommended the Museum of Science when I graduated. I've been working here now for 18 years! Approximately in 1988, about 10 years ago, I received my masters at Florida International University.
- 13. Tell me about your assistant Greta Parks?
- Ms. Park's is the Wildlife Outreach Coordinator for the Department of Zoological Sciences. Her job is another one which requires multitalents. As as educator she takes animals out to schools in order to teach about wildlife and how they interact with the environment. The topic of the program is When Animals Talk: Wildlife as Indicators of Environmental Issues. Many of the animals which are brought to the schools are unreleasable due to environmental injuries. Their health is a direct indication of conditions which affect our world.
Greta is an accomplished field technician and researcher for the Department. She assists in data collecting and analysis. She is a vital part of the Department's ongoing projects with bald eagles, ospreys, diamondback terrapins and the eastern diamondback rattlesnake.
 |
|
 |
|
|