I completed my Portfolio for SIT. This project is meant to work out some of the kinks we may encounter for our final Independent Study Project (ISP). I did a small case study of 4 rivers upstream of the sugar cane processing plant and studied the water quality to determine level of pollution. I did the data collection working with my adviser, Dr. Mmochi of the Institute of Marine Sciences, a part of the University of Dar Es Salaam in Zanzibar. Everyone at IMS is very helpful however they are also extremely busy so it was hard to get everything completed in a timely fashion. Also due to external factors, such as two national holidays, and a weekend my week was eaten up before I could analyze my data. I was able to take extra time to complete the study but it was frustrating. This was a good experience to test the waters for my ISP such as going to the site and getting an adviser. I also learned the valuable skill of learning the layout of the lab here so I feel much more comfortable expanding my research to an area downstream of the factory during the month of November that is set aside wholly for our ISPs. At this point I am still going to look at Dr. Mmochi’s 1997-1999 study of the water quality in the Mahonda sugar cane factory area and collect samples to compare how the shut down of the factory has improved or degraded the surrounding environment since its shut down in 1999. I also did research and found that the WWF has created Better Management Practices (BMPs) for sugar cane factories in critical areas such as Zambia, South Africa, and the Indus River Valley. I hope to compare the management plan of the Mahonda factory with these and create a new plan that will help improve the local environment by integrating aspects of natural resource management, and the BMPs. But we shall see if this ends up being my final plan. For now I am excited to have a purpose and a preliminary study of the situation.
Tag: Ecology
Researching endangered monkeys and rare coral
A lot of the research I do for coastal ecology and natural resource management in my program is based on field work. SIT prides itself on experiential learning and I have found this very accurate. We have lectures and classes, but the structure is very different and I find myself learning more when I go out into town to talk to people or observing the idiosyncrasies of the unique ecosystem here. So I learn more out of the classroom. One hard part for me is that I am unused to writing up quantitative data that is required of me in this scientific based program. But so far our projects have both been group work; one project was in Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park describing density and behavior of the endemic Red Colobus monkeys the other was researching the use of water for agricultural purposes in a small fishing village. This tactic helps me adjust to the style of reporting that science based reports require because my peers are more familiar with this format that includes methods, data, and a discussion of the graphs and calculations, and end with further research topics. I am confidant that I am benefiting my peers because I have a good handle on Kiswahili and because many of our subjects speak the local language it is vital to our success in research here. Being confidant in Kiswahili helps me try to go out of my way ask questions and get the answers necessary to complete our work.
Zanzibar!
My study abroad program is called SIT-Zanzibar Coastal Ecology and Natural Resource Management. Zanizbar is a small archipelago of two main islands off the eastern coast of Tanzania made up of Pemba and Unguja. This program focuses on on-site research and it began on August 24th. It is set up to teach us intensive Kiswahili in the beginning, now we have about four hours per day of Kiswahili class, then we work on field methods and research ethics, and then ongoing lectures on coastal ecology and natural resource management until the last month of the program.
This last month is spent applying the knowledge gained in the first three months to our Independent Study Project, or ISP. We formulate a topic and then are given one month and a stipend to go out on our own, collect data, and create a 20-40 page research paper and present on our findings at the end of the semester in early December. Currently my idea for my ISP is to investigate laws regarding ocean policy, such as fishing regulations and see whether or not those are effective in maintaining a sustainable source of fish for the populations which depend upon them. However I am not certain that this will be my final product.
We have already learned a lot about cetaceans, observed butterflies, visited an endangered amphibian sanctuary, and seen dolphins and tourism economy that threatens and thrives off of them so I am considering that as a possible back up. There is a ways to go before I have a concrete proposal so I will continue to pursue any viable options that interest me in our various outings, lectures, and excursions.