#coasst

Citizen scientists! Help COASST scientists study the effects of climate change.

Visit your local beach, park or public trail and collect data on dead bird carcasses. Your information will go to the United States’ National Science Foundation where researchers will track the effects of climate change on migratory seabirds - which will in turn help researchers make educated predictions on our planet’s environmental future.

The Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team (COASST), a citizen science program based at the University of Washington’s School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, is looking for 2-5 undergraduate students to assist with program’s upcoming marine debris data collection project beginning spring 2015. Students working with COASST gain valuable, hands-on experience with citizen science programs, scientific protocol development and testing and learn the complexities of adapting data collection to a broad and diverse corps of participants. Students will work directly with the program’s research staff to:

create marine debris photo database with linked attributes

field-test the marine debris protocol

create the marine debris field toolkit

finalize marine debris literature search

network with marine debris principal investigator, researchers, and partners

Once quarterly, students will present their work at lab meetings, and attend the Pacific Coast field trip. Interested students should send an email to: Jane Dolliver, Program Coordiantor, [email protected] include a statement of interest that contains:

applicable background in marine biology (coursework, job/intern experience)

experience with data, statistics packages, databases (excel, R, catalyst etc.)

experience with volunteers, volunteer programs, and/or other research labs

INTERNSHIP IN CONSERVATION BIOLOGY AND MARINE ECOLOGY

  Want to gain valuable research experience? Contemplating working for a non-profit after graduation? Interested in marine conservation?

  The Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team (COASST) is seeking 3-4 undergraduate students to assist with data entry and management, volunteer recruitment, tracking, training and communication for 2-3 college credits. Each credit requires 4 hours of work per week during spring quarter (June 24 – Aug 23).

  COASST is a citizen science project based at the University of Washington School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences in partnership with local community and environmental organizations, and state and federal agencies. COASST volunteers collect data on beach-cast carcasses of marine birds on a monthly basis to establish the baseline, or 'normal' pattern of beached bird mortality on North Pacific beaches. Baselines are crucial for assessing the impacts of oil spills, fisheries, and climate change in the marine environment.

  Interested? For more information, please contact:

Liz Mack: [email protected], 206-221-6893

Please include a brief statement of interest, including current major, office skills and previous work related experiences. Please also include the days of the week and hours you are available from June 24th-August 23rd. Priority will be given to students willing to volunteer extra hours during summer break (Aug. 26-Spet 24).