Project 3

Viernes, 15 de Diciembre, 2017
Las Cruces Biological Research Station
14:05

The bug spray returned as another full day in the field began at 6 in the morning. This time, it was project three -- mentored by Charles Jason Tinant of Oglala Lakota College. Students Brett Alberts of the Spirit Lake Dakota Sioux, William Fourd of the Oglala Lakota Nation, and Robyn Raya of Oregon's Siletz are conducing a river characterization of the Rio Java. They're looking at water, soil, and shape composition to get a holistic understanding of the never-before studied river. Brett, William, and Robyn wish to create a baseline of information regarding the Rio Java so future studies show how climate change is effecting this ecosystem.

Like the other projects, the Ngöbe shadow the students and 

mentors to observe modern scientific methods with the 

intention of bridging it with traditional ecological knowledge. 

Brett hauls laboratory equipment from the research station to
the riverside with his make shift paracord backpack.

Jason describes to Robyn upstream features of a creek that
intersects with the Java river.

A long hike led us to the Java River where the research group is conducting their data collection.

From Left to Right: Will, Jason, Pedro, and Robyn. 

Robyn photographs the Java River's behavior in comparison
to her measuring tape.

Will (left) and Jason move their flowmeter alongside the 

measuring tape.

Will (left), Jason (middle), and Robyn maneuver the ___
while the Ngöbe observe from the shore.

Ngöbe President Pedro Flores talks with Scott Walter, the director

of Organization for Tropical Studies' Native American and Pacific 

Islander Undergraduate Research Program. Scott has years of 

experience working with minorities in science, and has been a 

resource for the Ngöbe's goal to help incorporate sciences 

into youth education. 

President Flores (left), his daughter Norys Flores (middle), and

 Celestino Gallardo listen and take notes as Scott Walter translates 

the scientific procedure taking place. 

President Flores (right) watches Jason (left) and Brett (middle)

collect their data above the river.

Brett poses for a photo as he captures images upstream from the survey spot. Using his GoPro, Brett will create modeling maps of the river's composition.

Will and Robyn analyze data back at the Las Cruces Biological Station. 

After a long day back on the river, we were given quite the treat as a pair of Toucans landed in a tree just across from the laboratory.