Day 2: Visiting Dr. Perroy's Lab by Gia Vinod

 


Today was our first full day together in Hawaii, with all our group members finally arriving. Most of us got a well-deserved night's sleep after all our traveling. Even though we were still tired, we all managed to get downstairs at 7:00 AM sharp for our breakfast, and it was still so surprising to me how comfortable and chill we were with each other. 

Our first activity was to use thermal cameras to view the wildlife and environment and eventually to snorkel at a nearby park with our new research groups. After a short break, we went to the University of Hawaii at Hilo to meet a professor who specialized in mapping and environmental issues named Dr. Ryan Perroy. He spoke well about his craft, and it really interested me how he could use something like mapping and drones to step up and do something to relieve some of the environmental issues in Hawaii. It was incredible to see someone who was an expert in this field and learn more about the specific threats to Hawaii and what he was doing to stop them. One of the big environmental challenges on the big island is rapid Ohia death, where invasive fungi spread through the trees and kill them. He used drones to do physical tasks like cutting off tree branches and then taking them to a lab to test them for diseases that could cause harm to them. I thought this was clever because it was an unconventional use that combined drone use and robotics instead of just using cameras on drones. Even though I came out of my sophomore year completely not knowing what I would do in college or the future, this experience made me realize that I could work in an almost laboratory environment like his. It made me feel better about my future plans because I felt like I was finding something I was passionate about. Also, he told us that many of his students had jobs with him which interested me and gave me more hope that I could make a change. 

Dinner was great in Hilo; we all shared stories about our lives and laughed a lot. It is great learning about different people, especially where they are from. At the end of the day, we all learned more about ourselves and partook in fun activities that categorized us into personality types. Overall it was a really good day that brought us even closer to each other, and we got to enjoy the beautiful coast and weather of Hilo.



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Day 4: What Hides in the Dark by Macy Bargen

Image
Today opened my eyes. We packed up at the hotel back in Hilo and visited many landmarks before reaching the Preparatory, where we would stay for the rest of our visit. On our way, we stopped by the Rainbow Falls hoping to see a rainbow, but hearing the beautiful sounds from the crashing water instead. Next, we visited the Boiling Pots. We learned that if we had come earlier, the rain would hit the pools of water, causing the illusion of water boiling. Finally, the twenty of us climbed back into the vans, eager to get to the main attraction: the Kaumana Caves. When we first got there, we noticed the Banyan trees. Sonya explained that the wild chickens sometimes climb up and rest in this tree. I was already intrigued, which exemplified my desire to know more about the ecosystem surrounding me. I first noticed the smell when we finally made it down into the caves. The air was cleaner, but the rain still lingered. As I noticed my surroundings using my senses, my group and I began to explor...
Read more

Post-trip: Macy Bargen

During this trip, I learned so many important things. I learned about myself, my culture, and how the environment interacts with the natives. I found friends from all over, and I strive to rekindle these relationships if we ever meet again. Before arriving in Hawaii, I was a nervous wreck. I wanted to learn and have unique experiences but feared I would not make friends or enjoy it. I was exceedingly wrong. I made friends from all over the world, which only made my learning more enjoyable. This trip allowed me to realize most of my anxiety is in my head, and if I want it bad enough, I can accomplish it. I have had significant anxiety since I was a little girl, and I think this program helped me take the first step. I can now take control of my anxiety and do the things I want to do without fear of getting in the way. One of the reasons I wanted to go on this trip was to see the natives. My Great Grandmother passed away recently, and I realized I have never been close to the land or my ...
Read more

Post trip: Lindsey Billings

This week I learned a lot about myself and the importance of nature. Before this week, I had viewed myself as a positive person. However, this changed during the “kilo” period at Kiholo Bay. I had an opportunity to clear my mind and realized that I tend to trap myself in a cycle of negativity. The previous night, I had only slept three hours and was not feeling well. Instead of appreciating that I was in Hawaii surrounded by amazing people, I was focusing on the negative aspects of my day. At that moment, I decided I could not allow a lack of sleep to stop me from enjoying this incredible experience.  My time at the Dryland Forest taught me the importance of being in nature. Although our guide, Lehua, had only known us for 30 minutes, she felt comfortable sharing the story of her ancestors and herself. They had lived on the land many generations before she was born. She told of the struggles they faced when people destroyed their precious forest. She expressed her grief for the los...
Read more