2012 COURSE DATES: AUGUST 4 – 17, 2012 - Sirenian International

FIELD JOURNALS
You are required to keep a permanently bound field journal or notebook (no loose leaf binders) in
addition to having a notebook for your course notes. We encourage you to make daily entries following
guidelines presented here and to include a “101 Species List” in the back of the journal. Your goal is to
identify at least 101 organisms to the species level during the course including the 3 most prominent sea
grass species, 4 mangrove species, common birds, fish, corals, reptiles, and insects. Your list should
include common name, Genus and Specific Epithet, Phylum, identification keys, and a sketch. You will
use information from your journal to complete your final exam, which will be in the form of a scavenger
hunt!
Memories are ephemeral and perceptions change with time, thus you should have your field journal with
you at all times during to document your field experience, journal readings, and research efforts. Some
researchers tend to write rough field notes in their journal while in the field, and then write a more
complete description and expand on their observations each night after the fieldwork--in the same journal.
This method has the advantage of allowing you to recognize what type of information you are omitting
from your field notes and make sure you collect those data in the future.
Your journals must be neat, legible and have appropriate spelling, etc. We recommend using a pencil or
permanent ink pen (i.e., Pigma pens, Rite-in-the-Rain, etc.) since we may be in situations in which the
pages of your journal will get wet. Most local stores that carry office supplies also have journals that are
waterproof. While that type of journal is not required, it is encouraged.
Drawings and sketches are an invaluable addition to your journal. Even the lousiest artist (like me :-) can
make a decent field drawing in about 2 minutes. Start with the sea grasses and mangroves, then move on
to the animals! A portion of your final grade will be based on the completeness, legibility, and accuracy
of your journal. Also, do not erase incorrect entries but strike through them with a single line and write
any correction above or below the original entry.
A good field journal includes time, date, place, conditions, guests, professors, and other information at the
heading of each entry. Entries should include information about each site and details about field
techniques as well as information about your activities and data collection during your research project.
In addition, entries should contain reflective thought about how you feel about the experience.
Finally, you should always include contact information for anyone you meet in the class or the field as it
may assist you in future endeavors. We are happy to review your journal at any time and it will be
collected briefly and graded on the last day of class.
Things that must be included in your journals:
1. Your name, phone number, email and permanent address
2. The names and contact information for your research partner
3. Dates, times, weather conditions, and location of all field activities that are of sufficient detail to
be replicated
4. Name and contact information for every researcher or staff member that provides you information
(including Belizeans!)
5. Descriptions of field trips with detail on methodologies learned that would allow replication
directly from your notebook
6. Brief summaries of your daily activities
7. All data and summaries of your thoughts regarding your individual research projects
8. Your thoughts and reflections about each of the field experience
9. Complete citations and notes from any sources (readings, etc.) so you can reference them in the
future
By J. Young (2010), Revised by C. Self-Sullivan (2011)