Friends in the forest: Jun

By Brinna Barlow

A large part of novel scientific research is the collection of samples, which will eventually be converted into numbers for quantitative, data-driven analysis. Most of my career as an ecologist has focussed on sample-collection or “fieldwork”, whether that be for my own research, as a research assistant collecting samples for another researcher or working for a Non-Government Organisation. Often this work takes place in remote locations: secluded savannahs, remote rainforest, and other far-flung fields. Despite the isolation of locations, this is not isolating work. It’s important to have at least one teammate for safety, efficiency and (hopefully) for fun.  

In this series of blogs entitled “friends in the field” I would like to introduce some of the people who have made my research possible and to share their experience of what it means to do fieldwork in Hong Kong. 

In this fourth instalment I would like to introduce Jun, he is a third-year undergraduate studying at the University of Hong Kong, currently undertaking an internship in the Biodiversity and Ecological Change lab and graduating this summer. 

I am here with Jun who is working on an internship in our lab. Jun, please tell us what that entails.

This internship is for my capstone course that I have to fulfil for my graduation. For this internship I am helping you to study insect food webs and collecting the samples like some leaves, some mosquito larvae etc. to learn more about the interactions. 

And do you think you’ve learnt anything so far?

Hmm, yes. I think I have learned some techniques to use for lab work. 

So, have you got any previous experience doing fieldwork?

I have taken some courses in the past which involved a field trip or fieldwork. 

What sort of work was that?

We identified and we measured the trees in a quadrat.

Oh that’s a classic, that’s where we all start. Anything else?

Also, I have gone down to the mangrove sites and identified the trees and learned about the structure and the survival tactics of the mangroves. 

Ok, so you have some experience. What are your expectations for the fieldwork that we will do today?

We are going to hike a little bit and go to different sites to collect the leaf samples and then just hike back. I don’t know. 

Yeah, that’s pretty much it for sure. Ok, any other expectations?

Hmmm, I think it will be a fun one. 

Ok, well I hope so. That’s all the questions for now and I will ask you the other ones when we have finished. 

So, this is Jun at the end of the day. So, earlier you said you had some expectations about doing the work and I want to know: were your expectations met?

Mmm, I think it’s a bit more challenging than I anticipated.

Oh yeah? Ok. 

Yeah, it’s kind of interesting though. 

Ok, good. I am glad. What was something that surprised you about today?

Mmm, I was not expecting it to be so sunny… and there are quite a few quite spikey trees. 

Oh yeah. 

Yeah, I got poked a bit and some other trees hit me in the face. 

Yeah, that happens. Ok, to summarise and wrap it up: how was the overall experience?

I think it’s great. 

Wow, that’s good, that’s good stuff. Thank you very much.