I've raised £2700 to Participate in a Research expedition to Equador and the Galapagos Islands ...supporting the work of David Attenborough
Organised by Summer Wyatt-Buchan
Story
My biology teacher has organised a trip to Equador and the Galapagos Islands for a two-week expedition to help with biodiversity studies run by Operation Wallacea. The expedition will take the group to the remote lowland Amazonian forests of Equador and for the second week, to the Galapagos Islands. Visitation to these areas is limited due to ecotourism.
For the first part of the expedition, we will be working with scientists and academics to survey the Nenkepare forests, home of the Huaorani Ameridians. These forests are under threat from oil extraction, and further evidence is still needed of their biological importance so their conservation status can be upgraded, therefore adding another layer of protection to them. We will be helping with various biodiversity surveys, including bird mist netting and soundscape analysis, fish community surveys, herpetofauna surveys, camera traps for large mammals, small mammal trapping and forest structure surveys. We will also take part in an Amazonian wildlife ecology course, and have the opportunity to be introduced to Sami Indian communities to learn about their culture and customs.
For the second week, we will fly to the Galapagos Islands, and complete a Galapagos Island ecology course. This course will cover topics such as The Voyage of the HMS Beagle and how the Galapagos influenced Darwin's theory of evolution, Darwin's finches and measuring evolutionary change, threats to the survival of the islands, island extinction and conservation success stories, tourism impacts on the island and key species in the marine environment. We will have lectures on these topics which will be followed up by field visits to the sites around the islands they are based. Some field visits will involve snorkelling, and there will be the opportunity to go scuba diving.
It is possible to the use the expedition to gain extra UCAS points by doing an EPQ or extended essay project, and the expedition covers key aspects of biology, geography and environmental science syllabuses.
The cost of the trip is £3,000.00. The cost is extensive, in the main, due to the cost of travelling to the Galapagos Islands.
I am studying A-levels; Biology, Chemistry, Psychology and Geography alongside GCSE Russian. I hope to study medicine at university.
Summer has shown an excellent level of effort and commitment to her studies in Geography so far. Her work is detailed and reflects a very good understanding of complex ideas and case studies, and she makes articulate contributions to class discussions.
Mrs R Holmes, The Cotswold School
Summer continues to be an enthusiastic and talented Geographer who has a solid grasp of the concepts we have covered. She is capable of synoptic linking and a good level of evaluation ......She is working hard to achieve her potential ....
Mrs Johnestone, The Cotswold School
Summer is a driven and mature student with a bright and cheerful character who brightens up the form group! Her focus and drive mean that she has made a successful start to sixth form life and that the style of pastoral care and study both suit her character well. She was a credit to the school in the recent UNCCC mock climate change event in Cheltenham and she is a delight to have in the form!
Mrs Johnstone, Form Tutor, The Cotswold School
I will do all I can to raise the money needed for this trip.
Galapagos - Operation Wallacea
Shop through Eadyfundraising to support me please:
https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/expeditionequadorgalapagosfromthecotswoldschool/
