http://www.earthwatch.org/site/pp.asp?c=dsJSK6PFJnH&b=1594389
You can all of the pages!
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Saturday, October 6, 2007
Day 8
After my cup of tea I'm off to the airport.
We switched hotels
http://www.lepavillon.com/
and I SLEPT!
See you in Maine.
We switched hotels
http://www.lepavillon.com/
and I SLEPT!
See you in Maine.
Day 7
Last day!
We had a talk by Dr. Lee Dyer this morning.
He showed us slides of the different caterpillar families. After the talk, we went to the bug room to catalog some moths... then we had our last conference call via adobe connect. It went very well! Wow! progress!
The week is over and I am sad... ready to go home, but sad. It was a great experience to come down here... see some science in action, see for myself the Katrina devastation, and see the amazing city of New Orleans.
We had a talk by Dr. Lee Dyer this morning.
He showed us slides of the different caterpillar families. After the talk, we went to the bug room to catalog some moths... then we had our last conference call via adobe connect. It went very well! Wow! progress!
The week is over and I am sad... ready to go home, but sad. It was a great experience to come down here... see some science in action, see for myself the Katrina devastation, and see the amazing city of New Orleans.
Friday, October 5, 2007
Day 7 is it?
Yesterday I started by skyping a sixth grade class in Florida. Those kids knew their stuff! Great questions!
We had some downpours yesterday. The roads flood very easily here, as the ground is already so saturated.
I spent yesterday dissecting caterpillars. The scientist I worked for was looking to see how the caterpillars immune system internally fought off the parasitoid eggs. She injected red glass beads into a caterpillar, waited 24 hours and then put them to sleep. Under a GORGEOUS dissection microscope, they were opened up and the beads were extracted ( yes, manually. Then the beads are photographed by a computer hooked into the microscope. A machine will then determine to what extent the eggs were "attacked". Very cool, BUT HARD. I think the biggest thing I have learned down here is that science is HARD work. Experiments require HUGE amounts of data and collecting that data is tedious, precise, repetitive work that can take years and years.
Working under the microscope with little beads takes a steady hand, patience and practice... none of the things I have! I got a lot better but still it was frustrating. Frustrations turn into successes though and I did very good work. I didn't do many caterpillars, but the ones I did do were my BEST WORK.
Last night we ate at a Turkish restaurant. The food down here is amazing. We went out to hear some gypsy jazz music...interesting.
Today is our last day, and we will be doing out last "broadcasting" from 11-12. I plan on touring a bit more this afternoon... trying to find some gator to bring home to my kids. I'm staying in a hotel downtown tonight for a change.
See you in Maine!
We had some downpours yesterday. The roads flood very easily here, as the ground is already so saturated.
I spent yesterday dissecting caterpillars. The scientist I worked for was looking to see how the caterpillars immune system internally fought off the parasitoid eggs. She injected red glass beads into a caterpillar, waited 24 hours and then put them to sleep. Under a GORGEOUS dissection microscope, they were opened up and the beads were extracted ( yes, manually. Then the beads are photographed by a computer hooked into the microscope. A machine will then determine to what extent the eggs were "attacked". Very cool, BUT HARD. I think the biggest thing I have learned down here is that science is HARD work. Experiments require HUGE amounts of data and collecting that data is tedious, precise, repetitive work that can take years and years.
Working under the microscope with little beads takes a steady hand, patience and practice... none of the things I have! I got a lot better but still it was frustrating. Frustrations turn into successes though and I did very good work. I didn't do many caterpillars, but the ones I did do were my BEST WORK.
Last night we ate at a Turkish restaurant. The food down here is amazing. We went out to hear some gypsy jazz music...interesting.
Today is our last day, and we will be doing out last "broadcasting" from 11-12. I plan on touring a bit more this afternoon... trying to find some gator to bring home to my kids. I'm staying in a hotel downtown tonight for a change.
See you in Maine!
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Day 6
Oh busy day!
I started today at the lab skyping my class back in Winslow. For those of you who do not know, remember the cartoon the Jetsons? They had a TV/phone where you could see the person you were talking to and vice-versa? That is skype. SO my students could see me and I could see them... unfortunately, because I can't seem to sleep down here. My roommate thinks maybe the room is haunted... so my appearance is lacking... oh I'll blame in on the pixels...
Back to science.
We went out to Honey Island Swamp today in search of caterpillars! We first had to don our boots... tall rubber boots that were supposed to ward off snakes and chiggers. Now back in Maine we don't have chiggers, but from what I hear about them we don't want to. We had to wear long sleeves and plants and hats and lots of DEET. I walked through the forest with a machete. We found the tree that we were to have for our focal point and measured a 5 m radius out from it. That was our plot. We first looked for caterpillars visually and then used sticks to beat the trees to dislodge the caterpillars. They fall into our awaiting beater sheets. Then a plant inventory is done to estimate type and amount of caterpillar food.
Our result? We found 15 caterpillars. They are now living in the "bag" room here at Tulane. We put them in ziplok baggies stuffed full of the plant they were eating.
They will keep them here until they emerge as a moth or until a parasitoid pops out leaving the dead caterpillar.
The swamp was dry, but interesting. We saw two snakes and three alligators as well as a great white heron. ( and a lot of spiders).
The snake was a 4-5 foot King snake. We are not sure of the other... he was a little but fiesty!
Last night we ate at a restaurant with local fare. I did not try the alligator cheesecake but did have some fried green tomatoes. Yum.
We made our way down to Bourbon Street last night to listen to some live/free music
that was supposed to be in the outside park, but downpours stopped that.
It really poured here last night. Wow.
My camera and computer are fighting so I can't get any pictures downloaded, but Melanie Dubose is posting some (of me) on her blog.
I started today at the lab skyping my class back in Winslow. For those of you who do not know, remember the cartoon the Jetsons? They had a TV/phone where you could see the person you were talking to and vice-versa? That is skype. SO my students could see me and I could see them... unfortunately, because I can't seem to sleep down here. My roommate thinks maybe the room is haunted... so my appearance is lacking... oh I'll blame in on the pixels...
Back to science.
We went out to Honey Island Swamp today in search of caterpillars! We first had to don our boots... tall rubber boots that were supposed to ward off snakes and chiggers. Now back in Maine we don't have chiggers, but from what I hear about them we don't want to. We had to wear long sleeves and plants and hats and lots of DEET. I walked through the forest with a machete. We found the tree that we were to have for our focal point and measured a 5 m radius out from it. That was our plot. We first looked for caterpillars visually and then used sticks to beat the trees to dislodge the caterpillars. They fall into our awaiting beater sheets. Then a plant inventory is done to estimate type and amount of caterpillar food.
Our result? We found 15 caterpillars. They are now living in the "bag" room here at Tulane. We put them in ziplok baggies stuffed full of the plant they were eating.
They will keep them here until they emerge as a moth or until a parasitoid pops out leaving the dead caterpillar.
The swamp was dry, but interesting. We saw two snakes and three alligators as well as a great white heron. ( and a lot of spiders).
The snake was a 4-5 foot King snake. We are not sure of the other... he was a little but fiesty!
Last night we ate at a restaurant with local fare. I did not try the alligator cheesecake but did have some fried green tomatoes. Yum.
We made our way down to Bourbon Street last night to listen to some live/free music
that was supposed to be in the outside park, but downpours stopped that.
It really poured here last night. Wow.
My camera and computer are fighting so I can't get any pictures downloaded, but Melanie Dubose is posting some (of me) on her blog.
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Your assignment for Wed.
If you don't have New Orleans work to finish...
I'd like you to start the assignment... what would I see if I rode from New Orleans back to Maine and stopped every 150 miles (approx.)? Where would I be? What would I see? Use Mapquest to chart the route.
I'd like you to start the assignment... what would I see if I rode from New Orleans back to Maine and stopped every 150 miles (approx.)? Where would I be? What would I see? Use Mapquest to chart the route.
Day 5? TEACHER TUBE
OOPS!
The local restaurant wil be tonight, not last.
Today we are going out into the field.
If you haven't viewed my videos, go to teachertube.com and search new orleans and look for sfarnham. I have 5 more to post, but they are large and take a long time so they might not get on this morning.
For my classes today... what have you guys been doing? From my emails, it looks like it took two days to get the Marie and Bug assignment done? Thanks to those who emailed. I think I have now heard from all of my classes.
Please bring your computers home this weekend and check my posts. Do you have any questions? email me or post them.
The local restaurant wil be tonight, not last.
Today we are going out into the field.
If you haven't viewed my videos, go to teachertube.com and search new orleans and look for sfarnham. I have 5 more to post, but they are large and take a long time so they might not get on this morning.
For my classes today... what have you guys been doing? From my emails, it looks like it took two days to get the Marie and Bug assignment done? Thanks to those who emailed. I think I have now heard from all of my classes.
Please bring your computers home this weekend and check my posts. Do you have any questions? email me or post them.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Day 4
Day 4
Last night we had Thai food. Yum. Almost as good as the Asian Cafe.
We worked hard today! I started my day working with Tara. Tara is setting up an experiment to look at two types of trees in three different environments. She is trying to see the effect varying the nutrients has on the tree's natural defense mechanisms. (Wow what a sentence.) So Noreen and I measured out specific amounts of phosphate, potassium, and nitrogen to be added to the trees. Then we went to the greenhouse (a greenhouse in New Orleans is VERY hot in the middle of the day!) and prepared 90 pots to plant the trees in.
After lunch we worked with Clark measuring the length of various Arthropods. You see, here at Tulane we are working with Dr. Lee Dyer's graduate students. They are all working on various projects related to Dr. Dyers work. You all know that Dr. Dyer is not a medical doctor right? He has a Phd. degree. That gives him the "Dr."
Why were we measuring the length of bugs? Well, if you have the average size of a bug, and know about how many bugs there are, you can get a good estimate of the total bug biomass. ( pounds of bugs!) Clark works with alfalfa crops ... trying to keep the pests out and the alfalfa in. There should be a video on this on Teacher Tube later.
When we finished our day in the lab, well OK I'll tell you. I went to the pool. It was mid80's and they have an outdoor pool here at Tulane University. It is a beautiful university if in 4 years any of you are considering going out of state. If you are into music this is the town for you... jazz, funk, lots. Has Ms. Buzy been to New Orleans?
Tonight we are supposed to be going out to dinner at a restaurant that serves "local" fare. Alligator?? We'll see.
Last night we had Thai food. Yum. Almost as good as the Asian Cafe.
We worked hard today! I started my day working with Tara. Tara is setting up an experiment to look at two types of trees in three different environments. She is trying to see the effect varying the nutrients has on the tree's natural defense mechanisms. (Wow what a sentence.) So Noreen and I measured out specific amounts of phosphate, potassium, and nitrogen to be added to the trees. Then we went to the greenhouse (a greenhouse in New Orleans is VERY hot in the middle of the day!) and prepared 90 pots to plant the trees in.
After lunch we worked with Clark measuring the length of various Arthropods. You see, here at Tulane we are working with Dr. Lee Dyer's graduate students. They are all working on various projects related to Dr. Dyers work. You all know that Dr. Dyer is not a medical doctor right? He has a Phd. degree. That gives him the "Dr."
Why were we measuring the length of bugs? Well, if you have the average size of a bug, and know about how many bugs there are, you can get a good estimate of the total bug biomass. ( pounds of bugs!) Clark works with alfalfa crops ... trying to keep the pests out and the alfalfa in. There should be a video on this on Teacher Tube later.
When we finished our day in the lab, well OK I'll tell you. I went to the pool. It was mid80's and they have an outdoor pool here at Tulane University. It is a beautiful university if in 4 years any of you are considering going out of state. If you are into music this is the town for you... jazz, funk, lots. Has Ms. Buzy been to New Orleans?
Tonight we are supposed to be going out to dinner at a restaurant that serves "local" fare. Alligator?? We'll see.
Monday, October 1, 2007
Day 3
Hiya,
Day 3 started with a walk around Audubon Park. Very pretty with Spanish Moss on live Oaks, lots of birds...
Most of today was spent trying to video conference. We did get a tour of the lab and a briefing from Dr. Dyer.
Do YOU know the difference between a parasite and a parasitoid?
Tomorrow we have a full schedule in the lab. I will have a lot of SCIENCE to report back with then.
Meg Warren taped the conference calls and I will post how to get to them as soon as I hear from her. That can be in class for Tuesday.
Day 3 started with a walk around Audubon Park. Very pretty with Spanish Moss on live Oaks, lots of birds...
Most of today was spent trying to video conference. We did get a tour of the lab and a briefing from Dr. Dyer.
Do YOU know the difference between a parasite and a parasitoid?
Tomorrow we have a full schedule in the lab. I will have a lot of SCIENCE to report back with then.
Meg Warren taped the conference calls and I will post how to get to them as soon as I hear from her. That can be in class for Tuesday.
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