Report on Practicum Projects 2008

Sara Sherman
Damon Yeh
Kenneth Frankel

Sara Sherman
Email address: sherman8@umd.edu
Earth, Life, and Time Scholar. Society and Environmental Issues Major
Title of Project: Through a Naturalist's Eyes:Interning At Oregon Ridge Nature Center

Decscription of Project: Sara's project included research on historic hunting technologies from around the world. She was also required to make a display of these technologies.

What were the main benefits you received from doing the project?: Sara was able to learn about some aspects of global culture, and gave her a sense of accomplishment as her display is relatively permanent.

What were the main pitfalls or obstacles during the development and/or undertaking of the project?: Sara was required to make many revisions. She also lacked information on some of the African weapons that she was dealing with. In this case, the donater was not available to give information on these weapons.

Damon Yeh
Email address: dyeh@umd.edu
Earth, Life, and Time Scholar. Biology: Ecology and Evolution Major.
Title of Project: Invertebrates of the National Zoo

Decscription of Project: Damon volunteered at the invertebrate house of the National Zoo. He undertook such tasks as food preparation, tank cleaning, and animal feeding.

What were the main benefits you received from doing the project?: Damon was able to learn part of how zoos operate. Although he had much background information on invertebrates, he was able to learn some more specifics of biology.

What were the main pitfalls or obstacles during the development and/or undertaking of the project?: One major obstacle of this project was waking up early, which can be difficult for almost any college student. Once on the job, however, Damon also had be careful with tank maintainence. He was required to check salinity, temperature, and cleanliness. Also, not much is known about invertebrates medically, and it was hard to administer medical procedures underwater.

Kenneth Frankel
Email address: kenneth715@hotmail.com
Earth, Life, and Time Scholar. Environmental Politics and Policy Major.
Title of Project: Internship for the Coolcapitol Challenge:A Carbon Reduction Campaign

Decscription of Project: Ken genearlly completed secretary work, such as updating the organization's website. He also met with other oganizations and partnerships along with his superiors to see what non-profit work is like. His organization's goal was to create private and public partnerships that would take the coolcapitol challenge.

What were the main benefits you received from doing the project?: Ken was able to so how non-profit oganization operate. He was also able to do some research on how carbon outputs can be reduced.

What were the main pitfalls or obstacles during the development and/or undertaking of the project?: Some possible contacts already had plans to reduce their carbon, so it was difficult to get new partners, but overall, the project was beneficial.

Last modified: 23 November 2008