Whether collecting sea urchins on the North Shore, learning underwater photography, or swimming among conger eels at Shark’s Cove, the BYU–Hawaii Marine Research Team provides students in the biology major the opportunity to coordinate their senior projects and experience classroom studies in real life.
“Students come here because they want to do marine biology. What they really want is to be out in the field. And yeah, lectures and labs are important, but they really want to be out in the field. So the reason I do it is to keep their enthusiasm up,” said professor of biology Dr. Roger Goodwill, who started the team about five years ago.
McKenzie Painter, a senior from Utah studying marine biology, said, “I heard about Marine Team, and when I started going there were like 10 people on the team, and only 4 to 5 people would show up. Since I’ve been on the marine team the numbers have grown to about 40 students and upwards of 20 who actually come to the meetings.”
Painter continued, “The purpose is to facilitate and perpetuate marine research. Biology requires us to do a research project to graduate. It has to be an original research project, and you have to hook up with a mentor who will help you try to figure out what you want to research.”
Goodwill couldn't recall how the team got started in the first place, but said the formal purpose is to extend assistance to those students who are working on their senior projects. “All students have senior research projects they're working on,” said Goodwill. “Usually it involves collecting animals, and so the more eyeballs you've got looking, the better it's going to be all around.”
It's about safety too, said Goodwill, who recalled a time he slipped and fell on the reef, and ended up breaking his arm. “I don't want anyone, especially students,” said Goodwill, “to go out on the reef alone. Because it always helps, as safe as you are, to have people with you.”
Painter said the team “gets you really excited about living in Hawaii. Because when you’re in the middle of your degree, you spend a lot of time in [the library] so it’s good to go out and have fun. And it gets them more involved. When I was here in 2010, I had no idea it existed. I wasn’t doing research, but I wish I had known about marine team as a freshman. Not only would it have shown me a different side of the school, but it would’ve also gotten me in contact with more people.”
Gavin Nutall, a junior studying biology from California, said, “I love going out and finding a new animal. I have seen everything from tunicates and sponges to sharks and rays. I would go simply because I love it, but Dr. Goodwill helps us to develop it in such a way that it will get us employed as well.”
The team primarily consists of students in Bio 496 (Student Research), and those in the sciences who are interested, but all students are welcome to come, said Goodwill. The team meets every week on Wednesday evenings, and try to go on outings every 2-3 weeks, but often weather dictates their plans.
According to Goodwill, there is no fee to be a part of the team, but conditions are subject to change. “Besides helping them to complete their projects, it's something to put in their resume to apply for grad school or even medical school just gives them that edge,” said Goodwill.
Anyone is welcome to join the team and participate, regardless of being a marine biology major or not.