Program Description
You will be see and do many exciting things on this Alaska adventure, visiting one of the most dramatic landscapes on the planet, and one of the most productive marine ecosystems in the world. Wildlife abounds including salmon, whales, seals, puffins, bald eagles and black bears.
Students will investigate both marine and terrestrial ecosystems, and the interface between them. There will be an emphasis on conservation biology and ecosystem management. With an extremely limited road system, water travel is by far the best way to see southeast Alaska, thus we will be spending good amounts of time on boats (ferries, tour boats and kayaks), as well as on land. We will study primary succession following glacier retreats near Juneau and in
Glacier Bay, river ecology while boating the Stikine River in the Wrangell area, and intertidal ecology in Juneau and while sea kayaking near Haines. We will also study the human dimension of the ecosystem by studying the complexities of sustainable fisheries management in one of the last bastions of successful wild fisheries in the world.
Faculty
Quinn Smith and Brent Smith (the same last name is not a coincidence!) are uniquely qualified to lead such a program. Quinn has an MS in Fisheries Science from the University of
Alaska Fairbanks, one of the best schools of fisheries science in the world. His thesis research focused on the larval dispersal ecology of Dungeness Crab, a particularly scrumptious crab species! After working in the environmental non-profit sector for a few years, he is currently employed as a Fisheries Scientist with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, stationed in
Juneau. His specialty is population research on shrimp, crab, scallops and other invertebrates, though he dabbles in fishery management as well. His job is to insure that the fisheries of these animals are ecologically sustainable. Brent is a forest ecologist and conservationist, and since
Quinn moved to Alaska, he has gained expertise on the terrestrial ecosystems of southeast
Alaska. He also is an avid birder and observer of animal behavior. Though this is Earlham’s first May Term to Alaska, Brent has led many semester-long programs to East Africa, and May
Terms to Galapagos (6), Costa Rica, Ecuador and Australia.
Course: Bio 399
Working in groups, students will conduct investigative projects on land and sea employing sound subject-specific scientific techniques. They will also keep a scientific journal, entering daily observations and musings on what they learned and contemplated that day. As is our practice in the Biology Department, this May Term will be preceded by a spring semester seminar (1 credit) so that students are academically prepared before going on the expedition. A research presentation and paper on a topic of choice are required for that seminar.

Due to limits imposed by boat size, we are accepting only 13 students. Preference is given to
Biology or Environmental Science (Biology emphasis) majors, and Ecological Biology (BIOL 11) is a required prerequisite.
Living Arrangements
We will be camping and staying in moderate hotels.
Orientation and Preparation
A spring semester 1 credit Seminar is required for participation in the May Term.
Charges
The course fee for this May Term is $3,000.00 which includes all living, housing and transportation expenses once students arrive in Juneau. Airfare to and from Juneau will be an additional expense, and is the responsibility of the student to book separately. Scholarships are available for students with demonstrated financial need. You will also be charged a nonrefundable enrollment fee of $380.00. Earlham tuition fees apply if applicable.
Applications
Applications are available in the International Programs Office LBC 131 or online at https://wildmanscience.wufoo.com/forms/ipo-may-term-application . The deadline is October 15,
2014. Students will be interviewed individually as part of the application process.
May Term Policies: http://earlham.edu/academics/off-campus-study/program-policies/formay-terms/
Further Information
Contact Brent Smith ( brents@earlham.edu
) x 1457.