LINKProjectProposal

NicolasTarasewicz
LINKstandsforLeadingInternshipsforNewKnowledge,anditisaprogramoperatedby
AnimasHighSchoolthatrequireshighschooljuniorstoobtainajobinternshipforthreeweeks
inMarch.Thepurposeistoprovidestudentswithreallifeexperiencesandknowledgeandto
helpthemidentifypotentialcareersandcoursesofstudyforcollege.Theworkistobereal,
intensive,andprovideapositivecontributiontotheorganizationandtothestudents
knowledgebase.
Myinternshipwillbeat
TheMeadowsCenterforWaterandtheEnvironment
(akaThe
MeadowsCenterandTheCenter)atTexasStateUniversityinSanMarcos,Texas.Justlikewith
theLINKprogramsgoaloffindingrealworldexperiences,TheMeadowsCentersgoalisto
researchanddevelopsolutionsfor
realworldwaterchallenges
.Itsstaffiscomposedof
biologists,engineers,socialscientists,planners,andothertypesofindividualswiththeexpertise
anddesiretoidentify,understand,andsolvethemanyanddiversewaterproblemsthatthearea,
state,country,andworldarefacinginthisageofdesertificationandglobalwarming.The
MeadowsCenteralsostrivestoeducateandservethecommunityandthecountrybymeansof
holistic,multidisciplinary,practical,andsciencebasedsolutionstorealworldchallenges.
Thisisacomplexmissioninwhichthefaculty,staff,andstudentsworktogetherwiththe
communitieswheretheyareworking.
MymentoratTheMeadowsCenterisAndrewSansom,Ph.D,theExecutiveDirectorofThe
MeadowsCenter,theformerExecutiveDirectoroftheTexasParksandWildlifeDepartment,
ExecutiveDirectoroftheTexasNatureConservancy,andalongtimefamilyfriend.Tome,Dr.
AndrewSansomisjustAndyaguywhosbeencomingtomyparentsstoreformanyyears
withhisfamilyandgoingonlotsofflyfishingguidetrips.Andylovesflyfishing.ButIve
learnedthroughtheyearsthathesaprettyknowledgeableguyaboutwildlifeandthe
environmentingeneral.Infact,hespassionateaboutwaterconservationandprobablyeven
morepassionateabouteducatingyoungpeopleaboutwaterissuesandgettingtheminvolvedin
science.
WhenItoldAndyaboutmyinterestinmathandhowIdidntknowwhatIwantedtodoforthis
internshipandforacareer,heenthusiasticallyofferedtohavemecometoTheMeadowsCenter
andworkwithhimonhydrologystudies,meaningthatIwillbehelpingtoperformwater
researchbeingconductedbyTheCenter.Ihopetobeinvolvedinandlearnaboutthedifferent
typesofhydrologywork.Imlearningthatitseverythingfromsimplewatersamplingto
engineeringofdamnsandevengroundwaterstudiesallthingsthatIcansaybutIreallydont
knowwhatthedifferenttypesofhydrologistsactuallydo.IdontknowifIwanttobecomea
hydrologist,butIhopetohaveabetterideaaboutthefieldafterthisinternship.

IwillbeprimarilyworkingonanUnderwaterGeoarchaeologyresearchprojectundertakenby
TheMeadowsCenteratSpringLake,Texas.Thisisactuallyaspringandlakerightonthe
campusofTheCenter.Theyhavefoundwhattheresearcherssayisoneofthemostbiodiverse
andculturallysignificantarchaeologysitesinNorthAmericabecauseitwasprobablythe
longestcontinuouslyinhabitedsitebytheearliestpeoplesfoundonthecontinent.The
researcherstherearecurrentlyperformingasubbottomprofileofthesiteandtakingcoresamples
ofthebottomtoanalyzethesedimentsanddeterminewhatthepeopleweredoingandwhatthe
environmentwaslike.Iwillbeassistingtheteamwiththesurveyingandsampling,withsome
analysis.TheCenterstatesthatthistypeofresearchprovidesuswithperspectiveonwhoweare
andwherewecomefromand"makeshistorytangible.Ithasanimpactoneducation,
communitycohesion,nationalidentify,economicdevelopmentandentertainment.
Outsideoftheunderwaterarchaeologyproject,Iwillalsobeattendingsomeofthehydrology
classesbeingheldattheuniversityandshadowingthehydrologistsatTheCenterto
understandwhattheydo.Andytellsmethisisintheorganizationsbestinterestbecauseitshis
goal,andthatofhiscolleagues,togetmoreyoungpeopleinvolvedinenvironmentalscience.
Fortheunderwaterarcheologyproject,Imgoingtohavetobecomescubacertifiedbythe
ProfessionalAssociationofDivingInstructors(PADI).Allofthedatacollectionandsite
examinationtakeplaceunderwater.Thatwillbeanimportantnewskillforme.Butasfunasthat
sounds,scubaisjustthemeanstogettotheresearchsite.There,Illhavetolearntheunderwater
methodsthattheresearchersusetocollectdata,examinethesite,andpreserveit.Oncethe
underwaterworkiscompleted,thedataanalysistakesplacebackatthelab.Again,allofthedata
analysisapproacheswillbenewtome.Theprojectitselfsupportstheorganizationbecause
researchiswhatthestaffdoes,andthisisoneofthemainresearchprojectsbeingundertaken
rightnow.
Iveexperiencedveryfewobstaclessettingupthisinternship.IspenttimeinthefallwithAndy
andhisfamilywherehetalkedaboutallthedifferenttypesofworkthatsgoingonatThe
Center.HeaskedmewhatIwantedtobeinvolvedin,andIhadtobehonestinthatIdidnt
know.IsupposethatsbeenthehardestparttryingtoselectsomethingtoworkonwhenI
reallydontunderstandthefield.ThatandthefactthatAndyisaverywellknownandbusy
man,sotryingtocommunicatewithhimtoidentifytheprojectspecificshasbeenslow.Right
now,Imjustusingemailtocommunicate,butIcanseehowaphonecallisthenextstep.Idont
wanttobugAndy,butIdohavetogetthisdone,sopersistenceisimportantIguess.
Myemotionsrangefromexcitedandscaredtowonderingifitwillbeworthit.Itactuallyall
soundsreallyinteresting,yetImabitnervousaboutthescubapartofit.Imalsowondering
howinterestingitwillbetome.Again,IdontknowifIwanttogointothefieldofhydrology,
soIassumethatnomatterwhat,Illgetsomeclarificationonthefieldandwhatthejobentails.

Allinallthough,Imstillthrilledtobegoingoutintheworldandexperiencingsomethinglike
thisformyself.