Excellent internship!

I volunteered with the BDRI for three weeks in August 2013 while it were stationed in Sardinia Italy and after enjoying my experience so much I returned to intern with the BDRI from March to May 2014.

I loved my time with the BDRI. I learned so much ranging from research techniques to behavioural observations to the use of various data and mapping programs. Boat based surveys are nearly done on a daily basis - of course this is weather dependent and done not only for the safety of the interns but also for the effectiveness of the work since choppy waters make it near impossible to spot the dolphins. During boat based surveys, interns rotate in all positions and jobs on the boat, allowing for a balanced and fair spread of work among all interns.

If it was not possible to go out to sea, either land-based surveys or lab work is undertaken. Again here there are a variety of jobs that need to be done in the lab which after a couple of hours are rotated between the interns so that the work does not become mundane as well as to allow everyone to learn everything.

The new location of O Grove, Galicia is no comparison to Golfo Aranci, Sardinia. The town, though quite small, is buzzing with life and has plenty of restaurants, bars, clubs and cafes. The intern apartment is magnificent! It is new and has a washing machine.

Additionally the people I met during both of my times spent with the BDRI are friends I still keep in contact with today. The BDRI is able to bring together people from all over the world with this unique project. Also Dr. Bruno Diaz Lopez (Chief Biologist and Director of the BDRI) is extremely helpful and knowledgeable. Not only was he very, very willing to answer our questions and explain tons of things about the dolphins, he was also very helpful when it came to exploring the town and problems that we may had.

I can't wait to go back to the BDRI (hopefully extremely soon!) and would recommend this project to anyone who would like an insight into the behavioural research of bottlenose dolphins in the wild in an absolutely beautiful location with a top researcher of the field!