The Science Exchange Sea Turtle Internship: LatAm & the Caribbean

I’m grateful that I got the opportunity to be a part of this internship. Katherine Santos was very kind and considerate throughout the program. Not only did I learn a lot about the scientific community and field research, I also made new friends, experienced a new culture, and got to know the wonderful director Katherine. She made me feel right at home. She is also very flexible and accommodates anything to satisfy your needs while also pushes you out of your comfort zone. I was able to get a thesis out my scientific manuscript and it opened so many doors for my career. I got to volunteer with helping gather sea turtle eggs and relocate them to a protection site. I also did a community outreach in the schools in Boca de Tomatlan, Jalisco, and volunteered in a pet clinic. I loved meeting the locals and connecting with them. If you are looking for an authentic community, to connect with nature, and professional field research experience, I recommend the Science Exchange Internship Program!

his program was an amazing experience.

It gave the chance to work with a vulnerable Sea turtle specie ("Golfina") and I could understand how important is to support this kind of wildlife conservation programs.

I had the privilege to write a scientific paper related to nesting techniques. Even it was published on a bilingual and international magazine.

It helped me to improve my CV.
As a Veterinarian I want to continue my studies with this particular animal.

The program also immerses you into a multicultural experience

My experience was unique because I was able to work with fishes and corals on an academic venture. Future travelers should not worry about the area being unsafe, but they should know introductory Spanish if staying for a long amount of time. Additionally, be crafty with your food if you have no reliable, cheap way of going out of town - there is no large grocery store in Akumal. Don't go if you don't care for "beach life" (snorkeling, swimming, nighttime parties, etc.). Everyone in town is nice, but don't pet the dogs.

The Science Exchange is truly a unique experience. Getting the opportunity to study sea turtles on a beautiful remote beach for two months is a once in a lifetime experience and one that has everlasting memories. I was lucky enough to be an intern for The Science Exchange during the summer of 2019. During this time, I was helping to conduct research on Hawksbill Sea Turtles just south of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. It was by far one of the greatest experiences I have ever had. Getting to work so closely with the animals and making a meaningful difference was only part of that made that summer so special. The friends I made, experiencing the culture, and getting to know the people within the small village was just as rewarding as the research itself. I highly recommend this program and my only regret is not staying longer!

I enjoyed every second beeing an intern. I have met so many amazing people. You all made me the happiest vet student EVER! Thank you!The Science Exchange is an amazing program that has opened many doors for me. A participation is a great way to gain some unique knowledge, experiences. I am so glad I did it.
If given the chance, I recommend everybody to visit the CIIDIR (Instituto Politécnico Nacional) in Guasvave and to meet its inspiring and dedicated scientists, there is so much to learn from them.

My time at the Science Exchange represented one of the best learning experiences of my academic and personal life. The program surpassed all my expectations. It allowed me to grow as a scientist within a real-world conservation project, while also offering much enrichment in the way of cultural and linguistic exchange. Coordinators were flexible and understanding of our needs as interns, which made the whole experience even more welcoming. Furthermore, the program gave me the opportunity to grow within a fun, safe and exiting new environment. Importantly, I received sustained mentorship before, while in the program, and after the program was over. This individualized mentorship has continued well after my project was completed. Therefore, I consider myself lucky to still have the opportunity to work and learn from Science Exchange mentors like Dr. Elizabeth Whitman and Katherine Comer Santos. These mentors understand the importance of creating an inclusive research environment which can produce good science as well as qualified and mindful scientists.

My experience with the Science Exchange was positively life-changing; I would encourage anyone with an interest in research, sea turtles or working abroad to join them on the beach!

I spent a summer in Akumal, Mexico with The Science Exchange studying the effects of climate change on sea turtle nests. Katherine was a great mentor and available whenever I had questions or problems. The host organization in Akumal, Centro Ecologico Akumal, had a great staff and lots of fun volunteers from all over the world. The dorms had air conditioning and a shared kitchen. Just a two minute walk to the beach. At night we would patrol the beaches for nesting turtles and making sure the nests were protected. We took tourists out for a small donation fee and showed them the nesting process of the turtles, which was awesome for practicing my Spanish. It was one of the best summers of my life. Upon return to the US, Katherine was a great advisor and help during the final stages of the project, paper, and presentation. I highly recommend this program for anyone that wants to explore another part of the world and get out of their comfort zone while working towards a common goal of sea turtle conservation. It's a lot of work and up to the student to collect the research data. This internship is really great for a highly motivated individual, since TSE isn't present during the research. It's up to the student! As a 20 year old, I felt like I was able to grow into a more motivated, prepared, and organized student.

Thanks again for everything The Science Exchange has given me!

I was a college student looking to do something meaningful with my summer, and randomly stumbled upon The Science Exchange's website. The professional atmosphere of the website and other reviews I read lead me to believe this was a very legitimate program. I applied a little later than most interns but TSE welcomed me with open arms and accepted me to the Bahamas Internship.

A few Skype calls with my soon-to-be-supervisors and some Facebook messages with the fellow interns started my journey, and from the first second I felt like I was at home. We were given scholarship opportunities, an extensive amount of documents and materials to review about life in the Bahamas, where we would be staying, emergency plans, and just about every risk you could ever encounter while traveling internationally. The preparation for this trip was immaculate.

If you're new to field work, a huge component of it is rolling with the punches. Not everything goes exactly as planned because you might have a huge fish that ate all your bait, or the winds have been fighting you and the crew for a few weeks so you can't access a good site, or you get a little homesick.. any problem encountered is one that makes you grow as a scientist and the support system that TSE provided me allowed me to conquer any and all obstacles.

I went into this program expecting a cool resume booster and some awesome pictures. Little did I know, a year later, I am in the process of publishing my own paper on a project I spearheaded during my time in the Bahamas. Whether it was meeting locals and conversing about their way of life, connecting with National Geographic Fellows staying at our research station, working with kids on the island, or hunting down the best conch salad ever, the experience was beyond incredible. I have presented my research, gained lifelong friends, made important connections in the Marine Science field, and overall expanded my horizons and possibilities for myself in this career. I am forever grateful for this program, and I wish I could go back every summer!