5 tips for successful conservation fieldwork

I did my Ph.D. research in Samoa and masters in South Africa and Ireland. I have loved it. However the theory and methods courses you take in Uni for close to a decade before entering the field do little to prepare you for it. I have put all my best tips below:

1. Work in a site you love

This is partly deciding you will love it and partly knowing what you need both environmentally and emotionally. For instance, I need the sun and found doing fieldwork in Ireland hard for this reason. My boyfriend at the time was the same. In contrast, my Irish friend Hazel, found Samoa’s heat torturous. Not everyone can adapt and weather can make an enormous difference.

Social requirements also need to be taken into account. I admire three of my ex-boyfriends who have all moved to subantarctic islands. Living on an a subantarctic island is tempting to me because of the chance to interact with penguins and elephant seals but 14 months with only 7 people and no way off an island takes a special type of person. I know now I need more people to really be happy. Think about what you need to be happy before you select a scheduled field site.

2. Tips for when you get a leech in the eye and mosquitos love you

Sometimes you have to be careful of the creepy bloodsuckers. But if you do feel one wriggling in the eye, and prove to yourself with some eye drops that it is a live wriggler, don’t panic! It is gross. But it is not dangerous. Don’t try and pull it out straight away, stop and calm down. A doctor may be an option and was what I did the first time. But don’t let a doctor try to pull it out with a grass stalk. I found tweezers can be effective or opening your eyes up in the water under the sea.

The wigglers hate salt water. Once it is out your eye will bleed. But don’t worry leeches are pretty clean and it is only their saliva causing this reaction. You will be pretty much back to normal after 24 hours.

My field sites were very buzzy with mosquitos. I found that coconut oil under field clothes and on hands was perfect for this. Zips off pants are also great because you can get rid of muddy pants when you are in the safe mosquito free car.

3. Never reject the chance for an adventure

In my experience, you only really regret what you don’t do. Even the hard parts are worth it and they can change you in good ways. For instance, being marooned in a crater in the middle of an island. The helicopter couldn’t get in to rescue us, we had to ration food and I had to share a 3 men tent with 3 very smelly men. They lost their tents because of the flooding and were using body heat to dry off the swamp smell. Ok, not comfortable but a great way to make friends and talk about who we would eat first. The feeling of being rescued was very good indeed and it really made me appreciate a shower.

4. Pay attention to gender and culture norms

Do what the locals do and not what you normally do in your country. If you want to be respected, it’s a good idea to try to observe local traditions. If people wear clothes that cover up thighs or a head covering you should do the same. Things that might be considered normal in Western settings may have different connotations in another. Ask people you trust and check if you are breaking any rules that you might not be aware of.

5. Talk to people in different jobs and sectors and network, network, network

When you are out working in the field you meet many interesting people outside academia. Since there are only limited spaces to become a professor, use this time to explore alternative pathways. When getting a job it is who you know which is really key. It is great also show them what you can do. Invite them out into the field with you and share your experiences. You might also meet some one who would be willing to mentor you. A mentor can really help build up your skills and it is always great to meet new people.

I hope you have a great field season!