Last week, we had a wonderful field week on Texel with 120 students during the Field Project Marine Science course. Students designed and carried out their own research projects, with either an ecological or social focus…
Topics ranged from lab experiments and field observations on the effects of inundation duration, to interviews and surveys exploring perceptions of plastic on Texel’s beaches — showcasing a wide variety of approaches. I even found a moment to join some students snorkeling in 17°C water to help sample Leandra Kornau‘s experimental settlement plates in the harbor — an unexpected highlight! In addition, we held practicals where students explored links between sediment characteristics and benthos on the mudflats, created a sediment budget for the Slufter by measuring flow velocity and suspended matter, and learned about subsampling using the bycatch from a shrimp trawler.
This week, we’re processing the samples and data in the lab, and next week students will present their findings through video pitches.
Grateful to work with such a dedicated and proactive team of staff and PhD students who made all of this possible. Celine van Bijsterveldt Mischa Streekstra Maria K. Pafi Dekkers Dorine Marlies Vollebregt Annie Vera Hunnestad Leandra Kornau Jana Verboom Marieke Mom Jente van Leeuwe Wageningen Environmental Research