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Title
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Conrad McDonald
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Type
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Primary: Student Argonaut
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Operation
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Resilient Planet
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Mission:
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Mission 1: Invaders , Mission 2: Survivors
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Created On
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3/10/2008
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From: Resilient Planet Mission 1: Invaders , Mission 2: Survivors |
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Conrad McDonald Read more about Conrad McDonald, a Student Argonaut from Operation: Resilient Planet. |
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Conrad McDonald
Student Argonaut,
Washington Island, WI
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Conrad lives on an island in Lake Michigan called Washington Island. His teacher says the study of ecology, especially aquatic ecology, is very relevant for Conrad since he lives in a place that is totally surrounded by water. His dad is one of the few remaining commercial fishermen in the area. There are very few students in his grade school and high school, but being a swim teacher assistant and Little League team assistant helps him experience many activities in and out of school. This year JASON has three Student Argonauts that live on islands, such as New Zealand and Sicily, Italy.
Conrad has a great interest in ornithology, especially the study of Peregrine falcons. He first became interested in falcons when he was 10 years old after reading a book featuring a boy called Sam. Sam was able to live off the land because of a falcon. Conrad, like Sam, was able to trap mice and small rodents in order to help an injured raptor he found. As luck would have it, Conrad was able to really help the bird when he contacted a wildlife rehabilitator. He learned many things about plants, birds and geology from her and is interested in pursuing a career in ornithology.
Conrad says his biggest challenge was the time he broke his elbow at the start of baseball season. Everything looked bleak to him until his parents announced they were taking the family to Florida with a special stop in the Everglades. His elbow did not stop him from reading every sign post or taking pictures to add to his bird species “seen list.” He says he lost the athletic part of him for awhile, but took the opportunity to enhance the intellectual side of him.
In his own words
On his Operation: Resilient Planet experience
Actually, the quietest day yet during Boot Camp may have been the best. We went on a dive boat called the Len-Der, but were not able to get the results we hoped for with the side-scanning sonar. The sonar was to support the work being done on the research vessel Nesskay with Host Researcher Dr. Russell Cuhel. We were able to look at some scans Captain Jerry did on different days. He uses the sonar to find ship wrecks, and look at the bathymetry of the bottom. I was on a team with Lewis, Bevan, and Randy. We got a crash course in videography from JASON. I got to talk baseball with one of the crew-members who played Division III college baseball. We learned that Argo Maria and I share a very good taste in music and we have lately been performing duet covers of Neil Young, Led Zeppelin, and Pink Floyd.
Thoughts on Dr. Russell Cuhel
We went to the Great Lakes WATER Institute and finished up our tests with Dr. Cuhel counting zebra and quagga mussels. We were able to use some really cool testing methods. We used a special machine to test the nitrate levels in the lake. We also learned which Mission we would go on. My assignment was to Flower Garden Banks in the Gulf of Mexico.
Thoughts on the Field Assignment
Saturday was our first day of filming on the vessel Spree. We started out by visiting the High Island 389 oil platform. We met the CEO and COO of W&T. Both men were very interesting. Because the platform was in the middle of Flower Gardens National Marine Sanctuary, the men on the platform have to be very careful of what they do. In order to properly protect the reef organisms that find refuge in the structures, they have to know as much about the creatures as possible. They made it clear that even though they are scientists, they aren’t nerds. The CEO races Ferraris. After an interview during which Dr. Robert Ballard, our host researcher, gave us a chance to ask questions to both men, they went back to the platform.
What JASON means to me
This expedition has been an amazing journey that has both enthralled and inspired me. Dr. Robert Ballard showed me that by doing, not just hearing, you can be inspired, taught, and amazed.
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