So watch your back Timon, no hakuna matata for you!
New 4-star review of The Meerkat Murder on A-Thrill-A-Week!
“Did you know that the cute and cuddly meerkat, made famous by the Disney movie The Lion King is the most murderous mammal known to science? A 2016 study published in the journal Nature found that Suricata suricatta, also known as meerkats, beat out 1,023 other mammals at being the most murderous. They found that approximately 20% of all meerkats will be killed by one of their own. Sounds like a good topic for a good murder mystery, eh? Well, R.J. Corgan does just that with his latest addition to the Kea Wright series, Meerkat Murders…”
My next novel, Murder on Masaya is set on the slopes of Volcan Masaya, Nicaragua and continues the adventures of Kea Wright. I’ve included on this blog some photos of tools and techniques the scientists were using in the field that might not make it into the book.
Fieldwork nibbles
One of the many research projects conducted on the slopes of the volcano involved the collection of gravity measurements. These required a great deal of patience due to the sensitivity of the instruments. Below you can see two researchers patiently taking gravity readings on the side of the road on the slopes of Masaya.
The gravity meter in our field work was similar to the one you seen below (image from University of Newbrunswick). Their unit is a 1964 machine that’s been refurbished.
A gravity meter similar to the one we used on Masaya.
As old as it is, believe it or not, it still is worth as much as two new cars…
For us newbies, the device can take either five minutes to take a reading to forty. Or, if you’re almost done after forty minutes and someone accidentally knocks the base plate with their foot, it can take one hour fifteen…
The real joy of getting a Geology undergraduate degree is all the fieldwork – you usually have to complete a 6 week field camp, often out West.
Just a day at the office
After college, the tricky part is finding a career that lets you work outside.
It can be difficult to find a job that both pays well and lets you experience the great outdoors. Such jobs do exist, but it requires dedication, and luck, to find them.
Even if you find that job, after moving up the career ladder, you likely find yourself as a manager, spending all your days in meetings or tied to a desk.
When you forget that fresh air is more than an NPR program.
It doesn’t matter if your major was Geology, Biology, Geography, or Archaeology, chances are that many other people feel just like you. They find themselves working in marketing, management, or loads of other jobs that have nothing to do with their degrees.
Staying Plugged In – From Home or Breaks on Work
Now, don’t despair – and don’t walk away from those cushy office jobs! There are many ways to still get your Nature geek on.
There are many organizations that need volunteers to help collect or process data. National Geographic has plenty of citizen science programs on their website, putting you in touch with scientists who will help you test your local water, take part in the Audubon Society’s bird census, or even search space.
The new wave of data coming at scientists can sometimes be daunting. Where they used to scrimp and save to get one overhead image, they find themselves inundated with thousands. Between drones, trail cameras, and satellite images, they have to find a way to pull out the information they need. You can help, by helping them train their machine learning programs to identify different types of animals . Sometimes, even the computers can’t do it, and there’s no substitute for the human eye – you can help NASA find planets.
Working Vacations
There are ways to use your vacation time to get away from the office and see remote locations while helping scientists collect data! Earthwatch.orgis an international nonprofit organization that ‘ bring individuals from all walks of life together with world-class scientists to work for the good of the planet.’ By joining an expedition, your fees support the research (and meals), while you collect data side by side with the experts! Join an expedition monitoring dolphins in Costa Rica, boating down the Amazon, or see climate change the edge of the Arctic.
If you’re interested in conservation or education, check out GVI. From their website, “ Volunteer for a week or up to a year, combine our projects for unique multi-country combos, become an international expedition team member, take a gap yearwith a difference, or flesh out your resume with one of our various internship options!”
Or Just Tuck In With A Good Book
For example, I love the U.S. National Park system, but I’ll never get to go to all of them. Nevada Barr’s novels lets you explore 18 different parks, and the life of a park ranger, while enjoying the thrill of a murder mystery along the way. There are plenty of authors featuring scientists who can help you keep fresh on your science as well as scope out parts of the world you’ve yet to explore!
Remember, how you stay connected is up to you, but never forget the passion that inspired you. Whether through fiction, vacations, or just a good book, the world is waiting for you.
