2020 Ocean Academy Intern Interviews Part 1

Welcome back! 

We've already introduced the 2020 Ocean Academy interns in the previous two posts. The following interviews will allow the interns to share a bit more about themselves, their research projects, and experiences at BIOS in their own words. 

We hope you are enjoying the posts this year, which showcase the range of talented Ocean Academy interns who are working at BIOS this summer. 

Photo credit: Imogen Peckett.

Good afternoon!

I would like to introduce myself as the manager of the BIOS research blog you are reading this summer. 

I’m Lakshmi Magon, 24, and I’m currently working as an Ocean Academy intern at BIOS in two separate departments. In the Development Office, I work with Ali Hochberg, science writer, webmaster, and research technician, contributing to a variety science communication projects, including helping to reinstate this blog! I’m also working in the Microbial Ecology Laboratory with Rachel Parsons, a research specialist, to examine the recurring seasonal patterns of bacterioplankton distribution due to temperature driven stratification in Devil’s Hole (Bermuda). 

I'm a recent graduate of the University of Toronto, where I received a postgraduate certification in global journalism. Prior to this, I received a bachelor of science in biotechnology from the University of Edinburgh (Scotland). I have worked as a multimedia reporter, science communicator, and science communication and education researcher in the U.K., Netherlands, and Bermuda. 

I’m excited to work again at BIOS. I had a great internship experience at this organization in 2018 and have always loved their science communication programs and materials. I can’t wait to see what new things I learn this summer. 

Here are my answers to the questions I will be asking those interns in future posts:

What has your BIOS internship been like so far?

Exciting! I have enjoyed working in such a friendly, open atmosphere. I feel free to ask questions and to get hands-on experience. One of my favorite experiences has been assisting with the development of content for research pages on the BIOS website. For this task, I was required to make ongoing research accessible to the public, without simplifying it too much. This was a fun and educational experience for me that I’m sure will be useful in the future. 

Has anything in particular impressed you while you have been at BIOS?

I’m impressed by the hard-working and positive people who work at BIOS. The people that I’ve worked with are incredibly supportive, answering all of my questions and always offering help. This has allowed my creativity to be challenged, and for me to be immersed in many different angles of development and research for a non-profit scientific institution. 

If you could sum up your internship in five words, what would they be?  

Motivating. Challenging. Stimulating. Impactful. Exciting.

When you think about your internship here, what is a memorable experience that comes to mind?

Pressing publish on the first BIOS research blog I helped write. I felt equal parts proud and nervous. It was great to see something I had worked on to showcase the Ocean Academy program be appreciated by the wider public.

Has your time at BIOS changed your thoughts on what you might want to do in the future?

Working as part of a research lab as a Bermuda Program Intern in 2018 was an incredible experience. But I found the collaboration and outreach aspects of it to be more fulfilling than the research work. Until then, I had thought that I would move into a research-based job, so it was surprising to find my passion for science communication at that time. Now, two years later, having furthered my professional and personal interest in science communication, I couldn’t be happier that BIOS helped to show me a more fulfilling career path. 

Photo credit: Imogen Peckett.

Gloria Simmons, 18, is a rising third year undergraduate at Mount Allison University in New Brunswick, Canada. She is a first year Ocean Academy intern, through the Chubb Community Service Values Summer Program. She has been working with Amy Maas, a comparative physiologist and biological oceanographer and Hannah Gossner, a research technician in Maas’ lab, to image zooplankton to identify their size and life stage. 

What has your BIOS internship been like so far?

It’s been good. I’ve done a lot of interesting activities that I haven’t experienced before. 

Has anything in particular impressed you while you have been at BIOS?

The friendliness of everyone here. I find people so approachable and it is easy to ask questions. My supervisor and the other interns are always ready to explain things. 

If you could sum up your internship in five words, what would they be?

Educational, open, interesting, good experience.

When you think about your internship here, what is a memorable experience that comes to mind?

Putting together a Multiple Opening/Closing Net and Environmental Sensing System (MOCNESS). I did this on my first day and it was difficult. We had to troubleshoot the system, and it was interesting to see how it worked. 

Has your time at BIOS changed your thoughts on what you might want to do in the future?

I know I want to major in a chemistry-based subject, and having this look into what lab work is like has been useful. 

Photo credit: Imogen Peckett. 

Saxon Davis, 18, is a recent graduate of Warwick Academy (Bermuda) and a first year Ocean Academy intern. She is working with Yvonne Sawall, a marine benthic ecologist whose research focuses on coral reefs and seagrass meadows, to examine the resilience of mustard hill coral (Porites astreoides) and great star coral (Montastrea cavernosa) to changing environmental conditions.

What has your BIOS internship been like so far?

This is my first year and it has been really interesting. I've definitely learned a lot and used a lot of new equipment. This has reinforced what I've been learning at school and made it easier to understand. In biology classes I've learned a lot about photosynthesis, respiration, and the Kreb's cycle and applying it practically has made it easier to understand.  

Has anything in particular impressed you while you have been at BIOS?

Getting real experience in lab work and scientific report writing has all been really useful. At school I have written an extended essay, but I've never written a research-style scientific paper before.

When you think about your internship here, what is a memorable experience that comes to mind?

I met a really cute cat who lives around here! I also have gotten to meet actual scientists who do science every day for their jobs. I've never been able to interact with anyone like that before. 

Has your time at BIOS changed your thoughts on what you might want to do in the future?

I have always known that I want to major in a biology-based subject at university. Though I don't think I'll be going into marine biology, working at BIOS has given me more confidence in related subjects.

Thank you for reading about our 2020 Ocean Academy interns. We invite you to stay tuned throughout the coming weeks as we present more individual intern interviews.