Science Assistants

Science assistants are volunteers who assist groups of 3-5 students collect data along a transect. They will encourage your students to practice good scientific techniques and work with your students to identify intertidal organisms through the use of the ID cards and books. We have found that including science assistants in OPIHI's protocol not only makes it easier for teachers to manage a class of students in the intertidal but also increases student data accuracy.

We recommend drawing science assistants from the pool of adults in your community with either an interest in marine science, a background in a scientific field, or marine researchers or students. By canvassing both community volunteers and researchers with pleas for assistance you are reaching a broader group of potential helpers. Science assistants from any background should review the "OPIHI Sampling Protocol for Science Assistants" and "Science Assistant Essentials" before the field trip so they will familiar with OPIHI's sampling methods and how to help.

We encourage you to not assign yourself a transect group so you can wander among all the students asking questions, taking pictures, and disciplining when necessary. Encourage the groups and science assistants to work together and ask for help when having difficulty identifying an organism. Science assistants are not responsible for any disciplining.

We have also used students who have participated in the OPIHI program in previous years as science assistants with good success.

Contact and Recruiting Information for Science Assistants

The following is a sample email you can send out to potential volunteer science assistants and organizations who may be interested in assisting you on your OPIHI field trips. Please modify the content as you feel necessary and tweak to appeal to niche organizations. In general, we have found that stressing the rigor of the project's scientific method while downplaying the need for volunteers to be marine experts appeals to the widest variety of potential science assistants. However, when writing to academic institutions you may want to emphasize the need for qualified marine researchers as when writing to conservation organizations you may want to emphasize OPIHI's role in collecting information and conserving an understudied ecosystem. You can also direct people to the science assistant section of the website as well as send them the OPIHI Volunteer Science Assistant Flyer.

Sample Science Assistant Recruiting Email
List of Organizations to Contact for Science Assistants

Once volunteers respond, we have found giving them a short "Thank you" reply that mentions you will email them as the date approaches with more specific information sufficient. About five days in advance of the trip send out a reminder email to your volunteers reminding them of the time, date, and place, and directions to your field trip, as well as a link to the OPIHI website to read the "OPIHI Sampling Protocols" and "OPIHI Science Assistant Essentials" before the trip so they will be familiar with the methods and how to help. Ask them to look over the "Pictorial Methodology Guide" if they are unfamiliar with transect and quadrat sampling techniques and "Potentially Hazardous Intertidal Organisms" so they can practice safe handling procedures on the trip. We have found asking your volunteers for a phone number you can reach them at the night before or morning of the trip if an emergency arises useful. We also recommend giving out your cell phone so they can call with any last-minute questions.