Thanks to our 2017 Residential Volunteers
Our fantastic volunteers: Eilidh, Siobhan, Chris and Matt
Between March and October, the HWDT team was joined by a brilliant team of enthusiastic and dedicated residential volunteers. During the field season, Matt Clements, Siobhan Moran, Chris Sharples and Eilidh McManus have worked hard to further the Trust across many of our projects and objectives.
Matt, our Silurian Support volunteer, played a vital role in the smooth running of our research survey programme on board Silurian. Our Education and Engagement projects were supported by Siobhan, who spent time developing and running indoor and outdoor education workshops, alongside writing our Enewsletter. Chris worked on our photo-identification research; setting up the foundations of the Trust’s photo-ID catalogue for Risso’s dolphins as well as matching images received from our Community Sightings Network, boat operator partners and Silurian. Eilidh, joined the team in May and helped oversee the Community Sightings Network by validating sightings, getting back to enquiries and archiving the thousands of images we received this summer from the Community and off Silurian.
As well as working on their discrete projects the team engaged thousands of visitors in the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Centre in Tobermory; running daily workshops to communicate the results of our research to visitors and locals. They joined our crew on-board Silurian to assist with delivery of HWDT’s long-running scientific surveys and supporting our core research programmes.
“With the support of Chris, Eilidh, Matt and Siobhan we were able to maximize our conservation output this summer. It’s been fantastic to have the support of these talented early career scientists and educators to help deliver new and existing programmes”
Some final thoughts from the team...
“This placement was an amazing experience to work towards conserving unique species found in British waters with a like-minded, impassioned team who are working hard to make a real change”
Matt on board Silurian during one of the survey expeditions he supported
“It has been a privilege to work within the Hebridean communities, alongside such a passionate group of people, and play an active role in the conservation of our marine environment. This summer has been incredibly rewarding, and I have come out with some amazing memories, new skills and it has helped me secure a permanent position as part of the HWDT team.”
Siobhan enthusing the next generation of marine conservationists
“It was an incredible experience for me; having the opportunity to work on board Silurian assisting in the collection of invaluable data, which is being actively used to conserve cetaceans and their natural habitat.”
Chris contributing directly to the Photo Identificiation calalogues!