The Journey begins!

This week marked the beginning of my official lectures in International Studies in Tropical Aquatic Ecology. I was very eager to step in to class and meet the other students who are going to help shape my life for the next two years. The course is international in the sense that there are different students from nationalities across the globe, and sure to that my class has seventeen different nationalities.

Immediately when the course coordinator concluded the official welcome and brief introduction of part of the staff, the lecturer for the day was ready to take us through our first lecture. The first lecture was entitled concepts of Aquatic Ecology, giving an overview of the common concepts in ecology, renowned scientist in ecology and the common concepts as applied in the Aquatic field. This was essential particularly considering the fact that some of the student’s backgrounds were not necessarily related to the aquatic field hence it was imperative to bring the students to a common level.

The approach applied was so great but I found it very odd at first because I came from a background where the lecturer would give the student all the information, with the students left with the task of only assignments and preparing for the exams the top to bottom approach. In this new approach, the student is expected to participate actively in determining the final content of the lecture notes and consequently what will form the basis of the exams. So the week has been spent doing group work activities and presentations which also helps one skill in preparing and presenting before an audience an important skill that is essential in the scientific realm.

One thing that really surprised me was that the courses only last for a week contrary to what I was used to of studying a course for the entire semester. Well, as I write this I have just concluded my first course in aquatic ecology and will be starting on the next course next week. The beauty of the next two courses is that they will involve both theory and practical work and we will be heading out to the field. So friends let me inform you that for the next two weeks I will be in the southeastern corner of the North Sea, in Helgoland. I cannot wait to be at the sea again, and so not even the temperatures can dampen my spirit, I hope to take lots of photos to share with you, otherwise until then all I can say is: “Helgoland, here I come!”