Stand back, I'm gonna try science!

Kids, always remember that science requires dedication, precision, accuracy, and above all, tools tuned to a high degree of both accuracy and precision. 

Robyn cutting PVC pipe with a handsaw.

Or that is the ideal of how science is supposed to work in a lab. Or work in a first world, well-run lab. Not so much field work in a third world country with no lab to speak of for miles. In the field, in situations like ours, improvisation is the order of the day. Also, cutting PVC pipe with a handsaw will apparently bring the downstairs desk worker up at a run worrying that someone is destroying the building. 

Today we began beach profiling. After four hours of work, we had moved an astounding 75 meters from our starting point. However, that does amount to 13 individual transects of 20 meters long each and it was going much faster than profiling had at Cuero. Robyn and I are also going to be starting an examination of the pollution on the beach and hopefully will get a chance to study if and how the junk impedes the movements of hatchlings. 

In other news, I'm starting a new phase of my divemaster training by helping with an Open Water diving course. Tomorrow morning we get to take them out for their very first open water dives!

Robyn with some of the implements of
profiling.

Getting ready to set up a transect to
measure the slope of the beach.

A dedicated grad student follows the transect line
wherever it leads. (also entitled, Lindsey Enveloped
by Bushes)

Looking down the beach from our campsite.
The beach is actually quite pretty during daylight hours. 

Aren't my toenails pretty? And appropriate?