Pretty much, hands down the most interactive and exciting class I have had in my college experience. When I told my peers about the activities I was participating in during the period of this class, they were all in awe and filled with jealousy. It was great.
Although this class was great in "doing science" and getting me interested in science, I think one thing I took out of this class was to always question everything and to be intrigued enough to go searching for answers. There were multiple times when I had no idea what I was holding in my hands. Or when I had no clue where I was or what I was standing on. A lot of times through life I tend to just take things as they are without much questioning, but this class pushed me to be more curious. Once I was able to find a certain species, I wanted to find more and I wanted to learn exactly what it was and where it came from. I didn't just want to be told it was a sea worm, I wanted to know why they wiggled so much, and if they would bite or not. I wanted to know why I had never seen sea worms used in fishing before. All these questions would arise from nowhere.
I learned to take my observations and apply them to my life. Sometimes my observations are different than others' and I needed to learn to understand that. My opinions may not always be the same as others, and that's okay. As long as I'm learning in the process , I truly believe that listening to everyone's opinions matter when trying to figure out what you, individually, believe. I was able to experience many firsts during this course, and for that I am thankful.
Thank you Bruce for an exciting class that taught me to learn to love the harbor more and how to pay more attention to my surroundings. Hopefully one day I'll be able to go out fishing with your crew again! I'm always free to go fishing!
Showing posts with label Maria Jose Vasquez. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Maria Jose Vasquez. Show all posts
Friday, July 26, 2013
Thursday, July 25, 2013
Whale Watching or Sea Sickness?
I was part of the group that actually made it into the 9AM boat out to go whale watching. The workers said that the boat goes out whether it rains or shines, so we went ahead purchased our tickets and boarded the Boston Harbor Cruise to go whale watching. It was about 62 degrees outside so we decided to sit in the indoor cabin on the lower level, while we drove out to the whales. Before we first took off the captain said the waves would be between 3-5 feet and that if anyone wanted to leave they could do so. I was brave and remained put and was exciting to go see some whales! after about 20 minutes the captain mentioned the waves were now 6-7 feet and that he was going to be making the decision to turn the boat around. I was extremely glad he decided to do so because I was so close to getting extremely sea sick. I have been in rough water before, but my stomach has never dropped so many times on a boat before. One of the workers mentioned he had NEVER seen the water so rough before and apologized for the trip being cancelled.
Although I wish I would've seen some whales today, I was glad I didn't get sick!
Although I wish I would've seen some whales today, I was glad I didn't get sick!
Municipal Harbor Planning Meeting
Today we went to the planning meeting for the harbor at 290 Congress St.
Yami Tsipis with the Marriott Long Wharf was the first to speak. He presented what was called the " Edge Activation Project" ,which entailed ideas about what could be done with 3 edges that currently are unused at the Marriott Long Wharf. He kept mentioning he wanted to find a compromise where the empty space would be enriching for the hotel and for the public as well. The architecture of the building was the result of a specific compromise with the city back when the construction of the hotel began .
The hotel is focusing on "what modest incremental investment could be made" to ensure the edges of the hotel are made to good use. Yami proposed to wrap the edges with inviting and active uses. Inviting retail stores to surround the hotel on the bay side along with reinforcing the State street access that is currently not used as much.
What was interesting about this speaker was that he kept mentioning that this was not a set project that it wasn't even a proposal it was just an idea that could be worked with. Bruce brought up the idea that sitting space was still needed and Yami agreed,however, nothing was completely set or decided. Like he said, this was just an opportunity for him to show what the hotel was thinking about when dealing with the future. My question would be : Is the hotel property value increasing or decreasing by adding all these small shops near it? Is it attracting the type of crowd the hotel wants? What exactly is this hotel getting in return ?
The second speaker was Dick Mulligan from the BRA.He spoke about the small issues he has to deal with when people begin suggesting new ideas or projects such as garbage being picked up or light bulbs being changed in different streets. He also spoke about current problems facing the land that BRA owns . Problems such as bins floating during high tide, empty parking lots, and homeless people.
I didn't really understand why Dick spoke. He wasn't proposing an image for the harbor in the future and he wasn't complaining about one specific problem. He just went up there and shared his thoughts. I thought it was awesome that he wasn't only worried about a specific building but that he cared about different areas of the city(this may be because the areas are BRA owned). He shared ideas that I feel needed to be heard,because no one else would think of small details like he did. It was very informative.
David Lucey spoke for 255 State street. He mentioned his building being very old, similar to a few other buildings in the area. This building is 97% leased space with the first floor being opened mostly to the public (restaurant and ice cream shop). Their main problem with this building rises when water causes them to have to move everything from their basement to higher levels. He spoke about a future idea that would incorporate somehow making it so that the people renting the spaces dint have to store equipment in the basement level. In addition he also mentioned some future ideas for renovations of the outside of the building along with a brighter and better entrance.
I thought this was an interesting presentation because they were worried both about the public and about their renters as well. They wanted the building to become a better building both for the public and for the people living there. (This could be due to the fact that the building affects both). Their ideas were reasonable and needed and they realized this. It was very well executed and not a lot of people had questions about this.
The final speaker was representing the New England Aquarium. His main points in his presentation were that they wanted to create a brand recognition and that they wanted more uniformity on the outside of the aquarium. He mentioned and showed ideas for ways of distinguishing the aquarium for tourists that didn't know where or what the New England Aquarium was. All of his ideas that he showed would cost a few million dollars including the idea if an LCD screen outside one side of the building showing underwater footage or animal feeding from inside the aquarium. He also spoke about renovating the outside facade of the building facing the water that clearly needs s lot of help (gray cement walls). He basically proposed a lot of ideas on creating an identity for the aquarium.
I really enjoyed how well prepared his presentation was. Although all of his presentations were just ideas on what could be done with the aquarium, they all seemed very well prepared and thought out . The New England Aquarium seems to be heading in the right direction under the management that it is currently under .
I enjoyed listening to all the ideas that the speakers had to offer to make Boston a more inviting and unique place for visitors to come to. Tourism is a big part of Boston's economy and it only makes sense to invest so much time and money into it.
Yami Tsipis with the Marriott Long Wharf was the first to speak. He presented what was called the " Edge Activation Project" ,which entailed ideas about what could be done with 3 edges that currently are unused at the Marriott Long Wharf. He kept mentioning he wanted to find a compromise where the empty space would be enriching for the hotel and for the public as well. The architecture of the building was the result of a specific compromise with the city back when the construction of the hotel began .
The hotel is focusing on "what modest incremental investment could be made" to ensure the edges of the hotel are made to good use. Yami proposed to wrap the edges with inviting and active uses. Inviting retail stores to surround the hotel on the bay side along with reinforcing the State street access that is currently not used as much.
What was interesting about this speaker was that he kept mentioning that this was not a set project that it wasn't even a proposal it was just an idea that could be worked with. Bruce brought up the idea that sitting space was still needed and Yami agreed,however, nothing was completely set or decided. Like he said, this was just an opportunity for him to show what the hotel was thinking about when dealing with the future. My question would be : Is the hotel property value increasing or decreasing by adding all these small shops near it? Is it attracting the type of crowd the hotel wants? What exactly is this hotel getting in return ?
The second speaker was Dick Mulligan from the BRA.He spoke about the small issues he has to deal with when people begin suggesting new ideas or projects such as garbage being picked up or light bulbs being changed in different streets. He also spoke about current problems facing the land that BRA owns . Problems such as bins floating during high tide, empty parking lots, and homeless people.
I didn't really understand why Dick spoke. He wasn't proposing an image for the harbor in the future and he wasn't complaining about one specific problem. He just went up there and shared his thoughts. I thought it was awesome that he wasn't only worried about a specific building but that he cared about different areas of the city(this may be because the areas are BRA owned). He shared ideas that I feel needed to be heard,because no one else would think of small details like he did. It was very informative.
David Lucey spoke for 255 State street. He mentioned his building being very old, similar to a few other buildings in the area. This building is 97% leased space with the first floor being opened mostly to the public (restaurant and ice cream shop). Their main problem with this building rises when water causes them to have to move everything from their basement to higher levels. He spoke about a future idea that would incorporate somehow making it so that the people renting the spaces dint have to store equipment in the basement level. In addition he also mentioned some future ideas for renovations of the outside of the building along with a brighter and better entrance.
I thought this was an interesting presentation because they were worried both about the public and about their renters as well. They wanted the building to become a better building both for the public and for the people living there. (This could be due to the fact that the building affects both). Their ideas were reasonable and needed and they realized this. It was very well executed and not a lot of people had questions about this.
The final speaker was representing the New England Aquarium. His main points in his presentation were that they wanted to create a brand recognition and that they wanted more uniformity on the outside of the aquarium. He mentioned and showed ideas for ways of distinguishing the aquarium for tourists that didn't know where or what the New England Aquarium was. All of his ideas that he showed would cost a few million dollars including the idea if an LCD screen outside one side of the building showing underwater footage or animal feeding from inside the aquarium. He also spoke about renovating the outside facade of the building facing the water that clearly needs s lot of help (gray cement walls). He basically proposed a lot of ideas on creating an identity for the aquarium.
I really enjoyed how well prepared his presentation was. Although all of his presentations were just ideas on what could be done with the aquarium, they all seemed very well prepared and thought out . The New England Aquarium seems to be heading in the right direction under the management that it is currently under .
I enjoyed listening to all the ideas that the speakers had to offer to make Boston a more inviting and unique place for visitors to come to. Tourism is a big part of Boston's economy and it only makes sense to invest so much time and money into it.
Monday, July 22, 2013
Cooking the Bass!
I got to take home half of the roe ! Growing up, my dad always made this for dinner and we would eat it with salad or with rice. Since I'm a poor college student and can't afford fresh vegetables, I decided I would eat this dish with rice. Here is how I prepared it! It was actually extremely easy to make and it tasted delicious.
1. I took home half of the roe in a zip lock baggie.
2. I added salt and pepper to the outside of it.
3. I covered the roe with flour so it wouldn't stick to the hot pan that was filled with oil.
4.I fried the roe until it was golden brown and the insides were cooked well.
The outside was crispy and the inside was cooked well. I ate it with ketchup and it was delicious!
We really wanted to place an emphasis on the fact that almost every part of the fish can be cooked and made into a meal. Most of the class looked disgusted when the captain took out the roe but to me and my classmate it was a normal part of the fish that we have grown up eating. There are so many parts of the fish that can be made into delicious meals. It's just a matter of finding the right recipe!
Day 4 - Island Adventures
On day 4 of our exciting class we had the opportunity to board The Belle in order to go Bass fishing and to explore Lovells Island. Around 8:30 AM we boarded the ship that would lead us away from the city and into the vast waters of the Boston Harbor. After a few minutes of traveling away from the harbor, past Castle Island, we began our fishing adventure.- For this trip we used sea worms as bait.- They were a reddish brownish color, with multiple legs, and they bit. According to Bruce, it only feels like a pinch when they bite, but they looked very angry and slimy.Because I only carried a pen with me on this trip, here is a very amateur image of what they looked like. The one I held was probably around 7 inches long.
There were enough fishing rods for everyone who wanted to, to have a chance to catch a fish. The Captain and his helpers helped the students put on the worms and cast the lines out. It didn't take long for the first fish to be caught. The first fish caught was a small black bass, which was caught by Lorraine. The fish I caught was about 12 inches long and it was one of the larger ones of that type that we caught as a group.
Black Bass
Bruce made sure that everyone who wanted to catch a fish had the opportunity to catch one. In the picture above is me holding my Bass that I caught. It had small teeth that I could feel as I held it's mouth open for the picture, but nothing extremely sharp.It was so much fun!
The biggest fish we caught as a group was a Striped Bass.
We learned how to filet a fish and how to remove its insides in order to cook the fish in whichever way we would like.
The biggest fish we caught as a group was a Striped Bass.
Once we got to Lovell's Island the hot,white sand felt great between my toes.
Bruce let us do our own explorations in the tide pool the minute we placed our bags down. I was able to find 2 interesting species.
1. Crab- Asian shore crab- This crab was only about 4 inches in length from left to right. It was reddish/purple with some brown. These crabs were fairly easy to pick up and they moved extremely fast. we could find these under pretty much every rock we moved near the shoreline.
After exploring in one tide pool we had a delicious lunch and moved to another tide pool. In this tide pool Bruce told us to find species that we hadn't found before.
I found an Atlantic razor shell or Common Razor Clam, which Bruce said gets it's name from it's shape. The shell was a light gray mixed with brown, with smooth lines going up and down the length of the shell in ringlets. This is the picture from the guidebook. My shell looked almost identical.
I also found the Common slipper shell- Crepidula fornicata.
These small shells attached themselves to rocks or to other shells and in order to be removed they have to be slid off with pressure. I actually ate three of these oyster tasting shells, and they were delicious!
These small shells attached themselves to rocks or to other shells and in order to be removed they have to be slid off with pressure. I actually ate three of these oyster tasting shells, and they were delicious!
Something familiar that I saw a a huge family of blue mussels in between the rocks that divided the two tide pools.These were the same mussels that everyone found at the dock the day before, which I think is a very interesting fact to point out. These mussels have spread all over the harbor islands.
After picking up a big rock I was also able to find Golden Star Tunicate- Botryllus Scholsseri on some rocks as well just like I did in the dock by the Barking Crab.
Finally, Bruce pointed out a specific shell to us that seemed to be of interest to him. This shell was white with dark stripes going around the shell. At first we thought it was just another shell that hermit crabs used, however, the shells seemed to have specific holes/spaces that were different from other shells we had found.also, these shells were on a metal plate like surface instead of in the water like the other shells we found.
I think these are called lipped banded snails, because we later found out that these shells actually belong to land snails and not to hermit crabs or water species.On our way back to the boat Romina found a snail that was actually using its shell. The stripes were beautiful and the shells came in different sizes and colors(mostly less than an inch in length).
Overall, this was my favorite day we have had so far because I got to learn so much about 1. Striped Bass 2. different species .
http://www.arkive.org/white-lipped-banded-snail/cepaea-hortensis/#text=Description
sources:http://www.neaq.org/education_and_activities/teacher_resources/classroom_resources/teacher_guides/documents/CompleteSeasideGuide1.pdf
Finally, Bruce pointed out a specific shell to us that seemed to be of interest to him. This shell was white with dark stripes going around the shell. At first we thought it was just another shell that hermit crabs used, however, the shells seemed to have specific holes/spaces that were different from other shells we had found.also, these shells were on a metal plate like surface instead of in the water like the other shells we found.
Overall, this was my favorite day we have had so far because I got to learn so much about 1. Striped Bass 2. different species .
http://www.arkive.org/white-lipped-banded-snail/cepaea-hortensis/#text=Description
sources:http://www.neaq.org/education_and_activities/teacher_resources/classroom_resources/teacher_guides/documents/CompleteSeasideGuide1.pdf
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Day 3
On day 3 of class we learned how to make observations. Bruce taught us how to clearly and effectively examine a section of land/water . We began by taking observations at the long wharf .
At the docks by the Barking Crab I observed :
Blue Mussels. There were a lot of them stuck to floaters under the dock and to ropes attached to the docks. These mussels are very popular around this area of the harbor.They were blue and black and the insides of them were very smooth.
I also saw green sea lettuce ,which was a very bright and shiny green. There was a lot of his type of species all over the docks.
Attached to almost everything we took out of the water were bay barnacles (which were small and attached themselves to the wall of the floaters and to other shells). They were a whitish and grayish color.
Attached to the mussel was a strange covering that felt very slimy. This we recognized as golden star tunicates. It was very nice to look at under a magnifying glass. Surrounding the stars was a slimy textured covering which was golden in color.
There was also a very stringy and red type if plant that we pulled out . In this red plant there were a lot of little bugs living in it. The closest identification we could find for this plant was bushy red weed. It was reddish and it had several leave sections to it.
Floating around the water we found ascophyllum mackaii(or so we believe) .This dark green/brownish plant has poppers at the end of every leaf. If the poppers are popped they just make a loud sounds, but that's about it. It was a lot of fun popping then.A common name for these is Rockweed
Finally at the end we found a small shell that appears to be very similar to morton's egg cockle . Although the outside was brown I think it was originally supposed to be white. It was about an inch long and the hinge was on the right side of the shell,which was shaped in an oval shape.
Overall day 3 was wonderful! I realized how there were so many different types if species that could live so close to each other. I am excited to see what other species we find next and if they seem to repeat in other locations!
At the long wharf I made these observations :
- it was low tide
-clear water (3-5 feet visibility )
-rocks range from pebbles to sand
-rock weed along the wall
-green seaweed scattered
-inter tidal zone currently exposed
-soft-shell crabs
-seagull flying around
-hermit crabs
After observing near the Long Wharf dock we moved on over to a small dock near the Harbor Towers.Here we also observed many incredible species ,but this post will focus on my observations at the dock by The Barking Crab. As a side note, Professor Berman also spoke about the different conflicts that were associated with the construction of the Harbor Towers. We spoke a little bit about how much litigation goes into the permits for construction of buildings near the Harbor.At the docks by the Barking Crab I observed :
Blue Mussels. There were a lot of them stuck to floaters under the dock and to ropes attached to the docks. These mussels are very popular around this area of the harbor.They were blue and black and the insides of them were very smooth.
I also saw green sea lettuce ,which was a very bright and shiny green. There was a lot of his type of species all over the docks.
Attached to the mussel was a strange covering that felt very slimy. This we recognized as golden star tunicates. It was very nice to look at under a magnifying glass. Surrounding the stars was a slimy textured covering which was golden in color.
There was also a very stringy and red type if plant that we pulled out . In this red plant there were a lot of little bugs living in it. The closest identification we could find for this plant was bushy red weed. It was reddish and it had several leave sections to it.
Floating around the water we found ascophyllum mackaii(or so we believe) .This dark green/brownish plant has poppers at the end of every leaf. If the poppers are popped they just make a loud sounds, but that's about it. It was a lot of fun popping then.A common name for these is Rockweed
Finally at the end we found a small shell that appears to be very similar to morton's egg cockle . Although the outside was brown I think it was originally supposed to be white. It was about an inch long and the hinge was on the right side of the shell,which was shaped in an oval shape.
Overall day 3 was wonderful! I realized how there were so many different types if species that could live so close to each other. I am excited to see what other species we find next and if they seem to repeat in other locations!
Sunday, July 14, 2013
The Harbor by Boat
Today we had the opportunity to take a tour of the Boston Harbor on the Harbor Express, which let us see a number of the Boston Harbor islands. As a class we met up at the Mariott Hotel after lunch and there we spent some time looking at the algae and water near the dock. Before we boarded, we learned about the high/low tide and about the water that used to be contaminated in the harbor. After learning a bit about how the water quality has changed from the past to now, we boarded the ferry.
The ferry took us out of Long Wharf down the Inner Harbor. We were able to take a look at Castle Island, Deer Island, the airport, Spectacle Island, Moon Island, Long Island, Nixe's Mate, Lowell and Gallop Islands before arriving to George's to pick up more passengers . After George's Island we rode the ferry all the way down to Quincy Bay, where we stopped for a few minutes to take pictures , but we remained in the boat. On this ride we passed Peddock's Island and Raccoon Island. Quincy Fore River Shipyard was the final destination and that was a pretty amazing place filled with old ships that still had cannons attached to them and all. On the way back we traced our steps and enjoyed a peaceful boat ride back to the city of Boston.
What struck me the most was Hough's Neck, which is where subsidized housing was placed by the government. However, these facilities were placed in an absolutely terrible location with no public transportation or grocery stores nearby. The people who live there are not in a convenient location and in my opinion it would be very difficult for them to leave that place if they don't have a way to continue growing as citizens of Boston. I was actually very impressed by the individual islands and how they each play a role in the Harbor.
Something else that struck me was how every island had it's unique story. From Spectacle being shaped like sunglasses to George's Island constant number of visitors. Every island we spoke about had it's unique characteristics to it. I am glad I had the opportunity to tour the islands and actually be able to see the "large picture" of the many islands in this beautiful harbor. Today I learned how truly beautiful the different islands are and how lucky I am to be able to actually call my Harbor one of the cleanest there is, and to be able to enjoy the many benefits of the harbor.
Maria Jose Vasquez
The ferry took us out of Long Wharf down the Inner Harbor. We were able to take a look at Castle Island, Deer Island, the airport, Spectacle Island, Moon Island, Long Island, Nixe's Mate, Lowell and Gallop Islands before arriving to George's to pick up more passengers . After George's Island we rode the ferry all the way down to Quincy Bay, where we stopped for a few minutes to take pictures , but we remained in the boat. On this ride we passed Peddock's Island and Raccoon Island. Quincy Fore River Shipyard was the final destination and that was a pretty amazing place filled with old ships that still had cannons attached to them and all. On the way back we traced our steps and enjoyed a peaceful boat ride back to the city of Boston.
What struck me the most was Hough's Neck, which is where subsidized housing was placed by the government. However, these facilities were placed in an absolutely terrible location with no public transportation or grocery stores nearby. The people who live there are not in a convenient location and in my opinion it would be very difficult for them to leave that place if they don't have a way to continue growing as citizens of Boston. I was actually very impressed by the individual islands and how they each play a role in the Harbor.
Something else that struck me was how every island had it's unique story. From Spectacle being shaped like sunglasses to George's Island constant number of visitors. Every island we spoke about had it's unique characteristics to it. I am glad I had the opportunity to tour the islands and actually be able to see the "large picture" of the many islands in this beautiful harbor. Today I learned how truly beautiful the different islands are and how lucky I am to be able to actually call my Harbor one of the cleanest there is, and to be able to enjoy the many benefits of the harbor.
Maria Jose Vasquez
Saturday, July 13, 2013
MJ- First Class Post
Brief Introduction:
My name is Maria Jose , but everyone calls me MJ and I am an undergraduate student at BU. I was born in Peru, but I currently live in sunny South Florida! What made me come up north? I don't know,it just kind of happened but I absolutely love it here in Boston. I am currently studying finance and international management, and was in need of a natural science class when I found this amazing class. Living in Florida has made me LOVE fishing more than anything. Whenever I go home I probably go out fishing on the boat twice or three times per week. I've done everything from dolphin (mahi mahi ) fishing, to sword fishing for 200 lb fish. I think it's such a fun sport and when I heard this class included water, fish, and the ocean, I knew it was for me!
The Ocean
I love the ocean because I love listening to the waves. They make me forget everything else that is going on in my life. Going 50 miles out and not having any other sound surround you other than the waves crashing up against the boat is truly a peaceful and relaxing experience. I live about 10 feet away from this beach, and I have loved every minute I've lived in Florida.
My name is Maria Jose , but everyone calls me MJ and I am an undergraduate student at BU. I was born in Peru, but I currently live in sunny South Florida! What made me come up north? I don't know,it just kind of happened but I absolutely love it here in Boston. I am currently studying finance and international management, and was in need of a natural science class when I found this amazing class. Living in Florida has made me LOVE fishing more than anything. Whenever I go home I probably go out fishing on the boat twice or three times per week. I've done everything from dolphin (mahi mahi ) fishing, to sword fishing for 200 lb fish. I think it's such a fun sport and when I heard this class included water, fish, and the ocean, I knew it was for me!
The Ocean
I love the ocean because I love listening to the waves. They make me forget everything else that is going on in my life. Going 50 miles out and not having any other sound surround you other than the waves crashing up against the boat is truly a peaceful and relaxing experience. I live about 10 feet away from this beach, and I have loved every minute I've lived in Florida.
Experiment
Today in class we conducted an experiment in which we trapped water in a sink using out hands and a paper towel, and then letting the water drain and observing in which direction the water went down the drain. (Clockwise or counter-clockwise).
- Step1: Take 1 piece of standard size paper towel.
-Step 2:Use paper towel to block drain of a sink.Apply pressure with the palm of your hand to fill up sink about half way.
-Step 3: Remove hand and paper towel to allow water to drain.
-Step 4: Observe in which direction the water drains and record.
When my team did the experiment , we actually did it twice. The first time Professor Berman performed the experiment and I observed the water going counter-clockwise. The second time we did the experiment , I also noticed the water draining counter-clockwise. After the second experiment we came to the conclusion that the water drained counter-clockwise.
Research
According to some articles the direction the water drains depends on other factors other than just being in the Northern or southern hemisphere. "One can find both clockwise and counter clockwise drains in both hemispheres".A lot of people use the Coriolis effect as a blame for water draining in a specific direction , but that is a myth according to Dr.Doherty. The effect has such little impact on the direction the water flows that it cannot be the only reasoning behind the direction of the water. In addition, water does not flow in a different direction in Australia than in the opposite hemisphere. Because drains use such small amounts of water at a time, the scientific effects have no huge impact on the drainage.
~ MJ Vasquez
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