By Anders, Colette, and Julia
Sometimes when things around us get crazy, we find ourselves asking, “How did I get here?”
Ascidian Update
In some cases, the answer is pretty simple. Those who read our blog on Day 13, might remember the ascidian zygotes Dr. Billie Swalla fertilized in vitro.
In over just two days, the unassuming clumps of cells have taken shape, forming tiny ascidian larvae (also known as ascidian tadpoles due to their resemblance to… tadpoles).
The unfamiliar cells have made an impressive transformation. 
Now, in their larval stage, the tadpoles are recognizable.
The Marvelous Daniel Pauly
However, while tracking the growth of ascidians might come down to basic biology, following our own path, things can get confusing.
Today we were visited by Dr. Daniel Pauly, an influential fisheries scientist at the top of his field. As we listened to his stories and ideas, we couldn’t help but wonder how we came to be here; learning from such a knowledgeable person, while seated in the comfort of our own homes.
Dr. Pauly shared with us the most concise version of his journey he could muster, before opening up to our questions. He emphasized the importance of involvement and even expressed his willingness to speak with us next week about his recent research.
We are so grateful that Dr. Pauly was willing to speak with us today. It almost goes without saying that we are brimming with excitement to hear what he has to share next week.
Projects Continued…
As the third week of this program draws to an end, we’re inching closer to the grand conclusion of our individual projects.
While Naomi spent the past week counting anemones, Ashley logged hours reviewing footage of the behaviors of marine mammals. With climate change in mind, Jesse considered the significance of weeds and oxygen. On the muckier side of things, Colette trudged through the mud at Chatfield Reservoir to collect her data. Using his backyard inhabitants as study subjects, Anders explored the behavior of pill bugs while Julia has devoted her time to documenting the reclamation of nature. In her last day of data collection, Julia ventured to an abandoned Boy Scout Camp to gather the remainder of her data.
It’s super exciting to watch all this effort materialize, our ideas are finally coming to life!
We are so happy to be where we are today, surrounded by like-minded people, and learning from incredible teachers.
We simply wouldn’t be where we are right now without the guidance of Derek and Kay, the knowledge of Tom, and the support of Caroline. We couldn’t be more thankful for the incredible experience we’ve had with Salish.