Jeff Bordiga

What have you learned so far in your internship? (week 3 update)

As of week 3, my internship experience at the Elkhorn Slough has already been quite eventful. After meeting my two mentors and the resident graduate student, I was given a few pieces of documentation in order to begin training for the laser level surveying project that I was going to begin the course with. In addition, I also went to roughly a dozen locations at the slough with one of my mentors to learn about water quality details and how to use the corresponding measurement instruments, such as the SONDE water probe. After a few days of training with the laser level device, the graduate student and I set out on our surveying project, with the end goal of updating the elevations measurements of sediment rod benchmarks placed across the area to check for land subsidence. This is part of an ongoing research project that is repeated every five years at the same locations. During this time, I also received additional instruction on how to digitize old slides and photographs of the benchmark locations around the slough for archiving purposes. Even if it involved tedious archiving or carrying equipment around for miles, the rewarding part of each of these training lessons is that I got to become familiar with professional level equipment that I had previously never seen or had access to. After getting fully involved in the tiresome but invaluable fieldwork at the slough with my mentors and research partner, I have acquired several skills that will become great assets to me in the future.

How will attending AGU advance your academic and career goals?

After experiencing fieldwork alongside the experienced and dedicated professionals at the Elkhorn Slough Reserve, I have finally achieved a long-awaited life milestone for myself. Not only have I extended my skillset, but I have also enhanced my network and work connections. And by being able to attend AGU, I can only see that continuing for my post-college benefit. First, the most immediate detail would simply be the exposure that AGU would provide me. I’m certain that being able to at least Zoom with or email those from other disciplines and research institutions would greatly expand my horizons, as I’ve never attended any events like AGU during my college career so far. Second, I’m curious as to how the work that I have put into reaching this academic level over the past five years would measure up to others. College is just learning in a structured environment with a planned curriculum, but attending AGU would be an invaluable field-based check in against similar peers. After putting in the necessary time and effort into the Earth Sciences major, I am ready to find out what I’m worth in a professional setting. The results of course, would allow me to get a better sense of direction for my future academic and career growth during the last few quarters that I have at UCSC and beyond, as well as expose areas in need of further development.