Through Alcoa's partnership with the Earthwatch Institute, Alcoa volunteers have the opportunity to work alongside Earthwatch scientists on critical environmental research projects around the world – helping to unlock solutions to some of the biggest sustainability challenges of our time.  more
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Denis Drouin's Diary
September 26, 2009: First day on the job
Our first breakfast all together. It is an opportunity to introduce ourselves and learn more about other Earthwatch fellows. What a great experience to meet people from all around the world in this gorgeous place, all here for the same goal: to make this planet a better place to live. This cranks me up. After breakfast Tim the project leader in the field for the next ten days explains to us, what is the project? What will be our task and duty? What are the safety rules, (yes, just like at work, there are safety rules to follow)? We will...
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Molly Brown's Diary
October 2, 2009: More aerial taxonomy
After breakfast we left for another aerial taxonomy study. We went out to the self guided trail and then down into the forest. It was so steep and slippery that I now understood the need for walking sticks. I had to brace myself with the stick and then find some vines to brace my foot against just to take a step. At one point I slipped down and brushed my arm against a stinging nettle plant. If you feel one it is like brushing up against a cactus with fine needles that sting your skin and cause it to swell...
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Molly Brown's Diary
October 1, 2009: More Bromeliads…
I started on the bromeliad after breakfast. I spent the whole morning sorting the leaf matter. While I was doing that, Tony and Tony were working with Matt on transpiration. After lunch I worked with Anne and we finished the Bromeliad work. Santiago arrived at dinner time. He is studying the spectacled bears in the next reserve called Maquipucuna. He is trying to show that the Spectacled Bears are using Santa Lucia as a corridor to the northern territories so it will be protected. It seems like fascinating work. The bears are also ancient relatives of the North American black...
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Molly Brown's Diary
September 30, 2009: Bromeliad Queen
Today after breakfast I started on the bromeliad work. Tasha was out working on the bird survey so she didn’t come back until 10 am. I got out the trays and worked on sorting through the soft matter from between the leaves. I pulled out all of the insects I could find and would put them into the alcohol mixture. It was very tedious work and I did that until lunch. After lunch Tasha and I went to work on the bromeliad in the bag. We had to cut it apart and wash off the leaves. As soon as I...
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Alcoa's 2009 Earthwatch Fellows and Expeditions
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Archived Earthwatch Diaries
Read the diaries of Alcoa employees who participated in past Earthwatch expeditions.
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