FNR Field Report - Morgan Hamilton

Senior aquatic sciences major Morgan Hamilton took her skills and interests on the road for a study abroad experience in Turks and Caicos this summer. The trip allowed Morgan, who has a marine and freshwater biology concentration within her major, to study marine megafauna for a month through the School of Field Studies. 

Hamilton lived on the remote island of South Caicos, a place so small that “there aren’t actually addresses,” during her July 8 to August 6 stay as part of the SFS – Turks and Caicos Islands Marine Resource Studies program.

“This trip surpassed my expectations,” the Martinsville, Indiana, native said. “I initially was so focused on all the environmental and school aspects of this trip, but the biggest thing I have taken away is the people I met along the way. It was incredible to meet so many people that share the same interests and drive as I do about the field.”

The marine resource studies program featured four projects: a stakeholder debate, ecotourism, biodiversity and acoustics.

In the stakeholder debate, students were given a fictitious land/marine use scenario and assigned a stakeholder. They then came up with a position on the scenario from the perspective of that stakeholder and debated with other “stakeholders” about the issue.

The ecotourism project had Morgan and her fellow students snorkeling in the marine environment and also using drones to observe and record interactions with marine fauna from an aerial perspective. By using analytical tools like ImageJ, they quantitatively assessed various behavioral parameters including angle of approach and flight distance.

The biodiversity segment increased students’ identification knowledge and ability to assess the biodiversity of the fishes found on the reefs surrounding South Caicos. They then calculated biodiversity indices and performed simple statistical analyses.

During the acoustics project, students participated in a lobster larval recruitment experiment, examining whether health coral reef sounds influenced settlement patterns by comparing recruitment near an underwater speaker broadcasting reef sounds to a silent control area. The student cohort also assisted with the deployment and retrieval of Hydromoth underwater acoustic recorders and used Raven Lite software to identify and characterize fish calls from reef soundscape recordings.

“As far as classroom learning I feel I was very prepared for the material from my lectures at Purdue,” Morgan shared. “I knew most of the information that was provided. We had a guest lecture that was very informational on whale migration that occurs in Turks but not during the time that we were there.

“Although I learned and gained skills that help my career, I learned more about myself than I expected. Given the environment we stayed in you had to be mentally and physically strong and really want to be there. I pushed myself in ways I didn't think were possible. It gave me the confidence that I am stronger than I think and I can achieve anything I put my mind to, which in my opinion is greater than any academic knowledge.”

The island and reef environment allowed Morgan to interact with several species in a variety of ways, some more dramatic than others.

“I think the most memorable encounter I had with an animal was a nurse shark during a night snorkel,” Morgan explained. “This is exactly how it sounds, in the ocean when it's pitch black, with only your flashlight and the surrounding light from others. None of us initially saw it when we passed by but our safety, the furthest back member, yelled and signaled us to the shark. We all freaked out because this was most of our first shark experience but it was also dark. Seeing this big 6-foot shark was one of the most euphoric things to share with those on the snorkel. I can't leave out the eagle rays that we saw on other activities. The pure size of these animals was so shocking to me. They are just gorgeous in the way they move.”

Although the experiences in nature made an impression on Hamilton, the people she was with provided her favorite experience of the trip.

“The highlight of this trip was a ping pong tournament we held as a cohort (31 students),” Morgan recalled. “This night was one that I will never forget. Everyone got involved, including the staff, and there wasn't a dry eye because everyone was laughing so hard. When you looked around everyone was smiling and having the best time. This togetherness was something I hadn't experienced with so many people.”

The whole experience has Morgan singing the praises of study abroad opportunities and funding assistance (including the Gilman International Scholarship program) and encouraging others to partake if they are able.

“If you have any thought or interest in studying abroad you should pursue it,” Morgan shared. “This is an experience unlike any other and it can offer you so much more than just academics. One thing I was really concerned about going into this process was financial requirements, but Purdue was incredible with providing all the right resources. I was able to have my entire program paid for with the help of scholarships and grants! I want to say thank you to all of the people, from my parents to professors and friends who encouraged me to pursue this opportunity.”

During her time at Purdue, Morgan has participated in a variety of student organizations and opportunities. She is a member of the American Fisheries Society chapter within FNR. She also has served as a peer mentor for first generation students within the College of Agriculture.

Morgan is currently involved in an independent study research program under Dr. Tomas Höök and Dominique Turney in the Aquatic Ecology Lab. She also works at the Aquaculture Research Lab part time under lab manager Bob Rode.

The summer abroad was not Hamilton’s first experience outside of FNR as she has previously had positions with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources as a seasonal technician at Cikana Fish Hatchery and with Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant as part of the Recirculating Aquaculture Program.

Morgan is looking forward to her graduation in May and this study abroad experience has only encouraged her about the possibilities for her future.

“My senior year, I plan to try to say yes to everything,” Morgan shared. “I am trying to cherish all the time I have left with my friends and professors. I can’t help but look forward to my future. I am currently searching for a master’s program in marine biology or a job in a related field. I’m excited about where those things could take me.”