And so our journey begins...

Hello! My name is Benjamin Hall and I am a student researcher with the project One Health/ Una Salud: Ecuador 2010, supported by Environmental Genomics, FUCOBI , and Boston College biology department. Our team is working under BC faculty member Dr. Laura Hake and visiting professor Dr. Acacia Warren and will be traveling to Ecuador from June 27th- August 2nd. The goal of our research is to unite and examine ecosystem, animal, and public health of the Ecuadorian shirimp aquaculture industry, specifically looking at pollutant load, heavy metals, allergens, shrimp viruses, and mangrove ecosystems.

I am a sophomore biology major at Boston College in Chestnut Hill, MA with minors in mathematics and environmental studies. I joined Hake/ Warren lab this past spring semester after learning about the project from graduating senior and student researcher Amber Williams, BC '10. My interests in public health and evironmental studies fit nicely with the goals of the project and I was invited to join the team. Other members of the lab include Brenna Kelley (BC '12), John Martucci (BC '12), Alaksandra (Ola) Jachtorowicz (BC '12), and Jeremy Vincent (BC '11). Brenna, Ola, and I will all be traveling with Dr. Acacia Warren to Ecuador in two weeks!

This past semester we have made a lot of headway on the project in our fourth floor lab located in Higgins Hall (pictured above). We have assigned student projects, learned how to process DNA, process RNA, and run quality controls gels. We have also done extensive literature reviews, written proposals, fundraised, and presented posters at BC Undergraduate Research Day.

My personal project is titled:

"Genetic Diversity of Eduadorian Mangroves Using Genomic and Expressed
Microsatellites, and Survey of Heavy Metals in Sediments Along the Coast of
Ecuador"

In collecting mangrove leaf, root, sediment, and water samples during my field work in the month to come, I hope to find a correlation between the type of mangrove species and the pollutant load in the area being studied. Mangrove plants are considered phytostabilizers that can withstand and retain high levels of pollutant load in their extensive root system and not be harmed.

In preparation, I have been finalizing my protocol that I will use to collect the samples and isolate RNA while in Ecuador. This immediate isolation is necessary because RNA degrades very quickly and in order for furthur analysis must be processed very soon after collection. I am nervous for the conditions that we will face for at times a beach or a hotel room will be our only place to work, which is far from ideal laboratory conditions. I will be going to Higgins at some point this week to pack my suitcase full of supplies and learn how to use a video camera because... SURPRISE, we're filming a documentary on the social and environmental injustices associated with the shrimp aquaculture industry of Ecuador as part of a grant received from the BC Film Studies Department! Also, on Wednesday I'll be traveling to Lahey Clinic to receive my immunizations for Hep A, Hep B, typhoid fever, yellow fever, and malaria.

I hope to use this blog to post information about my research during the trip to Ecuador, my thoughts, feelings, sights, experiences, etc. as a way to keep fellow researchers, family, and friends up to date with what I am doing while abroad. This is my first time abroad and I am extremely excited with wait awaits us. I know it will be challenging and tiresome at times, but I'm sure the skills and experiences I will take away from this trip will stay with me for my entire lifetime! Feel free to post questions and comments about the trip/ research for those that read this will be our main supporters. Thanks for reading and I hope to post again soon.

-Ben