Welcome to MareTerra - Environmental Research and Conservation Internship Program! If you are reading this program, it means that you are interested in the conservation of marine species and habitats. Thank you very much for your interest in our organization!
Just let us explain why your participation is so important. MareTerra has been a self-financed organization, since its foundation in 2012. It has supported itself independently, almost without any public contribution, also thanks to people like you.
We are a group of scientists engaged in research projects focused on the understanding of natural phenomena and their interaction with human activities. We are studying dolphins, fish, and marine habitats to protect them from ongoing threats: pollution, underwater noise, tourism, nautical traffic, and climate change. We believe that the increase of the knowledge and awareness of the general public, students and tourists is a fundamental step in contributing to ocean protection.
Take the opportunity to live a highly educational experience in contact with the fantastic nature of Sardinia, learning and working together with an international team of researchers and students.
Students enrolled on one of the following courses may apply:
- - Biology
- - Environmental Science or similar
- - Tourism management
We can accept interns between May and October.
Required skills
- - Minimum age of 20 years
- - Good mental and physical health
- - English level > B2
- - Self-confidence, flexibility, adaptability and punctuality
- - Strong motivation and responsibility
- - Confidence on board a motorboat
- - Ability to swim properly
- - Minimum commitment of 1-2 months.
We look for people who are highly motivated, responsible and willing to work long hours in the field and the laboratory.
Preferred skills
- - Scuba diver licence
- - Lifeguard certification
- - Skipper's licence
Main activities of the trainee
Interns participate in all research and educational activities, assisting in fieldwork, data management, and analysis. All scheduled activities are planned according to weather conditions. When weather conditions permit, interns join researchers in fieldwork activities. MareTerra can carry on almost all its research programs and awareness campaigns using Progetto Natura dolphin-watching trips as an opportunistic platform to collect scientific data and make people aware of the need to protect oceans. Thus, we usually spend 4 hours on the boats, 2 times daily (from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm and from 2:30 to 6:30 pm).
During the dolphin-watching trips and field activities, interns play a leading role in the explanations provided to the public regarding the ecology and conservation of dolphins in the Mediterranean Sea. Upon sighting a group of bottlenose dolphins (80% chance), each person on board has a specific task to fulfil: boat management and navigation, collection of general scientific data, such as the number and position of animals, or the number, type and behaviour of the boats present. Furthermore, interns go snorkeling with the guests on board, as guide assistants, and provide information about the observed marine habitats and species. At the beginning and the end of each trip, all the staff help in the preparation and cleaning of the boats. All these tasks require appropriate training. Thus MareTerra’s staff provides specific training to the interns so that they can carry out these tasks successfully.
To get a complete picture of the activities in which the trainees are involved, please read carefully the websites:
www.progettonaturasardegna.com
The fieldwork strongly depends on the weather conditions. Please, take a look at the mean number of fieldwork days at the sea per month:
- - May 10 days
- - June 20 days
- - July 25 days
- - August 25 days
- - September 15 days
- - October 10 days.
Please remember: dolphins are wild animals and the sighting is not guaranteed. Our sighting probability is more than 80%, but it changes every season.
When they do not work in the field, trainees help manage and analyse the data collected. They also participate in lectures and educational activities, which allow them to enrich their knowledge and successfully carry out the tasks they have been assigned to. Some examples of projects to which interns give their contributions:
1. Assessment of factors influencing variability in bottlenose dolphin whistles.
2. Characterisation of the signature whistle repertoire of Mediterranean bottlenose dolphin populations.
3. Evaluating the underwater soundscape of different Mediterranean areas utilizing Passive Acoustic Monitoring devices.
4. Photo identification as a method to estimate dolphin population size and structure.
5. Ecotourism: benefit and risk.
Living in Alghero and tuition fee
We do not charge any fee for trainees who stay from 3 to 6 months, while we ask for a donation as a fee for trainees who decide to apply for one or two months.
What's included
- - Orientation: all necessary training will be provided for the whole period of the trainee.
- - Supervision, tuition, and guidance
- - Use of research equipment, facilities and vessels
- - Insurance during the fieldwork activities.
- - Support: local in-country team and 24-hour emergency support.
What's not included
Flights, visas (if required), personal expenses.
The cost of the accommodation and meals is not included. Trainees must be able to find their accommodation and prepare their meals. MareTerra's staff will give support in the accommodation search, providing some local contacts.
Life costs are in line with the Italian average. Alghero is a small town, suitable for being walked or cycled.
Students carrying out these traineeships are encouraged to try for external or university funding to offset these costs.
Student benefits
With this experience, you can:
- - Learn about dolphins, marine fish and habitats and the effect of human activities on their conservation.
- - Gain experience in fieldwork and lab work related to marine ecology and biology and marine mammals' behaviour and acoustic.
- - Improve your skills and enrich your CV.
- - Acquire university educational credits corresponding to 160 hours of training per month.
- - Learn how to make the world a better place through science and tourism.
Please note
MareTerra is a non-profit organisation whose researchers carry out voluntary work. The contribution of the students and trainees is crucial to achieving our goals. That is why we ask them to participate responsibly and with strong motivation. To reward their contribution, students receive constant training from MareTerra’s researchers. Moreover, the well-done fieldwork and laboratory work will be rewarded as authorship in the scientific publications that will be produced. The Scientific Director reserves the right to evaluate the quality of the work done and the opportunity to add the students/trainees among the authors.
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We have a lot of requests, thus if you are interested in our traineeship for the season May-October 2024, please apply as soon as possible by sending your CV and a cover letter. Before acceptance, we will evaluate your CV and we will interview you by skype.
If you need other information, do not hesitate to contact us.
- Gabriella La Manna, PhD
- Science Director
- MareTerra ERC Onlus
- Regione Salondra 9, Alghero (Italy)
- www.mareterra-erc.org
- This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Review from past students
As an environmental engineering student, I applied for the internship at MareTerra since I saw it being an opportunity to get involved in marine biology researches which is an interesting field for me. In the beginning, I was uncertain on whether I will be able to adapt with a new living and working environment. However, with the help of MareTerra team and other trainees, it turned out fine. I had the chance to work in a multicultural workplace where I always find myself being a part of an intimate group. Being a trainee, I was trained to collect scientific info in fieldwork activities and analysis bioacoustics data by biologists. I had opportunities to enrich my knowledge about marine biology and especially the bottlenose dolphin. One of the best parts of the work was explaining to people about ecology, behavior and conservation of dolphins as I realize that I can make some changes to public’s awareness and create positive effects on the environment. Furthermore, having an opportunity to work with Gabriella, Francesco and Fabio – the team of MareTerra was what I treasure the most from this internship. They really inspired me with their passionate and persistence for this work. I would highly recommend this for students who interested in marine biology and want to experience a fast-paced, active and enthusiastic working environment.
Linh Nguyen, Vietnam (2018)
