Research Ambassadors

Program Overview

Año Nuevo is an amazing location not only because of the world-class UC Santa Cruz elephant seal research program, but also because it is visited by nearly 100,000 public visitors each year.  This provides a unique opportunity to engage and inspire the next generation of researchers, teachers, conservationists, etc.

Año Nuevo Reserve is starting a new program for undergraduate students to get involved in the "Elephant Seal Research Program" and try their hand at scientific communication. Participants will attend weekly training sessions during Fall Quarter, where they will learn all about the history of the elephant seal research program, the natural history of Año Nuevo Reserve, the current research taking place, and find an area of expertise to study in depth. Following the Fall Quarter training period, participants will be given the opportunity to apply to be an official “Research Ambassador” during Winter Quarter and will receive a paid (work-study) position to work one half-day shift per week interpreting elephant seal research to the thousands of public visitors. Research Ambassadors will each select a unique research focus that will become their “area of expertise” when interfacing with public tours. 

Students who wish to continue with hands-on research activities at Año Nuevo Reserve can submit an application for the upper-division "Large Marine Vertebrates" field course (BIOE128L) as well as the Beltran Lab "Undergraduate Research Assistant Program."

Our goal is to represent the diversity found at UC Santa Cruz.  We particularly welcome students from backgrounds not typically represented in marine science.  We seek to eliminate any barriers to participation - please reach out to us if you have any questions or concerns.

Patrick Robinson (Director, Año Nuevo Reserve):  patrick.robinson@ucsc.edu

Avalon Conklin (Natural Reserves Researcher):  arconkli@ucsc.edu

Time Commitment 

Participants will attend a 90-minute training once a week during Fall Quarter. The schedule will be determined based on student availability (assessed via a poll that will be sent out at the beginning of Fall Quarter).  Following the training period, participants will be given the opportunity to apply for a paid position that will be scheduled once a week during Winter Quarter. 

Follow this link to sign up:  https://forms.gle/DUP4dsx8uqYAmoNc8  

Año Nuevo Reserve Website: https://anonuevoreserve.ucsc.edu/