The Terrapin Journal
Summer 2007

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Helen Chmura

Helen Chmura
The Essence of Terrapin Research

By Helen Chmura

Interning at the Wetlands Institute was a life-changing experience for me. It was the first time I conducted independent research, and it was the first time that I did fieldwork. I learned a tremendous amount, not only about terrapins and the wetlands ecosystem but also about experimental design, managing data, and organizing groups of people to get work done. Even though I’ve left the Wetlands Institute, I’m still working on research that I began over the summer. I’ll be presenting preliminary results for my project investigating the use of dredge material to restore terrapin nesting habitat at the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology Annual Meeting in January 2008.

However, my summer at the Wetlands Institute was not only about work. It was also about meeting an incredible group of students who all care about conservation and enjoying the beauty of the wetlands around us. In the long run, what I’ll remember most about the summer are the conversations we shared during midnight road patrols or while watching the sunrise during early morning trapping expeditions. While you’ll work hard at the Wetlands Institute, the rewards are endless.


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