update! the time to sign up as a volunteer IS CLOSED! Thanks to all that submitted their paperwork packet filled out. Lifeguards and undergraduates who have not yet done so, please fill out the form below.
WHO? Hopefully you!
Welcome! Thank you for your interest in being a volunteer to help out with this experiment! Because this experiment is a large undertaking we are indebted to people like you who are willing to help us out to make this experiment happen. If you are interested in volunteering, please read-on below to learn what volunteer work looks like, when it will take place, and how you can sign up!
WHAT? volunteer tasks
most of the volunteer roles involve sitting on the beach “baby-sitting” some of the instrumentation. This will involve helping to deploy MCIP carts or standalone fluorometers and sitting on the beach to keep an eye on the instruments in 6 hr shifts. While on duty, volunteers will be asked to:
- make sure that the instruments remain in the water (moving them if necessary or calling the shift lead for help to move them)
- make sure surfers and beach-goers are aware of the instruments and steer clear of them
- take notes of anything particularly interesting you might see or notice while on your shift (a change in the waves, when the dye becomes visible at your location, etc.)
Volunteers should be comfortable playing in the surfzone up to ~waist-deep water. We will provide beach chairs, sun shade, food, and drinks. It is highly recommended that you bring your own wetsuit! Daytime shifts will be mostly in teams of one while overnight shifts will be in teams of two. Night shifts will also be provided lights, sleeping bags, etc.
WHERE? Imperial Beach & Coronodo, CA
WHEN? experiment window and sampling dates
Volunteers will be needed during our intensive dye release studies which will occur 3 times during our experiment window (September 14 – October 16). Each release will be followed by 36 hours of sampling (2 days and 1 night) during which we need volunteer help. The exact dates of each release will not be decided until ~1 week in advance of each release because the releases require a certain set of wind and wave conditions (specifically south swells). So we will ask you to sign up for weeks in which you are available, noting any particular days/times that you cannot make it during any given week. Then we will notify volunteers 1 week in advance of their shift.
WHY? why are we doing this experiment?
If you have not already, please explore our website to learn more about why we are doing this study!
HOW? how can you help and sign up to volunteer?
Volunteer sign-ups are now closed. This form remains for lifeguards and undergraduates who have not yet filled out their availability. Thank you!