91桃色

South Senior Makes Research Trip to the Galapagos

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Posted on May 2, 2023

Thomas Becnel

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Jade Martin chose a geography major at the 91桃色 because she wanted to see the world and study the relationships between people and their environments.

For SURF 鈥� a Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship 鈥� she examined the role of climate change in the 鈥淒ead Zone鈥� of low oxygen and marine life off the Louisiana Gulf Coast. During her junior year, she did a Study Abroad program in Germany.

In the final semester of her senior year, Martin joined Dr. Steven Schultze, a climatologist and associate professor of geography, on a research trip to the Galapagos Islands, one of the most remote and unique ecosystems on the planet.

鈥淭hat was one of my dream places to visit,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t was confirmed in January-February and we went during spring break, the first week in March.鈥�

Martin got to see the giant tortoises of the Galapagos. She got to snorkel among sea lions and hammerhead sharks. And she got to help Schultze with their main task on San Cristobal Island.

They spent a day installing a network of beehive-shaped sensors to compare microclimates in different locations and altitudes. The devices record temperature, humidity and dew point at one-minute intervals.

South has a partnership with the Galapagos Science Center and the Universidad San Francisco de Quito in Ecuador. Schultze has spent several years developing the micronet for research.

鈥淭he data it will generate is foundational for fields like climatology, biology, geography, and ecology, and we expect a significant amount of buzz around papers and grants generated by it,鈥� he said. 鈥淛ade, who plans to go to grad school someday, was part of every aspect of the research from planning to execution to data analysis.鈥�

When she took classes with Schultze, he was impressed with her curiosity, scholarship and dedication. That鈥檚 how she became a research assistant and partner in some projects. 

鈥淲hat sets her apart is her drive, her willingness to go the extra mile 鈥� sometimes, literally, all the way to Germany or the Galapagos Islands,鈥� Schultze said. 鈥淪he鈥檚 one of those people, she鈥檚 ready to go, and she can see we offer that opportunity.鈥�

After returning to Mobile from the Galapagos, Martin used maps, photos and GIS, Geographic Information Science, to create a StoryMap of her research trip. The study of physical geography at South includes a great deal of tech work.

鈥淲hen you think about geography, GIS is the application side,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 very computer-heavy, software-based. Basically, we can take in any kind of imagery, any kind of topographic data, and we can analyze it, manipulate it and display it in a variety of ways.

鈥淭he technology, especially with satellites and drones, is becoming a big part of GIS. That鈥檚 another thing I love about geography. It鈥檚 always changing. There鈥檚 always something new.鈥�

Baykeeper and Beyond

Martin grew up north of Birmingham in the small town of Warrior, Alabama. She jokes that this explains her passion for travel.

In school, she thought about becoming a meteorologist or a veterinarian.

鈥淚t was always something in science, though,鈥� Martin said. 鈥淚 asked a lot of questions as a kid. Science gave me a chance to get some answers.鈥�

After high school graduation, she toured Mobile and then enrolled at South.

鈥淚鈥檇 never really been down here before,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t was not too close and not too far from home. It felt right.鈥�

Martin is a vegetarian who shops at thrift stores and has a tattoo of a tea plant, camellia sinensis, across her shoulder. She drives a 2007 Volvo that lacks one important feature.

鈥淣o AC 鈥� the air conditioning鈥檚 gone,鈥� she said, laughing. 鈥淢obile summers are rough.鈥�

During COVID, she moved home and worked full-time while taking remote classes. Her schedule included 12-hour shifts at an Amazon delivery center in Bessemer, Alabama. That was rough, too.

In Mobile, Martin works part-time with the Mobile Baykeeper organization. She鈥檚 an AmeriCorps team member who samples water quality in Mobile and Baldwin counties.

Her senior thesis compares bacteria levels in bodies of water before and after a Clean Water Act lawsuit in 2017. That project was another learning experience.

鈥淩esearch doesn鈥檛 always go as planned,鈥� she said. 鈥淔inding historical water quality data can be difficult, but I think I did well with what I had.鈥�

Recently, Martin accepted a job as an environmental scientist with an engineering firm in Gulfport, Mississippi. She鈥檒l be doing wetlands inspections, environmental assessments and GIS work.

This summer, she鈥檒l also complete her work with Mobile Baykeeper. Her schedule also includes a surprise return trip to the Galapagos Islands.

A once-in-a-lifetime trip has turned into a twice-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Martin will join Schultze at a Galapagos research symposium in late June. This visit will offer a different perspective.

鈥淲e just found out about it,鈥� she said, excited, 鈥渟o now we鈥檙e going back. This time, we鈥檒l go to the main island, Isabela, so I鈥檒l see penguins and volcanoes and everything in between.鈥�

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