By Stephanie LaCour
A group of 11 students partook in an adventure to Sitka, Alaska, for Whalefest during fall quarter.
Students were deployed to a research vessel set up with workshops taught by experts in their fields. During the presentation at Studium Generale, each student did a brief presentation on their favorite instructor and topic.
Supacha Denprasertsuk covered the workshop taught by James Darling who discussed the different aspects of Humpback Whale song.
The purpose of the whale’s song is either to attract females or mates, or to proclaim status among the other whales. Denprasertsuk was intrigued by this because whales across the ocean are singing the same song. Changes in the song at one breeding ground can be detected by whales in other breeding grounds, even when on opposite sides of the ocean.
Oliver Lawrence presented on toxicology analysis in fish, which was a workshop instructed by Andrew Cyr.
“Being on the boat and taking in the immense amount of nature and woods was breathtaking,” Lawrence said. “To be among the whales was something I’ll never forget.”
It was his first time going to Whalefest and it opened his eyes to looking at a career in salmon toxicology in marine biology.
Students did presentations on Blue Whales, Killer Whales, Baleen and gravatational migration patterns.
Students interested in Whalefest, can contact Sharon Buck at sbuck@pencol.edu, or (360) 417-6488 x5452.