In the Biology 1B Field Section, students have a chance to conduct a semester-long original field research program early in their academic career. Students who opt to take this section instead of the regular lab sections, have the opportunity to see how science really works and what field biology is like. Small groups of three or four students, in conjunction with Graduate Student Instructors (GSIs), Undergraduate Student Instructors (UGSIs), and faculty, identify a specific topic to study in the field; there are typically five or six different projects going on at the same time.
Students conduct a thorough literature search to guide the design of their experiment and then develop an experimental protocol to answer the question they have asked. Only when a reasonable protocol has been developed does the fieldwork begin. Data collection, analysis, a formal research paper, and a professional-style talk to the class at the end of the semester are all important aspects of the work.
The Graduate Student Instructors are a pivotal part of the learning, working closely with the students and the faculty on all aspects of the Field Section. They are responsible for the continued popularity and success of the Field Section, thanks to their enthusiasm and passion for field biology.
The students encounter the very types of problems professional field biologists encounter, from how to analyze the data to unexpected results, to dealing with vehicle breakdowns. This is an important part of the whole process: how to do science, how to solve unexpected problems as they arise, and how to relate the principles of Biology 1B to life experiences. The projects are usually the most rigorous scientific experience of their undergraduate careers. Several of the Field Section research projects have become published papers.
The fall 2006 studies included The Role of Urbanization and Human Presence on the Social Behavior of the California Sea Lion; Human Disturbance and Biodiversity: A Study of the Macroinvertebrates of Strawberry Creek; Plankton Abundance in Relation to Water Chemistry in the San Francisco Bay; and Abiotic Factors Influencing Biodiversity across the Mid-intertidal Zone.
The work itself is demanding, requiring a high level of maturity and responsibility. Almost all the work is done within the groups and the members learn to rely heavily on one another, for instance, taking turns when work requires around-the-clock shifts. Learning the essentials of effective teamwork is a crucial part of the experience. The focused training in scientific writing and collaboration so early in their undergraduate careers leads many Bio 1B students to become leaders in their upper-division courses that require group work.