FBB in Kamchatka: what was it like?
We are going to tell you about the expedition of our faculty to Kamchatka. To accomplish this purpose, we engaged the expedition participants in discussions regarding their impressions, the challenges they faced, and the knowledge they gained for the benefit of future event participants.
Tell us about yourself and how did you get involved in the expedition?
Marina: ‘ Currently in my second year, I became acquainted with an expedition to Kamchatka through a friend. This idea ignited a strong passion within me to participate, especially considering my aunt’s presence in Sakhalin, which is close to Kamchatka.’
Ira: ‘ My name is Ira, and I’m a second year student of Cognitive Neurobiology. I joined an expedition because I always dreamed of participating in something like this and, of course, to visit Kamchatka. My passion lies in studying the physiology of sleep and memory and the biology of behavior. During the trip I spent a lot of time watching birds.’
Preparation
Was the selection process difficult?
Ira: ‘ The only task was to write a motivation letter. I looked up on the internet guides for writing such texts. The selection criteria turned out to be a mystery. Apparently, the decision of the committee was not influenced by grades in invertebrates and botany, so the motivation letter or perhaps luck played a key role. In the end, 15 people went: 9 students from FBB, 1 student from HSE Geofaculty, 4 teachers and Sergei's young daughter’.
Marina : ‘The selection was based on the motivation letter, but the committee also took the rating into account (some people didn't go just because of it)’.
What was the preparation for the expedition like?
Marina : ‘I am very glad my young man organized a small hike in advance and I understood how to descend/climb down/up steep hills. Tip: Opting for waterproof shoes is worthwhile as regular sneakers can lead to numerous issues, including slipping, which is especially risky for inexperienced hikers in the mountains.
Ira: ‘ Sergey Anatolievich assembled us after the summer session and outlined the expedition’s plan, necessary items, and activities. For the sake of convenience, I bought a backpack and a bigger water bottle than the ones I had. Both were well worth the money.’
During the expedition
What was the aim of the expedition?
Marina : ‘Exploring fauna, flora and enjoying natural landscapes. We took photos of plants and uploaded them to a special app called iNaturalist. I gathered different benthic organisms and other creatures, then examined them under a microscope to identify them. We wrote reports at the end of the trip.’
Ira: We had botany and invertebrate assignments. For the first one, we had to collect herbarium and identify 30-50 species of plants on the ground during the whole trip. Talking about the task for invertebrates, we collected them directly from the ground into falcons. In the end we made two complicated reports. In one we collected all the plants we managed to identify and indicated the area where we found them. The second one described all the different invertebrate fauna at each of our locations.’
What was a typical day on the trip like?
Marina: ‘ We got up at 7-8 o'clock, then had breakfast and afterwards 3-4 locations were waiting for us to explore. After that it's completely free time, but I sincerely recommend you to go to bed before 12 (I didn't manage it that way). Basically, we collected objects for research, tried to observe and recognise organisms with the help of the identifier. Further research will take place in the lab.’
Ira: ‘Early rises, quick packed lunches, and adventures. Together we moved to new places, climbed or explored the neighborhood, leaving heavy things behind. We noted all the plants, especially unusual ones, and collected invertebrates in falcons as instructed by Sergei Anatolievich. A microscope and binoculars were in the armory. The last days were spent on identifying the collected invertebrates, which turned out to be no less tiring than climbing with backpacks. For plants there was a handy appendix, but with barnacles a careful and long study with a determiner was required.’
Were there any humorous or unusual situations?
Ira: ‘One day we went to Starichkov Island to see the bird colonies. In order to land on the island, we required military authorization that we didn’t possess. Sergey Anatolievich, the captain of the boat, and three students, who were the least seasick on the water, bravely set out to sample the benthos and what could be found on the coastal rocks. There were no particular problems with the benthos, but the rocks were disturbing. The sea was agitated a little and there was a probability to bump into these rocks. That's why Sergey Anatolievich, sticking out of the boat, spent some time trying to pull off some barnacles from the rocks. But when he finally succeeded, they fell into the water. I was so offended by the fact that they fell that at some point I suggested, with a very serious look, that I jump into the water, pull the barnacles off the rocks and return to the raft. I’m wearing a lifejacket, so what will actually happen to me? For a second Sergei looked at me with a very serious look, but gave up the idea. However, he was much more willing to take my penknife.’
Results of the expedition
What results did you get? How will they be used in Moscow?
Ira: ‘We have described the area in detail, compiled a herbarium and brought some samples with invertebrates back to Moscow, as it was the academic goal. Perhaps some of this will be given to the first-year students to dissect in practice this academic year. Also, some students had their own goals. My plan, on the other hand, was to be as helpful to the team as possible. And I believe in good conscience that I have fulfilled it to the fullest.’
Marina: I continue to use the app we previously used for plant identification, and it’s fantastic.
Will this experience contribute to further career building and studies?
Ira: ‘Given my aspirations in neurobiology, I’m doubtful if this experience will contribute to my professional growth. However, this experience is valuable for any career as it develops passion for learning, developing, and trying new things. To be offered to go to Kamchatka makes me believe I have chosen a very right place. It seems to me that such an experience would be extremely useful for anyone, especially since half of our faculty dreams of field practice.’
Marina: ‘It will help at least to keep the conversation about microbiology and about Kamchatka going. The experience is the best, it can't even be overestimated.’
What advice do you have for those who also aspire to be selected and go to Kamchatka?
Ira: ‘Always try. I have never won any lottery, but I always had a little hope. Naturally, my hopes were slightly higher this time because my training programme had only been around for a year, resulting in a lack of neuroscience students and only 4 applications from my programme. Besides, someone from our programme would definitely be accepted, so I had a bit more chance than, for example, third-year biotechnology students. Still, not everyone got in. Of course, the whole story that every ‘no’ along the way is a small step towards a ‘yes’ is unlikely to surprise or motivate anyone. Give it a try, do your best. What if it turns out to be you.’
Marina: ‘Just a heads up, it might be a bit difficult for someone who isn’t used to physical exertion.’