Spencer Kane

Enthusiastic worker and dedicated team player who is interested in the surrounding world. Quick thinker who works well independently. I enjoy learning from and empowering others and wish to work with individuals who share my passion for progress in our understanding and appreciation of the earth. The pursuit of natural science, I believe, is one of the oldest and most important in humankind.

GVI – Internship (2016)

GVI is a nonprofit organization that operates ecological conservation and community development programs worldwide. In Costa Rica, programs focus on environmental and wildlife conservation and provide significant training to enable interns to manage volunteers and lead programs that quantify environmental impact on animals and environment.

The responsibility of a GVI intern is to study the environment around them and improve it through careful analysis, documentation, partnership building, education and stewardship.

Accomplishments:

· Led a group of volunteers in the study of ornithology.

· Lessons in agricultural development and its history.

· Daily evaluation and documentation of key bird species including density, biodiversity, and habitat usage.

· Essay writing and presentations on the wildlife including a summary presentation of my experiences and studies.

· Regular visits to local villages to educate students and villagers about wildlife conservation.

· Gained remedial experience with Microsoft Excel.

Ghost Ranch - Student Led Research Project (2018)

During the summer of 2018, the Augustana biology department offered a research opportunity to those who would find interest in growing climate concerns, as well as the effects that these concerns have on local fauna and other wildlife. The idea I chose to take on was the encroaching effect that climate change was having on the local avian species. This involved using point count surveys and data research to compare the groups. I then used this data in ArcGIS pro to study how the area had been affected overtime. Our group also placed a focus on proper trail restoration, and park beautification by restoring trail markers, removing invasive plant life, managing the excessive amount of litter, and using powered machinery to control the encroachment of brush on the trails.

Accomplishments

· Relevant experience from previous scientific venture in Costa Rica resulted in this position.

· 4am wakeup, 5am start time.

· A combination of point count surveys and transect surveys to ascertain local bird activity.

· All collected data cross checked with public database E-bird to study trends.

GVI – Internship (2016)

GVI is a nonprofit organization that operates ecological conservation and community development programs worldwide. In Costa Rica, programs focus on environmental and wildlife conservation and provide significant training to enable interns to manage volunteers and lead programs that quantify environmental impact on animals and environment.

The responsibility of a GVI intern is to study the environment around them and improve it through careful analysis, documentation, partnership building, education and stewardship.

Accomplishments:

· Led a group of volunteers in the study of ornithology.

· Lessons in agricultural development and its history.

· Daily evaluation and documentation of key bird species including density, biodiversity, and habitat usage.

· Essay writing and presentations on the wildlife including a summary presentation of my experiences and studies.

· Regular visits to local villages to educate students and villagers about wildlife conservation.

· Gained remedial experience with Microsoft Excel.

Ghost Ranch - Student Led Research Project (2018)

During the summer of 2018, the Augustana biology department offered a research opportunity to those who would find interest in growing climate concerns, as well as the effects that these concerns have on local fauna and other wildlife. The idea I chose to take on was the encroaching effect that climate change was having on the local avian species. This involved using point count surveys and data research to compare the groups. I then used this data in ArcGIS pro to study how the area had been affected overtime. Our group also placed a focus on proper trail restoration, and park beautification by restoring trail markers, removing invasive plant life, managing the excessive amount of litter, and using powered machinery to control the encroachment of brush on the trails.

Accomplishments

· Relevant experience from previous scientific venture in Costa Rica resulted in this position.

· 4am wakeup, 5am start time.

· A combination of point count surveys and transect surveys to ascertain local bird activity.

· All collected data cross checked with public database E-bird to study trends.