Earthwatch staff member Nicole Like went on the Plants and People
Through the Ages expedition last year. Together with fellow staff
member Jacquelyn Merrill, we held a teleconference for people
interested in the project. The following is a transcript of that
session.
Plants and People Through the Ages
Other teleconference Q&A's
Q: What was the best part of this expedition for you?
A: I've been to D.C. before, and it's a really great city, but the best part was being able to go behind the scenes of the Smithsonian and see how things work. You're working in the lab, and if you open a door, you'll see the people in the actual museum, looking at things behind glass. But you get to go behind the doors and be a part of bringing that history to people. And there's a ton to do and see in D.C., when you're not on the project.
Q: Will we have time to see other museums and monuments in D.C.?
A: The museums have summer hours and non-summer hours, and many museums close at 5:30 during those non-summer days. This doesn't give you much time to explore, but you can always fly in to the city a few days before the expedition or stay a few days late, and spend some time there separate from your expedition. The PI, Russell, can be really flexible with the hours, too. If your group would rather have an extended lunch and work later into the evening, he is pretty flexible about that. But it depends on the group and what works best for the PI; it's a case-by-case basis.
Q: What are the activities that we would be doing on the project?
A: You're working in the National Herbarium part of the Smithsonian, where they house plant samples from all over the world. There are metal stacks where they keep plant samples mounted on archival paper. One activity is pulling the samples that the PI asks you to. You'll be looking for plants by region; we were looking for Pacific plants on my expedition. On the archival paper, there are notes about the plant's origin, name, and uses. The information can range from limited to very detailed. What the PI wants to find are plants' native names and native uses, like if it helps with nausea or headaches or is good in a stew. The second activity is recording the sample and data into the database.
Q: Is this the first version of the database, or are we revising a previous database?
A: I believe that you'll still be working on the first version, entering the raw data. I worked mostly in the stacks. I didn't get a chance to go on the computer because I let the other volunteers work on it.
Q: Do other people have access to this database?
A: No, this is an in-house database that they're still working on. I'm sure that it will eventually be released to other organizations to use, and there are visiting scientists in the herbarium from all over the world. People see the Smithsonian as a major collector of data, and the plant data will eventually be available to everyone.
Q: Will I get sent any more information about this project?
A: If you already have the briefing and forms, the only other information you'll receive is a team list, usually sent out a month before your expedition dates.
Q: Was it difficult to find accommodations?
A: Not at all. There are a lot of choices in the area, whether you're looking for five-star hotels or youth hostels. I used the Metro to get to the museum every day, and it was a less-than-ten-minute ride. The Metro was really easy to use. As in any big city, you want to be aware of your surroundings and try to not walk alone at night. The days get shorter towards winter, so be aware of when it will get dark if you're out alone. The mall area is usually safe and populated.
Q: Are there a lot of activities in the area?
A: You can see the museums, shop, eat, and visit the monuments. You can just go for a walk around: September in the northeast is a great time of year. It's cooling off a bit, but the days are still really nice.
Q: How do I get behind the scenes of the Smithsonian?
A: The first day of the expedition, you'll be meeting with your group at the Constitution Avenue entrance of the Smithsonian. I think the meeting time is 9 or 9:30 in the morning. You'll go through security and get a badge that lets you in the building. You have to turn in the badge at the end of the project. You could probably make a photocopy of it, if you wanted to bring home a souvenir.
Q: Is Arlington Cemetery and the Pentagon far from the mall? Map distances are misleading!
A: They're pretty far from the mall, but the people at the Smithsonian are very helpful and will help you find a way to visit those sites if you want to go there. The mall itself is huge! It's nice because there aren't any cars and you can see the monuments, but it takes quite a while to walk from one end to the other.
Q: I heard I can get VIP passes from my senator to visit the White House?
A: It's true that you can get passes to see certain places in D.C., but we're not sure how that works. If you'll be spending additional time in the city outside the expedition, you may want to look into that.
Q: Do you have any other tips for us?
A: Just to go out and experience the city! D.C. is a great city to explore. I recommend getting there at least a day early, resting up, then hitting the pavement. You'll want to be out and about as soon as you get there!