Wildlife Radiotelemetry

Teachers will be introduced to methods used in research on wildlife home range and habitat use, specifically tracking and locating of wildlife using radiotelemetry and calculations of location coordinates using geometry, trigonometry, and the automation of those calculations in a spreadsheet.

This module is intended for science/math teachers and for their students who are interested in wildlife research, wildlife biology, grad school, etc., the more serious biology or even math students.

Topics covered will be:

In the field:

- use of the compass and hip chain for reconnaissance and distance measuring

- use of the GPS to capture location coordinates

- use of a hand-held radiotelemetry receiver and antenna for finding radiocollared animals

- field proofing of telemetry azimuths

Back in the lab:

- calculation of a new target coordinate using an origin, azimuth, and distance to the new location, used when the researcher can walk up to the target but don’t have a GPS or you’re in a forest or at the wrong time of day and it doesn’t work!

- calculation of a new target coordinate from 2 origins and azimuths, used when the researcher cannot approach the target, like most mammal or bird telemetry

- use of Excel spreadsheet formulas to compute animal location coordinates

The teachers won’t have to derive the formulas; they will be able to have questions about them answered, though.

Solar Cooker

The second project will have Valerie Janis showing teachers how to construct an award winning solar cooker from scratch from a galvanized washtub, plywood, and masonite. It is a small construction project involving the use of power tools. The seminar will include a presentation about renewable energy applications and conservation, as well as a review of different types of solar cookers. Teachers will come away with hands-on experience making a solar oven and with the plans to show and train their interested students to make one, too, as well as enthusiasm and information about RE in general.

One complete solar oven will be constructed during each two-day seminar.