Sponsored in cooperation with the Earthwatch Institute

Kewalo Basin Marine Mammal Lab (KBMML), Hawaii

Working intimately with dolphins borders on the surreal. If you ever felt awed by a teacher or friend because of all you could learn from them, imagine feeling that way about a dolphin. As you carefully place a surfboard, a ball, and a Frisbee in the habitat, the dolphin Akeakamai ("lover of wisdom" in Hawaiian) intently watches Dr. Louis Herman (KBMML director and University of Hawaii professor). From an observation tower, Dr. Adam Pack (KBMML assistant director) instructs Herman to ask Ake to place the ball on the surfboard. Herman’s arms and hands move rapidly, tracing out the sentence "Surfboard Ball On." Without hesitation Ake swims towards the ball, picks it up on the tip of her rostrum and transports it ten meters past the Frisbee to the surfboard. When it rolls off, she carefully replaces it and waits. "Correct," announces Pack as Herman sounds a whistle and gives Ake a huge hug. When Herman gestures "Ball Surfboard On," Ake responds by putting the surfboard on top of the ball, indicating her understanding that word order affects meaning.

For over 20 years KBMML researchers have conducted pioneering studies on dolphin sensory perception, cognition and language competencies. More than 80 scientific publications and reports on dolphins by KBMML staff have led to intense public interest in dolphins. Such documentaries as Into the Wild—Dolphins, starring Robin Williams and KBMML’s dolphins, have been instrumental in changing public perceptions of dolphins and increasing the desire to protect them. Your interest in dolphin behavior and concern for their future is an important part of that legacy. As an Earthwatch volunteer, you are helping Herman and Pack continue this mission. Additionally, you will help reveal how dolphins monitor their visual and acoustic environments, their sense of self-awareness, and the degree to which they can imitate the behavior of another dolphin or a human. The behavior you’ll observe would convince even the greatest skeptic that dolphins have conceptual abilities beyond our wildest imaginings.

Since 1982, Earthwatch volunteers have helped KBMML scientists, graduate students, interns, and staff explore the mind of the dolphin. It takes a true team effort to carry out these studies. You’ll assist by rotating through such tasks as monitoring experimental apparatus, recording trial data, archiving experiments on videotape, and entering data into computers. You will also help prepare the dolphins’ food, participate in the weekly tank cleaning, and enjoy a variety of marine mammal lectures. Importantly, through tankside socialization sessions, you will interact with the dolphins one-on-one, bringing your own sense of creativity and energy to their world.

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Two- and four-week teams year-round; one-week teams from September through May • Max team size: 8

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from US $1,395 • £850 • Aus $2,145 • Yen ¥163,700

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Honolulu, Hawaii

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After your day with KBMML’s dolphins, take a relaxing dip in the warm Pacific next to the lab. You and your teammates will then return to your three-bedroom condo in Honolulu, with all the amenities, a short walk or bus-ride away. You’ll use your weekly food allowance to shop and prepare meals together. In the evenings enjoy the beaches and night life of Waikiki.