Community Boating Center Bioluminescence Intern

2024 is the third year of the bioluminescence internship position at the Community Boating Center. In the last two years, the Community Boating Center has partnered with Western Washington University to assist in research on bioluminescence and education through guided night kayak tours. Previous research was done by now-WWU alumni Lucy Greeley and Carrley Smith with the goal of identifying bioluminescent dinoflagellate species, planktonic community composition during bioluminescent events, and the effects of environmental factors on brightness of dinoflagellates. The work done by previous interns has gained recognition from the Bellingham Herald, presented at conferences, and has had a video feature by PBS Terra. Due to changes in funding and the availability of mentorship for research, the focus of the position shifted towards science communication and tour engagement this year.