Marine Science Internship

📍Gansbaai, Western Cape, South Africa

Gain hands-on experience in marine science with a 4-week program tailored for undergraduate and recent graduate students. Develop academic and fieldwork skills through intensive training modules. Explore ecological studies and cutting-edge technology to enhance your career prospects.

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Internship overview

Time symbolizing the duration of an internship program

Duration

  • ⏱️ 4 – 12 weeks
  • Minimum age: 18+
  • Starts on the first Monday of each month

 

Location

The internship is in the coastal town of Gansbaai, located in the Overberg region of the Western Cape, South Africa. Just a 2-hour drive from Cape Town and a 45-minute drive to Hermanus, Gansbaai offers a stunning natural setting for your internship.

What you can expect:

Marine science interns getting ready to go out in the field for exploration.

Improve your key skills:

  • Oral presentations: Learn to give presentations on your research and findings to your fellow interns, scientists, and other stakeholders.

  • Scientific discussions: Participate in scientific discussions with other interns, scientists, and experts in the field.

  • Peer review training: Receive training on how to conduct peer reviews of scientific papers. This is an important skill that will allow you to contribute to the scientific community and to ensure that high-quality research is published.

  • Scientific guiding: Guide other interns or students on their research projects.

  • Critical thinking: Think critically about the data that you collect and the conclusions that you draw. This is an important skill for all scientists.

Intern at the marine science program in South Africa, learning more about the biology and ecology of South Africa's marine animals.

Expand your knowledge through lectures:

During your internship, you’ll attend comprehensive lectures on South African marine biology and ecology. These lectures will delve into the diversity of marine species, their ecological roles, and the factors influencing their distribution.

You’ll also learn about various research methods, including field surveys, laboratory experiments, and genetic analysis. Additionally, the lectures will cover sampling techniques, data collection protocols, and effective data management practices, equipping you with the necessary skills for conducting scientific research.

Marine Science internship student conducting a biodiversity assessment

Participate in biodiversity assessments:

  • Baited Remote Underwater Video (BRUV): Assist in deploying and analyzing BRUVs to capture underwater footage of marine life, allowing for species identification and abundance estimation.
  • Intertidal Monitoring: Participate in surveys of the intertidal zone, recording species presence, distribution, and environmental conditions to assess biodiversity and identify potential threats.
Marine Science interns tagging and tracking marine animals in South Africa

Take part in tagging and tracking:

  • Identification and acoustic tagging: Assist in tagging coastal shark species with identification tags and, where possible, acoustic tags.
  • Data analysis: Contribute to ongoing movement ecology studies by analyzing data collected from tagged sharks, including their migration patterns, habitat use, and behavior.
Marine Science intern student tracking a dolphin in South Africa

Species measurement:

  • Necropsy data collection: Assist with the retrieval and examination of stranded marine animals, collecting data on their physical characteristics, health conditions, and potential causes of death.
  • Necropsy data analysis: Contribute to the analysis of necropsy data, helping to identify disease outbreaks, assess environmental impacts, and inform conservation efforts.
Marine Science intern student learning the R programming language.

Statistical training:

  • Introduction to R: Learn the basics of the R programming language, a powerful tool for statistical analysis and data visualization.
  • Applied data workshops: Participate in hands-on workshops where you’ll apply R to analyze real-world marine science data, including biodiversity assessments, tagging and tracking data, and necropsy data.
Marine science interns measuring coastal bird species in South Africa

Seabird rehabilitation:

  • Bird handling and feeding: Work alongside experienced staff at the African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary (APSS) to care for injured seabirds. Learn proper handling techniques, feeding protocols, and the specific needs of different seabird species.
  • Rehabilitation and release: Assist in the rehabilitation process, providing daily care, monitoring health parameters, and preparing birds for eventual release back into the wild.
Marine science intern students learning how to properly conduct photographic species identification in South Africa.

Photographic identification:

  • Identification methods: Learn various techniques for identifying marine species from photographs, including morphological characteristics, coloration, and behavior.
  • Analytical software training: Gain proficiency in using specialized software for image analysis, such as identifying individual animals based on unique markings or patterns.
Marine Science intern students taking part in environmental monitoring at the local estuary in South Africa

Environmental monitoring at the local estuary:

  • YSI sampling: Learn to use a YSI multiparameter water quality probe to collect data on various environmental parameters, such as temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, and pH.
  • Bird species surveys: Conduct bird surveys to identify and count different bird species present in the estuary, providing valuable insights into the ecosystem’s health and biodiversity.
  • Data analysis: Analyze the collected data to assess the estuary’s water quality and identify potential environmental issues or changes.
Marine Science intern students collecting data while out on a boat cruise in South Africa

Boat-based data collection:

  • Shark dive and whale watching: Assist marine biologists on shark dive and whale watching excursions, collecting detailed data on species sightings, behavior, and environmental conditions.
  • Data collection: Utilize specialized equipment and protocols to record information such as species identification, group size, and GPS coordinates.
  • Data analysis: Contribute to the analysis of collected data to understand species distribution, migration patterns, and potential threats.
Group of Marine Science intern students visiting Hermanus during their time in South Africa

Tailored projects for your university requirements:

If your university requires a project, we offer a range of short courses designed to complement your internship experience. These courses are ideally suited for students who have already participated in our skills internship program.

Here are some potential project topics:

  • BRUV (Baited Remote Underwater Video)
  • Mark/Recapture
  • Intertidal
  • Estuary Monitoring
  • Seabirds
  • Marine Pollution
  • Cetaceans
  • Tourism
  • Marketing

Where you will stay

Comfortable and convenient accommodation

Stay at the Marine Volunteer Centre, offering four cottages and a new building that can comfortably accommodate up to 40 people in shared sleeping arrangements. Bedding is provided, and rooms are cleaned weekly.

Shared facilities

Each facility features a mini kitchen, while communal cooking takes place in the central kitchen, equipped with an adjacent dining room and sitting room. A lecture room, workspace, swimming pool, activity hall with weights and table tennis, pool table, foosball, and board games ensure plenty of entertainment and relaxation. Wi-Fi and satellite TV are available.

Sustainability focus

We prioritize recycling at the lodge, promoting environmental responsibility.

Convenient location

The lodge is conveniently located just 1.4 km from our operations. While we provide daily transportation, it’s also easily accessible by walking or cycling.

Meals:

We provide participants with basic ingredients to prepare breakfast and lunch. You need to budget for dinner, either making your own food or eating out at a restaurant.

The bedrooms at the accommodation for the marine science internship program in South Africa
The bathroom at the accommodation of the marine science internship program in South Africa
The kitchen at the accommodation of the marine science internship program in South Africa
Great white shark appearing out of the water at the marine conservation volunteering program in South Africa
Volunteers at the marine conservation project visiting the caves in Struisbaai located at the tip of Africa.
Volunteer enjoying whale watching in South Africa
man enjoying yoga in Namibia
Volunteers taking part in shark cage diving at the marine conservation project in South Africa
Diver enjoying the water in Cape Town South Africa
Marines cleaning up the beach in South Africa
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