How to Become a Volunteer on a Scientific Expedition
Living until 2020 and what we have experienced until 2021 has prompted many people to reflect on their life, goals and priorities. If you are among them and realize that you would like (over time) to see the world more and start volunteering, there is a way to do both at the same time: become a volunteer on a research expedition.
But if you’re not friends with a scientist who is doing field research and looking for additional pairs of hands, you may not know where to start. A recent article by Kristen Pope for National Geographic recounts the experiences of people who volunteered to collect data and / or samples for field research projects in various locations. It also sheds light on how to find a project that is looking for volunteer scientists. Here’s what you need to know.
How to find a field research project looking for volunteers
The first thing you need to do is identify a research project that interests you and needs volunteers. The easiest way to do this is to contact a non-profit organization that recruits volunteers for research projects where they are needed.
The one featured in the National Geographic article is called Adventure Scientists , and has partnered with agencies such as the National Park Service, the US Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management to provide civil scientists for a variety of research projects.
Other places to find volunteering opportunities include:
- Volunteer match
- Earthwatch
- Plan of the Earth
- Smithsonian Center for Environmental Research
- Smithsonian Institution for Civil Science
What you need to know about volunteering on a research expedition
There are a few more things to keep in mind. First, remember that this is volunteer work, so don’t expect to be paid for your work or any of your travel expenses. You may be lucky to find a project offering some kind of scholarship, but this is a rare exception, not a rule.
However, you are more likely to find commercial volunteer companies that charge a fee to provide you with the opportunity to volunteer overseas. These are not necessarily exploratory trips (or anything you would like to do), but they may appear during your search.
And even though the opportunity is unpaid, you will still have to go through the application and / or validation process in most situations to make sure your timeline and skills are right for the project. Then, if this option is selected, you will go through some training to learn how to collect and send the data required for a specific project.
This will not be your usual journey, but it will give you the opportunity to explore a new place in an unusual way.