After tomorrow, we start our DRPs! (Directed Research Proposals) which we work on for the remainder of the trip. I am PUMPED about my topic, I'm studying the Hochstetter's frog, a tiny, endangered amphibian living in the Hunua mountain ranges (see the pic, they're cute right?). I get to hike through the mountains finding these little buggers, collecting data, and writing a paper and presenting to the local Dept. of Conservation authorities. They said excellent papers in the past have even been published! I am so psyched about this; it's my own data, my own paper, and my own project! For the first time in college as a science major, I finally get to do oringinal research. I'm antsy to finish this poopy final exam and get started!
