Hale Morrell

New Hampshire

What has been your favorite class at COA? Why?

My favorite class at COA was Ecology. Although it was the most rigorous class I have ever taken at COA, it was the course where I've learned the most from. We read many classic papers which set up foundational ideas in ecology papers on succession, niches, and population regulation. We would discuss them in class and question what each author was claiming. I learned not only about the history of ecology but how to question sources and researchers' observations.

What classes have you taken at COA?

Ecology
Marvelous Terrible Place: Human Ecology of Newfoundland
Trees and Shrubs of MDI
Biology 1&2
Probability and Statistics
Mammalogy
Introduction to the Legal Process
American Poetry and the Environment
Communicating Science

What was your favorite project at COA? Why?
My favorite project at COA was an independent research project I did with Acadia National Park studying snowy owls on MDI. I learned a lot about field research and writing reports. I will hopefully be presenting my findings at the Ecological Society of America conference this summer.

What is your dream occupation? Right now, my dream occupation is to be a wildlife researcher in the back country.

What do you see yourself doing after COA? After COA I may take a year off to travel and do some more internships, and then, I'd like to go to graduate school.

What country or state would you like to visit?
I would love to go back to Newfoundland. It has a really interesting history, the people are friendly and the landscape is beautiful!

What are your plans, if any, for your internship?
I will be doing an internship in the autumn with Maine Coast Heritage Trust. I will be conducting a biological inventory of an island in Maine.

What are your ideas for your senior project?
I think I would like to study predatory-prey relationships specifically between ungulates and their predators. I might do my research in Acadia, but I have not decided yet.

What do you like to do when you're not doing school work?
I enjoy hiking and rock climbing. It is nice living next to a National Park because, it is easy to get outside and be active.

What are your favorite animals?
I think caribou are pretty cool creatures. I am impressed with how they have adapted to the cold.

What is the motto you like to live by?
"A single event can awaken within us a stranger totally unknown to us. To live is to be slowly born." ~Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Why did you choose to come to COA?
I chose to come to COA because there is a great community here. It is easy to really get to know both students and teachers. This would not be possible at a bigger school. Also, the professors are really passionate about teaching and are very willing to help students.

What do you like to study?
I like to study ecology and animal behavior.

Who are your favorite writers? Poets?
I like to read W.B. Yeats, Elizabeth Bishop, Bernice Morgan, J.R.R. Tolkien and Patrick O'Brian.

What historical figure do you most admire?
Sir Ernest Shackleton is a very interesting man. I like learning about him.