Sometimes in science, it’s not what you collect, it’s what you observe and preserve.

Not long ago, I assisted on a coastal marsh research project. I wasn’t collecting soil or running instruments. My role was focused on documenting the fieldwork, recording data, organizing site notes, and supporting the workflow that made the research possible.

On the surface, it may have seemed like a simple role. But what I witnessed and recorded showed me just how complex and collaborative environmental fieldwork really is.

The research team was engaged in a full-scope environmental investigation that included: Soil sampling, Water quality monitoring, Vegetation surveys, Biogeochemical assessments, Remote sensing and GIS field validation

Each method offered a layer of understanding. Soil and water showed chemical signatures. Vegetation revealed ecological responses. GIS and hydrology brought spatial context to flow patterns and landscape features.

My job was to ensure the field data, the raw numbers, coordinates, sample labels, and in-situ observations, were recorded accurately and consistently. That meant paying close attention to conditions, terminology, and timing, because even minor gaps in field notes can affect what happens later in lab analysis or spatial interpretation.

It gave me a deep appreciation for the scientific chain of custody. Even in a documentation role, I realized:

Every datapoint is a building block in the bigger picture.

What struck me most was how interconnected every method was. This wasn’t one discipline at work, it was a systems approach, where biology, chemistry, geology, and geospatial science worked side-by-side to understand the health, risk, and resilience of the marsh ecosystem.

I walked into that marsh to help. I walked out understanding what it means to listen to the land through science.

It reminded me that fieldwork is not about hierarchy. It’s about collaboration, precision, and curiosity.

Even if you’re not the one collecting the sample, you’re part of the process that turns observation into knowledge.

What part of fieldwork do you find most underappreciated, but absolutely essential?

Until next time,

– Oluwatunmise Akanmu

Environmental Scientist | Geologist