KINGSTON R.I.– October 27, 1998 — “I would be happy if I got a job that barely covered my cost of living as long as I was doing something that I loved,” says Brad Timm, a sophomore at the University of Rhode Island from East Lyme, Conn. While statements such as this are often made by dilettantes in the arts, Timm’s focus is on the sciences, specifically Wildlife Management. “Nature has always been amazing to me,” he says, “since the first day of kindergarten I knew what I wanted to do with my life.” This past summer, Timm had the opportunity to indulge his passion by assisting URI Natural Resource Sciences Assistant Professor Peter Paton of West Kingston, with a study of amphibian populations in southern Rhode Island. The study involved an in-depth look at the breeding habits of several species of frogs, toads, and salamanders, as well as a survey of different species. Spending a half-hour of their night at different sites, the surveyors recorded the number of times the members of each species call out to each other. Timm was involved in this project as a fellow for URI’s Partnership for the Coastal Environment, an eight-month program that incorporates students into the research and outreach work of the professors and research staff of the university. The URI Coastal Fellowship Program combines a structured, prestigious undergraduate learning experience with the resources and talents of the public and private sectors. While gaining the skills as well as the contacts that will ensure their success, students build the confidence needed to perform on the job before they enter the job market. Fellows also received a stipend for their work over the summer. “My ultimate goal is to run a wildlife game park somewhere in Africa or Australia, but first I would love to travel worldwide and experience as much as I can,” says Timm. “I would also like to write a handbook about amphibians in New England that could be distributed to members of the surrounding communities so that they would become more aware of these beautiful creatures.” x-x-x For More Information: Jhodi Redlich (401) 874-2116