Keck Expedition 2004
Click on any name to read an interview (this list includes
crew from both Leg 2 and Leg 4):
Debra Stakes, Paul McGill,
Will Willcock; Tony Ramirez,
Ben Potter, Mike Conway,
Andrew Barclay, Doug Toomey,
Troy Durant, Taimi Mulder,
John Rostau, Jim Gill, George
Kamenov, Lonny Lundsten, Frank
Ramos, Mike Perfit, Sarah
Langberg; Laurie
Ann Cotsonika; Deb Glickson
Andrew
Barclay top of page
Title: Acting Assistant Professor
What is your role on this cruise?
We are going to be retrieving and then redeploying eight seismometers that
have been operating on the seafloor at the Endeavour segment of the Juan
de Fuca Ridge for the past year. In the few days the seismometers
will be aboard ship, we have to identify (and fix) any problems. My
main tasks are to help to make sure that the seismometer data -- all 250
Gb -- are properly saved and copied to DVD and hard drive, and then to look
for known earthquakes in the continuous seismograms in order to determine
whether each seismometer worked properly.
What are your primary goals?
To help to collect a year's worth of seismic data from the seafloor, and
to help to deploy 13 seismometers on the seafloor that will record earthquakes,
ships, storms and whales for the next year.
What do you expect to find?
I expect to find recordings of a very large number of small earthquakes
that have occurred around the Endeavour segment and hydrothermal vent fields
during the past year.
What is your favorite/least favorite part of a research cruise?
Favorite: The excitement of seeing a tract of seafloor that nobody
has ever seen before. The food is very good. Least favorite:
Being seasick (this sometimes conflicts with the good food. ).
What is your job title? Why did you decide to become one? And how
did you become one?
I enjoy the variety of this job. You get a whole lot of different
experiences: working closely with all different kinds of people, working
with math and computers, being able to go to sea, trying (usually failing)
to understand rocks, setting your own schedule, writing papers, teaching,
and traveling to meetings in interesting places.
Mike
Conway top of page
MBARI Marine Operations Technician
/staff/comi
What is your role on this cruise?
I am here to set up and assist in the deployment of the equipment I built
for this cruise, primarily the platform elevator and glass bead hopper.
The platform elevator transports equipment to and from the bottom independent
of the ROV. I have to calculate the flotation we will need as well as the
anchor weights. Its actually a lot more complicated than it sounds, especially
when you consider the elevator will free fall through the water over 2400
meters deep. I am also going to help the ROV pilots whenever I can.
What are your primary goals?
My primary goal is to make sure everything gets deployed and recovered safely.
I am also here to assist when ever possible.
What do you expect to find?
Hopefully beautiful weather and everything working flawlessly.
What is your favorite/least favorite part of a research cruise?
My favorite part of a research cruise is seeing equipment I built working
on the bottom of the sea. My least favorite part of a cruise is when weather
restricts or prevents us from carrying out our objectives.
What is your job title? Why did you decide to become one? And how
did you become one?
My job title is “Marine Operations Technician”. I was a research
diver and ROV pilot, so I have a pretty good idea what works and what does
not below the surface of the ocean. Our scientists know what they want to
accomplish, but they often leave it up to me to figure out how to make it
happen. I have to be a “jack of all trades” in my job. I often use 3 D CAD
programs to design, machines to fabricate and seamanship skills to deploy
the equipment I build. I enjoy building things and this career allows me
to build some really cool things. I have degrees in Biology, Electronics,
and Commercial Diving. This job requires skills I have learned from my educational
background as well on the job training I get everyday.
Laurie Ann Cotsonika (Top
of page)
Master's Student, University of Florida
What
is your role on this cruise?
I will be collecting samples from the Southern Cleft segment and the ridge
transform intersect (RTI) for my thesis project.
What
do you expect to find?
I hope to gain insight into the reasons why volcanism occurs at the RTI.
What
are your primary goals?
To collect good samples for research purposes, as well as gain cruise
experience.
What
is your favorite/least favorite part of a research cruise?
I just love being at sea.
What
is your job title? Why did you decide to become one? And how did you become
one?
I am a master’s student at UF studying mid ocean ridge basalts (MORB).
I truly enjoy the field of geology and I find my specialty especially
fascinating.
I have wanted to be an oceanographer since 6th grade and
reading 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea,
because I wanted to see all the things the book described.
I focused more on science throughout my high school career and
completed my Bachelor’s in Oceanography at the University of Michigan. I
then continued on to University of Florida for my Master’s.
Troy
Durant top of page
Graduate Student University of Oregon
What is your role on this cruise?
I am a scientist, research assistant, general helper, etc.
What are your primary goals?
My primary goal is to assist with the the recovery of scientific data. This
leads to my secondary goal, which is to assist with the recovery, restoration
and redeployment of our seismometers currently on the seafloor, as well
as to deploy several new seismometers.
What do you expect to find?
Our seismometers!!! And then, lots and lots of great scientific data!!!
What is your favorite/least favorite part of a research cruise?
My favorite part of the cruise is just being out at sea. There is something
kind of magical about being at sea that is very difficult to describe with
words. It is a place far removed from the worries and stresses of regular
daily life. It is a place that allows me to reflect upon deeper thoughts.
My least favorite part of the cruise is being away from my wonderful wife
and three beautiful daughters.
What is your job title? Why did you decide to become one? And how
did you become one?
I am a graduate student studying geophysics at the University of
Oregon. I became a graduate student to pursue a career in the physical sciences.
I have always had a passion for science and education. Becoming a graduate
student took a lot of hard work, dedication and many hours of study.
Jim
Gill top of page
Professor Earth Sciences UCSC
webpage address http://es.ucsc.edu/~jgill/
What is your role on this cruise?
Co-chief scientist for Endeavour segment
What are your primary goals?
Collect fresh basalt samples that reflect the range of magma compositions at
this ridge segment, and locate these within a geologic and tectonic context.
Constrain the age of the geomorphology -- when did the axial valley form?
Use the major, trace, and volatile element compositions of the basalts, and
the radiogenic isotopes and U-series disequilibriia, to understand the
source of the magma and the melting processes that deliver them to the
surface.
What do you expect to find?
We expect to find at least a factor three variation in incompatible trace
element ratios of basalts within less than 1 km across strike. This is
especially remarkable because there is an underlying magma lens that might
be expected to homogenize magmatic output. The basalt diversity may assist
geological mapping. We also expect to find young (<10,000 y old)
volcanism on at least the eastern flank of the ridge. The high
concentrations of many trace elements together with their extreme U-series
disequilibria suggest that melting is atypically deep and the source is
atypically wet.
What is your favorite/least favorite part of a research cruise?
Favorite part is when the ROV arrives on deck with its payload.
Least favorite parts are bad weather and mechanical malfunctions.
What is your job title? Why did you decide to become one? And how
did you become one?
Professor. Why did you decide to become one? I enjoy discovering
new information and telling other people about it. I also enjoy
international travel and collaborations. And how did you become one? Started
as a mineral collector, then mining geologist, then grad student. Took a job
at an experimental university and stayed there.
Deb Glickson top of page
PhD. Student; Univ. of Washington
What is your role on this cruise?
To collect geologic data at the northern end of the Endeavour Segment through
visual imagery and rock samples. I am working on a synthesis of geologic
data across the whole segment, which is challenging because it has been
collected over many years with many different vehicles.
What are your primary goals?
To learn more about the geological setting of the Endeavour Segment and how
the geology might relate to the geochemical variations that are being
studied by other scientists on board.
What do you expect to find?
Lots and lots of basalt!
What is your favorite/least favorite part of a research cruise?
My favorite part is sitting in the control room watching the seafloor. Even
if we've been to the same spot many times before, it's still fascinating
that we're interacting with an environment over 2000m away. My least
favorite is seasickness, because it always happens to me.
What is your job title? Why did you decide to become one? And how
did you become one?
I'm a Oceanography graduate student going into my third year at the
University of Washington. After getting a Master's degree in Geology
and working as a research associate in Physical Oceanography for two and a
half years, I decided to go back for my PhD in Marine Geology.
George Kamenov
top of page
PhD. Student
http://plaza.ufl.edu/kamenov
What is your role on this cruise?
I will assist in collecting lava samples and then, back in the University of
Florida I will be involved in their trace element and isotope analyses.
What are your primary goals?
The primary goal is to collect hardrock samples. Personally for me, this
cruise is also a great opportunity to get seagoing experience.
What do you expect to find?
Not sure, but we expect to recover some evolved (andesites, dacites) lavas
that will provide valuable information about the magmatic evolution of the
Mid-Ocean Ridges.
What is your favorite/least favorite part of a research cruise?
Well, this is my first one, so don't know yet, but I like boating and
diving, so I guess the cruise will be very enjoyable experience
What is your job title? Why did you decide to become one? And how
did you become one?
I am a Ph.D. student working with Mike Perfit on magmatism and
hydrothermal processes in SW Pacific seamounts and islands. The sea has been
my "hobby" since I was small kid. My favorite books were all about
seagoing expeditions and marine explorers, such as Ferdinand Magellan, James
Cook, Jacques Cousteau. I became actively involved in Marine Geology during
my undergraduate years when I worked on mineralogy of metalliferous
sediments from TAG hydrothermal field, Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Later on, I did a
M.S. on Andean ore deposits, and now I am "back" to the ocean
working on geochemistry of submarine seamounts.
Sarah Langberg top of page
High School Student Intern
What is your role on this cruise?
I will be continuing my role as a research intern under Dr. Michael Perfit from
the University of Florida Department of Geological Sciences.
What are your primary goals?
My
main goal is to absorb as much knowledge as possible from the scientists on
board. I am looking forward to
becoming familiar with the physical geology that provides the chemical data
that I am used to working with in a laboratory setting. I am very excited to experience the Juan de Fuca Ridge first hand and
participate in sample collection.
What do you expect to find?
Hopefully
we will find some rocks of geochemical interest expanding from previously
explored traverse-axis dives.
What is your favorite/least favorite part of a research cruise?
This
is my first time on a research cruise of any sort, but I am sure that my
favorite aspect will be being surrounded by scientists and immense amounts
of knowledge at all times. I am
sure I will love being out at sea and experiencing the technology that
allows samples to be collected from the seafloor, first hand. Least favorite? Probable
cold weather (with respect for Florida, that is
What is your job title? Why did you decide to become one? And how
did you become one?
I am
currently a student—a senior in high school. I am also a research intern under Dr. Perfit. I became one to gain knowledge and experience in the geological
sciences and to explore possible scientific careers. I found the geological sciences lab through University of Florida
high school outreach programs familiarizing students with science. I was able to intern with Dr. Perfit during the summers of 2003
and 2004 and greatly enjoyed my research experiences.
Lonny Lundsten
top of page
MBARI Research Technician
/staff/lonny
What is your role on this cruise?
I will be in charge of video data management, utilizing MBARI's Video
Annotation Reference System to annotate video data in real time. My work
entails identifying unique biological and geological features that will be
seen during the dive, while using MBARI designed software to log the
observations. Additionally, I will be assisting with the collection
andprocessing of samples collected during the cruise, preparing them for
identification and further analysis by MBARI scientists.
What are your primary goals?
My goal is to work hard and learn as much as I from everyone else on the
cruise.
What do you expect to find?
I hope to learn more about the biologically unique communities associated
with the unique geology of the survey area.
What is your favorite/least favorite part of a research cruise?
My favorite part of going on an MBARI research cruise seeing new, unique,
interesting, or stunningly beautiful organism, which poignantly makes me
realize how much of the oceans have yet to be discovered.
What is your job title? Why did you decide to become one? And how
did you become one?
My job title is video lab research technician. I study marine
ecology because of my desire understand more about the unique organisms that
inhabit the marine environment and how the habitats in which they are found
support such diverse communities. I received a B.S. in Marine Ecology at CSU
Monterey Bay and am pursuing a M.S. at Moss Landing Marine Laboratories.
Paul
McGill top of page
MBARI Electrical Engineer
/staff/mcgill
What is your role on this cruise?
I'm a co-Chief Scientist, which means I'm sharing the Chief Scientist's
duties with Will Wilcock of the University of Washington. The Chief
Scientist's role is to make sure the ship's crew knows where we'd like to
go and what we'd like to do with the ship, and to lead the science crew
to accomplish all of our science goals.
What are your primary goals?
Our primary goal is to recover the seismic data from an array of eight
seismometers that we deployed one year ago. After we recover the data,
we'll redeploy the seismometers with fresh batteries and empty data disks
for recovery next year. We'll also deploy five additional seismometers
at new sites.
What do you expect to find?
We expect to find eight seismometers each containing a year's worth
of high-quality data. This will be the most seismic data ever recorded
by local instruments in this region. We expect the data to reveal
a great deal about the structure of this volcanically active region.
What is your favorite/least favorite part of a research cruise?
My least favorite part of a research cruise is preparing to leave -
there's so much to do and I'm always wondering what I've forgotten.
My favorite part is getting that first look at the data from a seafloor
instrument - I never know what secrets will be revealed.
What is your job title? Why did you decide to become one? And how
did you become one?
I'm an electrical engineer. I've always been interested in science
and technology. I learned a lot through reading and my own projects,
and I got my formal education at Stanford University.
Taimi
Mulder top of page
Seismologist
What is your role on this cruise?
Seismologist.
What are your primary goals?
Staying afloat. And some earthquake analysis from ocean bottom seismometers,
including incorporation of data into routine seismic processing of earthquakes
off the northwest coast of North America .
What do you expect to find?
Sea creatures. Hopefully they won’t make too much noise on the seismometers.
Also hoping to find that the ocean bottom seismometers which have escaped
the sea creatures will give significant improvements in locating earthquakes
in the region.
What is your favorite/least favorite part of a research cruise?
Favourite – just being at sea. Least favourite – being seasick.
What is your job title? Why did you decide to become one? And how
did you become one?
Title – Seismologist. My first job after graduating in Geophysics from
the University of British Columbia was dirt bagging for a geological contracting
company and my second was running a geophysical observatory in the high
arctic, predominantly a seismological and magnetic observatory. That was
the beginning of it all. After a return to school and several jobs in various
parts of the world, I am currently employed as an earthquake seismologist
with the Geological Survey of Canada (Natural Resources Canada).
Mike
Perfit top of page
Professor of Geological Sciences
What is your role on this cruise?
I am one of the igneous petrologists and volcanologists on the cruise (along
with Debra Stakes and Jim Gill). I will be sampling basalts using the ROV
and a wax corer from discrete sections of the southern Cleft segment, making
sure that we know their exact tectonic and morphologic associations as well
as their relative ages compared to the youngest basalts in the axis. The
second part of the cruise will be at the Endeavor segment where I plan to
help Jim Gill with his dives and sampling.
Back in my labs at the University of Florida, my students and I will be
analyzing the glass from the exterior crusts of the lavas for major and
trace elements, and some of them for their isotopic composition.
My
other role is to mentor and teach the students I am bringing on this cruise.
I have three students from UF who will be helping us – none of them have
ever been on an oceanographic cruise. They have a lot to learn and I look
forward to helping them.
What are your primary goals?
The
overall goal of our project on the southern Cleft is to further
our fundamental understanding of how the oceanic crust is formed and how
intermediate spreading rate ridges evolve over time.
More specifically, during this cruise we are completing a set of
dives that first started in 2000. We
plan to integrate bathymetric, volcanologic, petrologic and observational
data in order to identify individual flow units and discrete eruptive
episodes along the ridge axis and in off-axis environments. Determining the
off-axis eruptive history is necessary to test the “split-ridge”
hypothesis which proposes the JdFR undergoes tectonomagmatic cycles in which
a magmatically dominated axial ridge is split and rafted away during the
following period of tectonism. The planned field and laboratory research
will provide us with a comprehensive petrologic and geochemical data base to
test hypotheses regarding chemical heterogeneity of the mantle, magma
extraction mechanisms, development of subaxial magma bodies, causes and
origins of off-axis volcanism, volumes and chemical variability in
individual flow units, and the effects of ridge-transform intersections (RTI)
on MORB chemistry. In addition, the data we collect will allow us to
determine the spatial and temporal variability/evolution of magmatism on the
southern Cleft segment.
What do you expect to find?
I
expect to find a great deal of chemical diversity among the lavas we recover,
particularly at the RTI where one previous rock core samples and extremely
rare oceanic dacite. I also expect to find some relatively young lava flows
that erupted off-axis, not within the present zone of active volcanism. Lavas
erupted off-axis and those close to the intersection with the Blanco Transform
will also have distinct chemical characteristics that reflect cooler
environments and smaller magma chambers.
What is your favorite/least favorite part of a research cruise?
I
really enjoy being out in the open ocean and working closely with a wide
variety of people. I have made some great friends over the years while at
sea. I also enjoy the exploration aspects of oceanographic research -
everything from mapping the bottom, to seeing sections of the seafloor that
have never been seen before, to recovering lavas that never thought they
would find their way to sunny Florida. It's also a pleasure to leave many of
my day-to-day responsibilities back at the University of Florida. Although
email has allowed some degree of connection with the real world while we are
at sea, not getting phone calls or having papers and tests to grade is very
relaxing.
What is your job title? Why did you decide to become one? And how
did you become one?
I
am a Professor at the University of Florida.
I decided that I wanted to teach and do research at a university
during my years as an undergraduate in college.
My interests in natural science began when I was a young boy. I
remember getting a copy of National Geographic magazine from my aunt and it
showed a bearded scientist doing research on the ice cap at the South Pole
without a shirt on. For some reason, this image of how exciting exploration
could be really affected me. Growing up on Long Island in New York State, I
spent much of my time at the beach and in the water. Because I love the
ocean and science was one of my better subjects in school I began to think
of becoming an oceanographer. In 9th grade, I took an Earth Science class,
and the teacher was really enthusiastic about geology and that got me
interested rocks....and no! I wasn't a nerd in high school. I went to St.
Lawrence University, in upstate New York. My first semester, I took a
introductory geology course and that class pretty much sold me on majoring
in geology. The professor was a petrologist (a geologist who studies
different rocks and what they are made of), and he taught us all about
volcanoes and earthquakes which really interested me. After I got my
undergraduate degree, I decided that I really wanted to be a full-time
scientist and do research and teach. I went to Lamont-Doherty Geological
Observatory, which is part of Columbia University in New York to study
marine geology. The combination of my interest in rocks, volcanoes and the
oceans lead me to become a marine petrologist/geochemist.
Ben
Potter top of page
MBARI Summer Intern
What is your role on this cruise?
Since I am interning with Debra Stakes and Paul McGill, my responsibilities
include acting as a Research Technician, video-documenting the ROV dives,
conducting Seismic Data Analysis, and servicing the batteries, data loggers,
and seismometers to be deployed as part of the KECK project.
What are your primary goals?
My foremost goal on the cruise is to learn everything I can; I hope to become
much more familiar with ROV operation and technology, as well as with geophysical
research and with the mechanics of running a research effort.
What do you expect to find?
I expect to retrieve the seismic records from our already deployed data
loggers, both short-period and broadband, and link their recorded seismic
activity to events recorded on land. I also hope to identify anomalies both
real and artificial in the data.
What is your favorite/least favorite part of a research cruise?
My favorite part is being present for events such as ROV operations, and
watching the equipment that I helped build be deployed. My least favorite
part is being away and out of direct contact with my family and friends.
What is your job title? Why did you decide to become one? And how
did you become one?
I am a research intern, which pretty much means that I have my hands in
almost every portion of equipment and cruise preparation, equipment deployment,
data retrieval, and data analysis. I became one to gain experience and knowledge
which will greatly benefit my career as an Ocean Engineer, and also to begin
to establish my name in the closely knit field of ocean research. I am an
Ocean Engineering undergrad at the University of Rhode Island; when I heard
that MBARI had an internship program that would allow me to develop the
skills I have been acquiring at college, I applied and soon found myself
blissfully knee deep in seismic data and deep sea equipment.
Tony
Ramirez top of page
MBARI Senior Research Technician
What is your role on this cruise?
LEG
2:
My primary responsibility is to prepare the seismometers and data
loggers for deployment with the ROV.
In addition to the deployment of new instrument packages, we also
need to recover seismometers and data logger systems deployed last year.
LEG 4: For this leg of the expedition, I am responsible for
running ArcNav to supplement the Western Flyer’s ROV navigation.
ArcNav is an extension for ArcView developed within MBARI that
imports the shipboard navigation data into the ArcView display and projects
the ROV position over bathymetric data.
This enables the science party to tie geologic observations to
locations on the bathymetry in real-time, and assists the ROV pilots in navigating through steep or
difficult terrain.
What are your primary goals?
LEG
2:
My primary goal for this leg is to do everything possible to ensure
the successful deployment, recovery and re-deployment our seismometer
systems.
LEG 4:
By using ArcNav for real-time mapping of the seafloor I’m able to
create maps for subsequent dive planning during the cruise, and visually
present the accomplishments of each dive.
During previous cruises on the Western Flyer, these maps greatly
assisted the assimilation of the data collected. My ultimate goal is to
expand the ability of the scientists to extract the data collected and make
it more easily digestible.
What do you expect to find?
LEG
2:
I’m an optimist and therefore expect to find all 8 seismometer
systems deployed last year still working properly with good quality data and
no issues with the data archival process.
LEG 4:
The one thing you can always be sure to find when working on or near
the spreading ridge axis, both at Cleft and Endeavour, are rocks.
What is your favorite/least favorite part of a research cruise?
My least favorite part of being at sea for extended periods of time is being
gone from my family. To work around this I generally have my family meet
me in port stops and see me on and/or off the research vessel. This is actually
one of my favorite aspects of a research cruise since it enables additional
family vacations to sometimes beautiful and exotic locations. To me, the
best part of being a member of an ocean research cruise is working with
other scientists with diverse research goals. This gives me exposure to
research outside my field of interest, a variety of other research techniques
and some very colorful people, which are generally great.
Why did you decide to become a scientist/engineer/etc? How did you
become one?
I'm currently a research technician for a lead scientist at MBARI. One of
the strongest influences in my life, and definitely my favorite place to
be, is the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The variety of rock types and exposed
structures in this high alpine terrain has inspired me to pursue a career
in earth sciences, focusing primarily on the geophysical processes which
shape the rock we live on. Through the support of the lead scientist and
the institution I work for, my progress in becoming a scientist is continuing
through education, training and research cruises.
Frank Ramos top of page
Research Scientist
What is your role on this cruise?
petrologist
What are your primary goals?
I will work especially on the U-series disequilibria
What do you expect to find?
as above
What is your favorite/least favorite part of a research cruise?
This is my first one.
What is your job title? Why did you decide to become one? And how
did you become one?
John
Ristau top of page
Seismologist
What is your role on this cruise?
Seismologist.
What are your primary goals?
Determine if the data from the broadband seismometers is suitable for calculating
regional moment tensor solutions.
What do you expect to find?
Hope to find that the ocean bottom seismometers give significant improvements
in locating earthquakes and understanding source mechanisms.
What is your favorite/least favorite part of a research cruise?
This is my first cruise so I don't have a favorite/least favorite part yet.
What is your job title? Why did you decide to become one? And how
did you become one?
Title - seismologist. I have had a interest in earthquakes and geology
in general for a long time. I have done research in many areas of
geophysics outside of seismology including remote sensing and electromagnetic
methods. I have a Bachelors of Science and a Masters Of Science form
the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, and a Ph.D. from
the University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
Debra
Stakes top of page
MBARI Marine Science Systems Facilitator
What is your role on this cruise?
My role on this cruise is to handle all of the ROV control room responsibilities
while the engineers and technicians are assembling instruments and downloading
data. Each instrument turn-around will be very time intensive to check the
instrument, back up the data, rebuild the logger and prepare it to be reinstalled.
During that time, I will be managing the ROV tapes, keeping everyone informed
of the schedule, and writing the web updates for these pages.
What are your primary goals?
My (our) goals on this cruise are to bring our instruments and experiments
one step closer to being ready for a real-time observatory connection. The
success of observatory science is truly going to be an endurance challenge,
where instruments will need to function in the freezing cold of the distant
seafloor without human oversight for months and even years. All of these
instruments have proven their capabilities in shorter deployments in Monterey
Bay, but this deployment is the longest ever.
What do you expect to find?
We hope that the majority of instruments have done their jobs and are
full of data to bring home. The data will be used to understand the types
of earthquakes in this area, the locations of the smallest earthquakes (that
might be related to hydrofracture events) and perhaps even the subsurface
movement of magma. All of our instrument sites are marked by acoustic beacons,
so we won't need to search around so much for those. The new sites are all
supposed to be flat sediment covered areas. We expect the instruments to
be there, waiting for us.
What is your favorite/least favorite part of a research cruise?
I love being at sea and participating in the ROV Operations. The
ROV is truly a magnificent tool that has greatly expanded our ability to
work in the deepest ocean. My favorite part is working with the pilots to
figure out how to accomplish some of the more complicated deployments we
have planned. My least favorite part is the preparation. It is always a
rush with too many personal and business issues to complete. The rest of
the team had enormous responsibilities in assembling the hardware, so my
hat is off to them.
What is your job title? Why did you decide to become one? And how
did you become one?
I am MBARI's "Marine Science Systems Facilitator". This is a new
position that was created just this year. My previous job was one of the
scientists here at MBARI since 1992 with my own research programs (described
on other webpages). My role in this new position is to act as
a liaison and ombudsman for other scientists that want to use the Marine
Operations resources, such as the ships, ROV's, AUV's and ultimately the
MARS cabled observatory. Although such liaison activities were always a
part of my previous job as scientist, MBARI decided that once the MARS observatory
becomes operational, there should be one person in this role full time.
I decided to be the Science Facilitator because it is an opportunity to
use all of my experience from over two decades in research, using submersibles,
all three major research ROV's and instrumentation such as the seismometers,
to support many projects in being successful.
Doug
Toomey top of page
Professor Univ. of Oregon
http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~drt/
What is your role on this cruise?
Participate in deployment and recovery of ocean bottom seismometers.
Help with analysis of seismic data.
What are your primary goals?
On this cruise my primary goal is to help others, as needed. The ocean
bottom instrumentation and the ROV are all from MBARI; I will do what those
folks tell me to do! As a seismologist I also plan to help with data processing
and analysis.
What do you expect to find?
We all hope to find a very large amount of good seismic data that can be
used to characterize the seismicity patterns of the past year.
What is your favorite/least favorite part of a research cruise?
My favorite part is working with others and collecting unique data.
My least favorite part is leaving Emilie and my three children -- Ebba,
Sofie and John -- at home.
What is your job title? Why did you decide to become one? And how did you become one?
I am a professor at the University of Oregon. I have always enjoyed
science, challenges and travelling.
This is one job where I can do all three. Mostly through hard work and dedication.
William
Wilcock top of page
Title: Associate Professor
What is your role on this cruise?
Co Chief-Scientist
What are your primary goals?
To recover the data from the seismometers that are already deployed on the
Endeavour and to successfully deploy/redeploy all the seismometers.
What do you expect to find?
I do not expect to find anything very exciting on this cruise since we are
not exploring. I hope the 8 seismometers we recover all recorded good
data. At all the new sites we are visiting we hope/expect to find flat featureless
sediments.
What is your favorite/least favorite part of a research cruise?
Favorite - Collecting scientific data and getting back to port Least Favorite
- Getting seasick
What is your job title? Why did you decide to become one? And how
did you become one?
I am a university Professor. My father was an academic and as long
as I can remember I have been interested in science and becoming a scientific
researcher. I became interested in marine geology and geophysics during
my second year at university and that is when I decided to go to grad school.