Daily Journal

September 23, 2004:
Teachers at Sea

The scientists on board: Barry in the back;
front row from left to right, Ev, Krista, and Zanna.

What Are the Scientists Doing?

Krista Longnecker, PhD in Oceanography doing Post Doctoral work
Krista is Chief Scientist on this cruise. She is working at OSU to gain further experience. In addition to running her own experiments, she is in charge of scheduling and coordinating all the work of the other scientists. Her experiments involve looking at bacteria and their involvement in various processes that take place in the ocean. She filters ocean water to remove viruses and predators and then introduces tracers to mark the bacteria to simulate ocean conditions in the lab.

Krista's advice to our students is to try different things. She began her career as a large animal ecologist and is now working with microscopic organisms. She doesn't know where she will end up, but likes her present work.

Zanna Chase, PhD in Earth and Environmental Science
Zanna was invited by the Sherrs to do experiments with them. They are looking specifically at the effects of copper and cadmium (two toxic metals) on single-celled organisms. These metals occur naturally in deep water, but are brought to the surface by upwelling. Zanna is also building an instrument to measure copper in water to study the effects of man-made pollution.

Zanna says there are many reasons to learn, but it is easier to learn when you are excited and love the work. Find something that pleases you and then work hard to attain your goal.

Graduate students and technicians from left to right:
Aaron, EJ, Amanda, Sarah, and Kristin.

Aaron Hartz, PhD Graduate student
Aaron earned his B.S. in Environmental Science, then his M.S. in Marine Biology. He is primarily assisting the other scientists on this cruise. He is also doing his own experiments to determine the growth rate of flagellates in sea water. Most of his research is done in the lab at OSU. Aaron is an avid surfer.

He would like our students to know that no matter what, when it seems like circumstances are over your head, keep plugging away. If your head is barely above water, you're doing okay. If your head is too far above water, it's too easy.

EJ Etherington, PhD Graduate student in Biological Oceanography
EJ undergraduate degree is in biology and outdoor recreation. He is assisting in the research going on here aboard the Wecoma. He primarily is filtering phytoplankon which contain chlorophyll. He is preparing samples to calibrate instruments on board and at the OSU lab on campus. When not working, EJ enjoys kayaking the rivers in Oregon.

His plan: I'm following a path, I don't know if it's the right path, but I'm sticking with it, we'll see how it turns out. His advice is to begin your journey and see where it leads you.

Amanda Ashe, Research Technician
Amanda has a B.S. degree in biology and environmental science. She is doing research for other scientists that involve phytoplankton physiology and their relationship to light. She is also investigating carbon uptake of microorganisms in relation to light. Amanda is collecting samples of sea water microorganisms and freezing them for further study on land. She wants to determine which organisms take up the most carbon, focusing on diatoms, bacteria, and other organisms who photosynthesize the carbon.

Her advice to our students is don't be afraid to ask questions. The only dumb question is the one not asked.

Sarah Sowell, PhD Graduate student in Molecular and Cellular Biology
Sarah does proteonics using Mass Spectrometry. In layman's terms she studies proteins within an organism. She looks at cells under varying conditions to see whether the proteins change. On this cruise she is using ocean bacteria in her study. In simple terms, the Spectrometer smashes particles of proteins into pieces to compare their protein structure. She would eventually like to do disease research.

She wants to tell students that school and higher education is important but not essential. She does, however, think a GED and training in a chosen field is critical. It is also important to choose a field you really love.

Kristin Landgren, Second Year Undergraduate in Biology
Kristin works with Sam and Amanda in Ricardo Letelier's lab at OSU. She began as a volunteer and then worked into a paid position. This is her first cruise. She is operating the photosynthetron to determine how phytoplankton responds to different levels of light. She also operates the an instrument which measures fluorescence and takes additional data.

She would like our students to know that if you are interested in a field, don't be afraid to seek out people in the field. People are usually excited to share their experience and knowledge. Volunteer in the field you're interested in to learn whether you'll like it or not.

Sam Laney, PhD Graduate student in Biological Oceanography
Sam is studying how phytoplankton react and change over the course of one day, which is their life span. He also wants to make sure Kristin has a positive experience while on board the Wecoma.

He grew up in rural Maine, where there was little emphasis on further education. He is the first person in his family to attend college. He says anyone can attend college, it just takes hard work. Scientists are not necessarily smarter, they just work harder than other people. There is a special Marine Science program at OSU for Native Americans, women, and minorities. Money is available for education to those people who seek it out.

Daryl Swensen, Marine Technician
onboard the R/V Wecoma
Daryl has a B.S. in Environmental Science, with minors in Archaeology and Anthropology. He acts as a liaison between the science party on board and the crew. He maintains the scientific data collection equipment, which includes anything which interfaces with the science community. He makes sure anything deployed over the side of the ship is done so safely.

Daryl was the first in his family to graduate from college and one of the few to graduate from high school. His family worked in logging and the fishing industry. His parents encouraged him to go to college, but he paid his own way. He wants students to know there is money available in scholarships and grants, much of which goes unclaimed each year.

Above top: Sam with his baby, the TSRB
Above bottom: Daryl at the computer in the Electronics Lab

Left: Zanna and Kristin reading novels on the Aft Deck
Right: Kristin and Amanda's favorite place, the Lunch Line

Math problem for today:

The Rosette used to collect water samples from the ocean descends at 30 meters per minute until it reaches a depth of 100 meters. After that it speeds up and travels at 60 meters per minute. Today the scientists are sampling water at a depth of 3,000 meters. How long will it take the Rosette to get to that depth? The return trip up goes at the same rate. What is the total time it will take for the Rosette to go both ways?

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