An unusual sun shone brightly down on a group of scientists this morning at a coastal point in Monterey Bay, California. Many in the group were strangers to each other, but all were affiliated with Hopkins Marine Station of Stanford University and all were about to embark on an adventure of scientific inquiry and ocean exploration. Amid bagels and shy introductions, the group met for the first time its new family, to be bonded through good weather and bad over the next 10 weeks. They were a melting-pot mix; of professors, sailors, and students from freshman to graduate and marine biologist to engineer. This was the start of Stanford at SEA, an immersion program in oceanographic research and vessel operation run through the Woods Hole SEA Education Association and Stanford University.
The vessel pictured above is the SVV Robert C. Seamans, a 134.5 foot brigantine sailing ship equipped with two labs and a host of modern sampling and ocean sensing equipment. We will spend five weeks on shore learning about Oceanography, Navigation, and Maritime Studies, followed by five weeks at sea doing individual research projects and putting our newfound skills to work. Our cruise will begin in Honolulu, Hawaii, travel south to the Line Islands including Kingsman Reef, Palmyra atoll, and Kritimati Island, then return to Honolulu June 10th, 2011.
Keep watching the blog for additional blog entries by Tara! Click here for Part 2.
[submitted by Tara, Seven Seas Scuba Divemaster]
