This year’s NSF-UNOLS Early Career Scientist Training cruise will take place aboard the R/V Atlantis from December 3rd-December 21st. Early career scientists will have the opportunity to investigate volcanic, hydrothermal and biological phenomena associated with new eruptions using both HOV Alvin and AUV Sentry at the East Pacific Rise.
The first 6 days of the cruise will be transit days from Mexico to just west of the East Pacific Rise, to continue the investigation of chain seamounts where early career science participants will learn how to plan and execute deep-submergence sampling and mapping using Alvin and Sentry. The R/V Atlantis will then transit overnight to the East Pacific Rise field area where 3-4 Sentry dives and 4 Alvin dives are planned to determine whether new lava channels are present and to collect site specific samples of volcanic rocks, hydrothermal fluids and chimney samples and macro and microbiological samples. The R/V Atlantis will arrive in port in San Diego where a 1 day post-cruise “Science Forum” will be held at a public venue with colleagues from Scripps Institute of Oceanography in San Diego.
Aboard the cruise will be a highly recognized Australian film artist, Ms. Mel O’Callaghan who is working on a non-profit film project about hydrothermal vents and deep-sea exploration, which will be on exhibit worldwide from 2019-2020. This is an incredible outreach opportunity to communicate to audiences around the world the ways in which both science and the arts are linked together.
Following the “Science Forum”, there will be a FREE open house from 930am-230pm on December 22nd, on B Street Pier in San Diego. There will be many opportunities to learn about the research that is being conducted at sea and to meet young scientists to learn about what it is like to be a modern-day explorer. Ship tours are currently sold out, but the public is welcome to come to the B Street Pier to view many shore-side displays and oceanographic instruments.
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