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The day started at 7:30am, I rolled myself out of bed, got ready, and stumbled over to breakfast. Walking up stairs has always been something I have taken for granted, but for my second morning on the R/V Atlantis, walking up 3 pairs of stairs was a goal to be accomplished.
Breakfast was delicious, as per usual (Ben and Ashley are incredible chefs), then headed to the science laboratory to meet the STEMSEAS crew for the day. We started of with a lesson about plate tectonics from Sheldon, which ended up being a 2.5 hour discussion (we love to yap on this vessel)! Our discussion was ended as the first engineer came to get us for a tour of the engine room!
Walking across the engine room was an engineering marvel. As someone who knows nothing about engineering, I was fascinated by all the different cables, machines, levers, buttons, and trinkets that it takes to keep this ship up and running. It almost felt like the set of a science fiction movie.
After that, we had a demonstration from our mentor, Jeanette, about water stratification then went on for our first break of the day. During our break we decided to go out onto the bow of the vessel where we talked about the biology of marine animals with flying fish and a brown footed boobie accompanying us.
When our break ended, it was discussion time. Ella, the SSSG, came to teach us all things R/V Atlantis. Then a panel of crew members, and the captain showed up to tell us about their life and answer any questions we had about, well, anything!
We then had to go to dinner, so we all headed up stairs and enjoyed another meal surrounded by laughs, getting to know each other, and very important questions. As I wrap up my thoughts, I’ll share with you one of those important questions that has caused a division across the vessel: If you were a pirate, would you rather have a peg leg or an eye patch?
