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Before coming aboard the R/V Endeavor, I had never been out to sea, but I feel lucky to be on this trip and ship. As the oldest working ship in the academic fleet, the Endeavor has been serving as an oceanographic research vessel for the University of Rhode Island since 1976. It has completed over 706 cruises! The crew are all incredibly dedicated and proud of their work, and I feel honored to be on board with them as they continue to build the legacy of this ship. The R/V Endeavor shares its name with another famous vessel, the Space Shuttle Endeavor, which completed 25 missions between 1992 and 2011.
In the library, there is a signed photograph from the first crew of the spaceship to the crew of the R/V Endeavor. There is so much history of education and exploration, not just on this ship, but in the name Endeavor. One of the things I love most about the scientific community is how it connects people. Researchers across world and in space working together in search of new discoveries. Recently, to the benefit of this community, it’s expanded to include citizen scientists, indigenous knowledge, and the observations industry professionals. We were even able to work with the students from Thomson Middle School in Rhode Island to launch their miniboat. They are hoping to use the boat to connect with students in the UK, and the excitement these young students have about science why I want to teach. These students are the next generation of scientists and by getting them involved in projects, they are interacting with a field that sometimes feels inaccessible. As these bright minds take the stage, their new voices are expanding the boundaries of what we know faster than ever.
For me, this trip has been about sharing knowledge and pathways. In six short days, I have learned more about grad school as well as other career paths than I probably ever have. As I leave, I hope to take the lessons I learned into all new endeavors.
-Bridget Reed
