by Interviewer: Noah Khalsa
Cruise: Sikuliaq
Crewmember: Ethan, Ship Scientist
Q1: How long have you worked at sea?
A: Ethan has worked at sea for 14 years in all academic research capacities. Before working on the Sikuliaq, he worked in seagoing research labs and groups out of California and Hawaii.
Q2: How long have you worked on the Sikuliaq?
A: Ethan has worked on the Sikuliaq for 5 years. Since he has been working on the ship since its launch, he is considered a “plank owner”, which is a title given to members of the first crew.
Q3: What are your primary duties & schedule?
A: Ethan is responsible for the setup, maintenance, and operation of the ships science systems. He is also the primary interface between science groups and the rest of the crew. When groups are on board, Ethan makes sure that the ship is equipped with the necessary equipment for their projects and that the cruise accommodates their scientific needs. He sails about 7 months of the year and spends 2-3 months on land traveling and attending conferences.
Q4: Do you like being on land or at sea more?
A: He loves being at sea, although it is a big toll on having a normal life on shore.
Q5: What are the pros/cons of working at sea?
A: The pro of working at sea is that since the Sikuliaq is a “general purpose ship”, Ethan has the opportunity to work with and learn from lots of smart individuals. The con is that he has to spend a lot of time away from land and the internet is terrible.
Q6: What are your best/worst days on the job?
A: The best days were in the first year when he was part of getting the ships science systems up and running for the first time. This is because that will never happen again in the ships lifetime, and he feels grateful to have been a part of it. The worst days are anytime equipment is lost or damaged, especially the CTD.
Q7: What drew you to this profession?
A: Ethan began as an engineering undergrad, and worked in oceanography labs while going to school. Having grown up in and on the water, he wanted to continue working on the water by combining his interests of engineering and marine science. He believes that ships are the most exciting places to be a part of science.
Q8: How would you describe the overall atmosphere working on the Sikuliaq?
A: Ethan describes working on the Sikuliaq as being very humbling. Everyone has a job and does it very well. If one person slacks the whole ship falls behind, and there is a high level of accountability. The ships crew is a cohesive team. Being a good team allows the scientists aboard to get their work done.
