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By Swazi T. Gurnell | Texas Southern University
Dave Robertson (left) demonstrating cable connections to Swazi Gurnell (right). Photo Credit: Anna Sagatov
What does practical interactive learning mean? Well, if you look in the dictionary it will say “when one brings Ocean Exploration Trust to STEMSEAS Initiative.” My time aboard the E/V Nautilus has been an experience that has become a pivotal point in my life that I’ve declared as a stepping stone to my career aspirations, and it’s all thanks to the Crew, OET Staff, STEMSEAS Instructors, and my fellow STEMSEAS classmates.
Each day we’re given access to active professionals in Seafloor Exploration, such as Lynette Davis, co-expedition leader and lead navigator, and Gabriela Espino, navigation specialist. Within the time Nayeli Ramos, fellow STEMSEAS student, and I were shadowing under Lynette, we had the opportunity to further understand the extensive amounts of data the analyst must collect, corrections they must make from machine error, and identification of significant land formations within the mapping software. However, the process as described isn’t as complexed as the average person may think. Many of these data specialist took the proper courses that makes this long process into a regular routine. Furthermore, their diligence in academia has paved the way to something greater, and Nayeli, my other STEMSEAS mates, and I get to be up close and experience HISTORY. In the process of collecting the data, Nayeli and I got to drop one of the key reading mechanisms in the ocean to actively collect the data used to progress seafloor mapping on the E/V Nautilus. These readings help the Navigation team know the precise sound speed, temperature, and salinity of the water, and in order to make sound readings of the data with the multibeam sonar, these are the components necessary to know. Now that is what I call practical interactive learning!
Swazi Gurnell at sea aboard the Nautilus.
On this trip, my STEMSEAS mates and I have gone through many workshops including: learning about self-affirming applications to better our success by Alondra Infante-Stevens; best tips and practices to innovate through social media to express our skills in STEM through the CapCut application from Larkin Bohn; how to identify fossils and their particular distinction from species to species with Megalodon teeth replicas and real foraminifera viewed through a microscope with Dr. Jeanette Pirlo; how the ship navigates and stays on-course through the Pacific from Oriel Caballero Castillo and Rakesh Kumar Guleria; what life at sea is like and how to navigate paths that bring you to where you desire to be from Marley Parker; how Nautilus’ exploration on the seafloor is documented with Hercules our ROV sea floor sample collector and observer from Thomas ‘TJ’ Scanlon; what the Alaskan life is all about and how the ROV is driven within the depths of the sea from Dave Robertson; and how to further get connected with NautilusLive through fellowships and internships with Emily Jones. Each one of these talks were equally as important as the other, however, getting to sit down with Lynette Davis and Gabriela Espino was the icing on the cake for me. Seafloor Mapping, as Gabi and Lynette stated, are still on the brink for many to tap into, which leads us to the problem of only 27% of the ocean floor having been mapped. For many reasons, organizations either don’t have the resources to fund these kinds of expeditions or just don’t understand the magnitude this initiative holds. Each season, the E/V Nautilus vessel travels over 180,000sq km in an eight-month period to map as much of the seafloor they can. Mapping the seafloor can bring us closer to understanding marine biology and their responses to their environment, how to effectively plan for natural disasters such as earthquakes, volcanoes, and tsunamis from fault line readings, and so much more.
TJ Scanlon (left) explains ROV Hercules‘ capabilities to STEMSEAS students during a tour of the ROV Garage onboard the E/V Nautilus. Photo Credit: Swazi Gurnell
So, in a nutshell, we are changing the world. That’s so crazy that little ol’ me and my STEMSEAS mates can do this at the early ages of 18. I am truly grateful to God and my parents, Severen Gurnell and Loretta Williams Gurnell, for allowing me set sail in the Pacific Ocean. For this opportunity will forever change my life, because I, Swazi Gurnell, have truly been exposed to a new beginning of science exploration and discovery. Thank you, Dr. Lisa White, for being such an amazing mentor and advocate for my success. Thank you, Marley, Anna, and Dave, for instilling such great knowledge and advice to jump start my career. Thank you, Dr. Pirlo, Larkin, Alondra, Emily, Gabriella, Lynette, and TJ for inspiring me to educate and impact others in various ways. Thank you, Ocean Exploration Trust, for birthing NautilusLive and allowing research alongside of your crew. Thank you STEMSEAS for allowing us to be exposed to such an amazing opportunity. Finally, thank you to my STEMSEAS mates for being such a loving, cool, and brilliant group of young scientists and innovators.
The is sky is the limit, and the ocean is our oyster.
STEMSEAS 2024 NA160 Team Top Row, Left to Right: Dr. Jeanette Pirlo, Jesse Avendano, Swazi Gurnell, Jesus Hernandez Valencia, Larkin Bohn. Bottom Row, Left to Right: Marisol Flores, Dania Frazier, Nayeli Ramos, Johana Dominguez, Danika Villanueva and Alondra Infante-Stevens. Photo Credit: ML Parker
Swazi Gurnell (Left) and Jesus Hernandez Valencia (Right) during a Ship – to – Shore Interaction onboard the Nautilus.
