by Today began with a presentation of what we have all learned on our expedition, and we presented our plans and ideas for our science communication projects. It was exciting to see how everyone’s ideas developed differently according to their own interests. Some of us are analytical, using technical projects and data to develop research and graphs, while others let their creative side show through photography, sculpting, or crochet. Through these projects, everyone shone in their own unique way.
After seeing everyone’s presentations, I began to reflect on my time at sea. What began as a group of strangers has evolved into a group of friends. On our first day at sea, we collectively made a list of the expectations we had for one another during our expedition. One idea that reoccurred throughout the group is our desire to be inclusive of each other’s varying identities. We all come from diverse backgrounds, each bringing something different to the table. But now,
all of us share one thing in common: our time aboard Sally Ride.
Together we shared seasickness, early morning wave glider deployments, and hours of learning about the ocean and the planet we all share. While we’re at sea, the borders and lines that divide us began to blur (except when we had to turn off our equipment while passing through Canadian waters). This journey has been incredible, and I’m glad to have shared it with everyone here.
Tonight we ended our last full day on Sally Ride, making friendship bracelets and talking about our favorite experiences while we were together. And then hit the gym for one last lift (which we totally did every day, and definitely did not just find the gym tonight).
