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Day 8 of our 2YC faculty cruise is the day we depart from our home aboard the R/V Sally Ride for the last week. It has been an incredible week of learning alongside faculty from across the country. Packing and cleaning up is a busy task, but a welcome distraction from having to say goodbye.
We spent the morning learning about Wave Gliders. A Wave Glider is an autonomous marine vehicle engineered to gather environmental data across the ocean for up to twelve months without using any fuel. It generates forward movement by leveraging a submerged, winged apparatus that transforms the constant up-and-down motion of surface waves into directional mechanical power. Additionally, its deck is integrated with solar paneling to recharge internal batteries, providing a continuous power supply for navigation systems, onboard processing, and tracking equipment.
As we approached Newport, Oregon, we were able to watch the R/V Sally Ride crew work to prepare the vessel and coordinate with pilot escorts to safely enter the harbor. The process took several hours to complete before the science faculty could safely exit.
To celebrate stepping back onto land, we took a final group photo with the R/V Sally Ride before heading to our next destination.
We were able to visit the Newport Agate Beach and explore several species of jellies along the shore.
Every great academic voyage eventually meets its sunset; ours just happens to be painted with the unforgettable colors of shared learning, mentorship, and stepping back ashore together.
