by Monday, August 22, 2022
Wow, where do I start… This past week and a half have been one of the most fun and enriching experiences I have ever had. Middle school Ahmad would be hopefully proud of his older self and be jumping for joy. I have loved the ocean and marine life for as long as I can remember. So, when I had the opportunity to go on a research vessel and sail along the Pacific Coast, my obvious answer was yes. We had pre-cruise zoom meetings, multiple documents explaining the trip, and watched numerous videos about the R/V Sally Ride. However, I still didn’t really know what to expect when I got on the ship. People can tell you what it’s like to live on a ship, however it doesn’t compare to being on a ship. The constant swaying of the boat, camaraderie between the crew, and the cool science instruments can only be truly experienced in person.
My first time feeling like a real scientist.
Throughout the trip I experienced a series of “firsts”, which is one of two themes that stuck with me after the trip. When you are put into a new situation and environment, you are most likely going to have first time experiences. Some of my firsts were my first-time seeing whales in the wild, first-time seeing bioluminescence, first-time seeing the Milky Way, first-time using a drill, first-time living on a boat for a week, and many more. These were some things I have always wanted to see and experience in person. It was so amazing to have all these firsts happen within a week. I saw things that some people will never see, and I am truly grateful to have the privilege to witness these amazing spectacles. This has encouraged me to seek discomfort more and strive to do new things as much as possible. I shouldn’t think that something is out of reach or not possible. When I do more out of the ordinary things, I can experience more firsts. I can’t have these magical moments if I stick to the status quo and stay in my safe bubble of familiarity.
I am looking out into the ocean from the winch (crane) control room.
The second theme that stuck with me is the overall theme of this STEMSEAS cruise, which is science communication. Before this cruise, I never truly paid attention to the way scientists communicate and never understood how integral it is while building a relationship with other scientists and the public. Scientists spend several years, sometimes decades, researching their topic of interest. They’ve gained an understanding of their research and can spit out facts for days about it. However, all that hard work goes to waste if they can’t effectively communicate their ideas to other people. Maybe they can communicate their thoughts to other scientists who are researching similar subjects, but that’s not very productive. The ideas are being shared among people who already understand your research and know why it’s important. The real challenge is communicating what you’re researching and why it’s important to an audience who is less knowledgeable about your research topic.
One of my instructors on the cruise and new friend, Dr. Sara ElShafie, is fortunately an expert on this very subject. Throughout the cruise, Dr. ElShafie taught us numerous ways to effectively communicate to different audiences. One of my favorite things I learned was that there is an entire spectrum of learning types. There are low context learners who focus on the details and the overall goal of what they’re learning. There are also high context learners who need hands-on learning and need to learn the process of how something works. There are also learners who need both and are in between. There is an entire spectrum of learners, which means there must be a multi-context approach to teaching new ideas to diverse audiences. Understanding this concept makes you a better communicator and overall, a better scientist. I believe this was an excellent aspect of science to learn and will allow me to better communicate science to the public.
Azrael, Brontë, and I using our new science communication skills while presenting our research project.
STEMSEAS gave me the opportunity to live out my wildest dreams and melt my little marine biologist heart. I was able to see beautiful megafauna and other types of marine life. I was able to use cool science instruments like a CTD, plankton tows, secchi disks, and even saw some Argo floats get launched. However, the most meaningful aspect of the trip was the people I met and the relationships I built. My network has expanded greatly and the opportunity for collaboration with my new peers is exciting. I can’t wait to see what waits for us in the future.
Our amazing group looking really cool under the A-frame.
– Ahmad Crawford
