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My experience on the Hugh Sharp was nothing short of thrilling. I gained so much from this expedition: I learned about marine geoscience, about what it takes to do field research at sea (apparently TONS of dramamine), and I made a lot of friends. Singing Christmas carols with my fellow students on the bow of the ship was not specifically on my list of expectations, but it remains one of my favorite memories as I reflect on the entire trip.
I study terrestrial wildlife biology, so it will come as no surprise that my personal highlights of the trip involved organisms of some kind. I was particularly fond of using the microscope in the dry lab and I loved the frenzy that accompanied whenever we had the opportunity to view something new under it– Soil sample, detritus from the filter, or the contents of the net tow.
I return to land with a new respect for oceanic field research. I am grateful for both the ship crew and STEM SEAS mentors for their insight on seafaring, academia, and their positivity when facing unexpected challenges. I can’t wait to start my career with this fresh perspective.
