Teacher Logbook:
Monday, July 17, 2000 1000 hrs.

I woke up to the anchor banging against the hull and the sound of swells splashing the port side of the ship. Everything is more difficult when the ship steams. I took for granted the days just sitting over Axial where we experienced almost no motion. Now my stomach is in my throat and people are laying low for the 20 hour trip to Victoria.

This cruise has given me insight into the process of science and oceanographic methodology. The 59 people aboard the ship have spent the last three weeks together on a platform only 174 ft. long.
(NeMO 2000 scientific party)

In order to accomplish the goals set for this cruise, a team mentality is essential. The multi-disciplinary science group relies on each other to put together a dive plan that incorporates the priorities of everyone. They also advise each other with their expertise in their specific disciplines. This communication creates a powerful problem-solving team. The scientists rely on the ROPOS team's tremendous dedication to maintenance and operation of the ROV. Without them there are no dives. Everyone relies on the ship's crew to safely deploy and recover instruments, for food, travel and safety. Oceanographic research is truly an interdependent effort.

The scientific process, as we learned in school, is modified in actuality. The step-by-step use of the scientific method is not realistic. From my experiences talking to scientists on this cruise, I've come to understand that there's always a problem or question on which an inquiry is based. Some type of data generation is set in place and gathered. After an analysis of the results, a hypothesis is then formulated for a research paper. The steps of the scientific method are in place, but not in the strict way we study it in textbooks and in the secondary science classroom. NeMO is on the frontier of oceanographic research, consequently there isn't always a methodology or history in place from which to refer when conducting an investigation. The engineers and scientists out here are laying the foundation for oceanographic research in the future.

I have benefited tremendously as a result of my NeMO experience: The science, the technology, the methodology, and most of all, the people. I am impressed with everyone's dedication to their research and/or contribution to this cruise. The people out here must leave friends and family behind for extended periods of time in order to continue the development of their respected discipline. I hope the real beneficiaries of my three weeks at sea are my future students. They are the reason I am out here. They provide me with the motivation to document and absorb as much as possible on this once in a lifetime opportunity. My thoughts now turn to my wife, Jennifer, and a large cup of joe. Thank you for following along with me on this great adventure.

Jeff

Last few rounds of ping-pong. See yesterday's log for tournament results.