Hawaii Cruise, May-June2001

Click on any name below  to read an  interview (alphabetical order)

Leg 1; Leg 2; Leg 3; Leg 4; Leg 5; crew

Francisco Chavez    (top of page)
MBARI Biological Oceanographer  

http://www.mbari.org/staff/chfr

Why did you decide to become a scientist/engineer/etc? How did you become one? 

Paul Chua    (top of page)
California State University, Monterey Bay student  

Why did you decide to become a scientist/engineer/etc? How did you become one? 
Still on the path

Ginger Elrod  (top of page)
MBARI  Research Technician  

http://www.mbari.org/staff/elrod

Why did you decide to become a scientist/engineer/etc? How did you become one? 
I wanted to be a "Marine Biologist" for as long as I can remember. I spent every moment I could as a kid on the beach and poking around tide pools. I took up SCUBA as a teenager. Little did I know, I would end up doing analytical chemistry! The trace elements that we measure are such an important part of the biological cycle that we like to call ourselves "Global Biogeochemists" . In truth, being a good chemistry student opened a lot of doors for me and the competition is minimal! 

Steve Fitzwater   (top of page)
MBARI Senior Research Technician  

http://www.mbari.org/staff/sfitz

Why did you decide to become a scientist/engineer/etc? How did you become one? 

Steve Haddock (top of page)
MBARI Post Doctoral Fellow  

http://www.mbari.org/staff/haddock

http://lifesci.ucsb.edu/~biolum/ 

Why did you decide to become a scientist/engineer/etc? How did you become one? 
I decided to do what I enjoy, rather than worrying about what would pay the bills. I've been lucky enough to be able to do both. By a round-about route: engineering school as an undergraduate, and my biology teacher encouraged me to try grad school. I think getting a good general science and computer background is more important than having specific experience in marine biology. You can always put up curtains, once you have a house built.

George I. Matsumoto    (top of page)
MBARI Education and Research Specialist 

http://www.mbari.org/staff/mage

Why did you decide to become a scientist/engineer/etc? How did you become one? 
I decided to be a scientist after taking a weekend course that put a mask and snorkel on my face and literally and figuratively opened my eyes to the incredible ocean environment. I majored in marine biology at UC Berkeley and then went and taught for a summer at the Catalina Island Marine Institute. I found that I enjoy both research and education and went back to UC Los Angeles for a PhD degree. I think that I have landed in an ideal situation here at MBARI.

Tim Pennington    (top of page)
MBARI Senior Research Technician  

http://www.mbari.org/staff/peti

Why did you decide to become a scientist/engineer/etc? How did you become one? 
For 2 reasons: (1)I am always fascinated by the different forms and ways that life takes; and because (2) I believe that to sustain our civilization, we must learn everything we can about the world we live in. How did you become one? By education and persistence.

Kevin Raskoff    (top of page)
MBARI Research Fellow  

Why did you decide to become a scientist/engineer/etc? How did you become one? 
The ocean and the animals therein are a great source of mystery and excitement. To be able to go on exploratory cruise like this was the main reason I got into science. 
How did you become one? While in college I took several classes on marine invertebrates and found them fascinating. Jellyfish were especially weird and cool because of their completely alien lifestyle and look. I have been working on them ever since. 

Kim Reisenbichler    (top of page)
MBARI Senior Research Technician  

http://www.mbari.org/staff/reki

What is your role on this cruise?
I am the Sr. Research Technician with the Midwater Ecology group. My primary responsibilities on this cruise are to: 1) Work with others in the group to collect ROV video transecting data and to work with animals that we collect during the ROV dives; 2) Participate in blue water diving operations (open ocean, tethered scuba diving) where we do relative assessments of the abundance of the organisms we see and; 3) monitor the ROV midwater sampling equipment for proper function and to repair and/or modify these devices, as needed, to enable us to make the collections that a necessary to perform our research. In addition, I monitor, troubleshoot and at times repair the onboard chilled seawater system and environmental chamber that we use to maintain some of the animals we collect during the dives.

What are your primary goals?
My primary goals are to successfully contribute to making the observations and collecting the samples that are required to meet our mission goals; compare the midwater fauna that we find in the different hydrographic regions between Monterey, California and Hawaii: the coastal zone, the California Current and the central Pacific gyre.

What do you expect to find?
I would expect to find a relatively rich abundance and diversity of animals within the relatively rich coastal zone that will taper off as we progress through the California Current region to reach relatively low levels within the oligotrophic central gyre. As a diver, I'm also looking forward from making the transition from cold to warmer waters, as well.

What is your favorite/least favorite part of a research cruise?
My favorite part of the cruise is to have the opportunity to go out on the ocean and have the opportunity to observe what very few, if any, other people have had a chance to see first hand; how the animals are distributed within the upper water column between Monterey and Honolulu. In addition, the people that I have the pleasure to work with during this cruise are exceptional and I certainly can't complain about the food.

My least favorite part of this cruise is leaving my family. I miss my wife, Liz, and my son and daughter, Scott (6 yr.) and Sarah (3 yr.). I also feel badly about leaving Liz with the responsibility of caring for our children while dealing with the responsibilities of her own job.

Why did you decide to become a scientist/engineer/etc? How did you become one? 
My decision to become a scientist was based upon my love of the outdoors which was inspired by my Father's efforts to get my brother and I out fishing and hunting as often as possible. As I got into High School, I had the opportunity to work on our dairy farm where I learned to love building and repairing things, as well as taking care of animals. And after returning to an urban existence, I soon became aware that I needed to get an education that would allow me to do the types of work that I liked in an environment that I enjoyed being in.

So, I started to upgrade my education at a Junior College where I prepared to go on to a University, as well as get a degree in Oceanographic Technology. I then transferred to the University of California at Santa Barbara where I was able to work in the field as an undergraduate, met the man who has now been my boss and mentor for over 20 years, and received my B.S. and M.S. degrees in Marine Biology. Prior to receiving my M.S. degree I was fortunate enough to be offered a job at MBARI and I have been there ever since.

For those who are seriously considering getting into this field, I would suggest the following:
- Study hard and develop a good work ethic early (K-12).
- Try to really understand what you are learning (Don't just memorize).
- Get some real-world, non-science work experience before, or during
college. It helps you appreciate the relative freedom we have working in this field.
- Get experience in your chosen academic field during college by getting involved in work-study programs, internships, etc...... Along with good grades, this will give you an edge in the job market. The other side of this coin is that you may find by this experience that this is not the field for you and you can still adjust your career path while still in college.

Atma Roberts   (top of page)
University of California, Santa Cruz

What is your role on this cruise?

What are your primary goals?

Why did you decide to become a scientist/engineer/etc? How did you become one? 

Bruce Robison    (top of page)
MBARI Midwater Ecologist  

http://www.mbari.org/staff/robr

Why did you decide to become a scientist/engineer/etc? How did you become one? 
I grew up as a southern California beach kid. When I found out that you could get paid to do what I did for fun, it seemed like an obvious career choice.

It took a while to see the obvious. I had a series of undergraduate majors -- Engineering, English, History, and Philosophy – before settling into science. But each of those false starts have helped to make me a better scientist. Eventually I had the great good fortune to find my way to Stanford's Hopkins Marine Station, where it all came together.

 Rob Sherlock    (top of page)
MBARI Research Technician  

http://www.mbari.org/staff/robs

What is your role on this cruise?
On this cruise I'm functioning as a technician for the Midwater lab and also as a research scuba diver.

What are your primary goals?
First and foremost I'd like to reach Hawaii. Along the way I'm looking forward to observing the changes in zooplankton (macro and micro) as we move from a productive coastal environment into the oligotrophic Pacific Gyre. Seeing how the Hawaiian islands affect the distribution of critters will be interesting as well.

What do you expect to find?
I think there may be a whole bunch of 'empty' blue water between Monterey and Hawaii. However, many gelatinous critters like salps and doliolids can make a living in even nutrient poor waters and I expect to see them on our dives. Warm, gin-clear water is something I not only expect but look forward to!

What is your favorite/least favorite part of a research cruise?
 My least favorite is the inevitable: running out of Hagen Daaz bars (if Kevin said this too, note that he *is* my roommate and we have an understanding). The best part of a cruise is the feeling that comes from being more a part of the ocean than apart from it.

Why did you decide to become a scientist/engineer/etc? How did you become one? 
I wanted to do something that was stimulating, challenging and fun. Marine biology holds promise of all that as well as the thrill of discovery. Although research cruises are usually hard work and long hours, at no other time are these things more apparent.

Find scientists that do interesting things, get to know and help them. It's important to find more than one. Even if it's 'grunt' work you'll see what science is about and be able to decide whether you want to pursue it as a career, a sideline (like a science writer) or not at all. Their advice and recommendations (to schools or future employers) will also help further you along. Keep this in mind as you wade through anoxic mud in an estuary, aspirate fruit flies from rotting cactus, or crunch through snow on your way to a collecting dive; all in the name of experience, of course!