Eighteen University of Hawaiʻi at 惭ā苍辞补 students and one postdoctoral researcher spent six days aboard the 糖心视频 research vessel (R/V) Kilo Moana this summer, gaining hands-on experience in oceanographic research while exploring waters around Oʻahu and Kauaʻi.
The educational cruise gave students opportunities to use advanced oceanographic equipment, collect data for undergraduate research theses and fulfill graduate requirements for time at sea. The program also introduced students to potential careers in marine science.
“Beyond its academic utility, the cruise is designed to broaden students’ horizons regarding the multiple career opportunities within marine science,” said Christopher Sabine, chief scientist of the cruise and professor of oceanography in the (SOEST). “Students gained hands-on experience in a setting where undergraduates, graduate students and faculty can network, share mentorship, and build lasting professional relationships.”
Learning beyond the classroom
Throughout the cruise, students had the opportunity to deploy oceanographic instruments, collect deep-sea sediment cores, conduct chemical analyses and gather data. These activities allowed students to apply classroom concepts to real-world research.
“Participating in conductivity-temperature-depth measurement operations and water-column sampling gave me a firsthand understanding of how oceanographic data are collected,” said Hiʻilani Mietlicki, a GES undergraduate student. “It was rewarding to see the coordinated efforts of the ship’s crew and science team come together to produce high-quality data that support marine research.”
Charting future careers
For some students, the cruise provided a clearer picture of their future career paths, from field research to graduate studies.
“Being on the research vessel confirmed to me that pursuing a degree in SOEST was the right decision!” said Allison Fujimoto, a GES undergraduate. “This experience helped me decide that I want to have a career that has both a science field work component (monitoring, collecting, lab work, etc.) out at sea, and an office component (spreadsheets, analyzing data, etc.).”
For Ken Husty Tungpalan, an earth sciences undergraduate, the program helped shape his academic goals.
“Participating in the research cruise has guided me to pursue a PhD in paleoclimatology, using geochemical proxies like sediment cores to uncover past climate and environmental conditions,” Tungpalan said.
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