EAGER: Developing At-Sea & Telepresence-Led Deep-Submergence Science Leadership

Duke University, Durham NC

Investigators

Abstract

This is a proposal to conduct an oceanographic research cruise on the R/V Atlantis dedicated to leadership development for 24 Early Career Scientists (ECS). Novel to this proposal are the use of the National Deep Submergence Facility assets Alvin and Sentry, research telepresence between the Inner Space Center (ISC) University of Rhode Island and R/V Atlantis, and a science communication component. Mentors include four senior scientists with extensive experience in deep-submergence science and one science communications expert. Key development objectives for the ECS include experience in i) planning and executing collaborative, interdisciplinary research, ii) leadership in cruise and dive/mission planning and execution, iii) integrating instrumentation with Alvin/Sentry/other deep-submergence assets; iv) telepresence-enabled data acquisition and seafloor-to-ship-to-shore communications, v) data management, sharing, reporting, and vi) science communication and outreach to broader audiences. Intellectual Merit : The deep-ocean remains largely a hidden library of knowledge for us to probe and understand, and deep-sea ecosystems and ecosystem services remain poorly understood even as they are increasingly subject to anthropogenic change through resource extraction, waste disposal, acidification, warming, etc. For the US to remain a leader in deep-ocean science, there is need to train the next generation of leaders in deep-ocean research. This proposed effort builds on recent shore-based leadership development efforts, including the 2015 Alvin New Users Workshop and annual DeSSC (Deep Submergence Science Committee) workshop for early-career scientists. Broader Impacts : The proposed cruise will benefit 24 early-career scientists with interests in deep-ocean research using National Deep Submergence Facility assets, providing them with experience in pre-cruise and at-sea leadership and decision-making, ship and shore practice in telepresence-enabled research, and science communication, as well as post-cruise follow-up opportunities. Participants should attain an enhanced ability to prepare competitive proposals to lead shipboard science and have expanded their interdisciplinary network. Outcomes from the program will be reported by participants at the annual early-career workshop and DeSSC meeting, may be reported at a special session at the fall AGU meeting, and disseminated in on-line documents on DeSSC webpages, and elsewhere. Basic assessment tools will document learning outcomes and inform subsequent deep-submergence training programs.