Early Concept Grants for Exploratory Research (EAGER) Training Chief Scientists for Shipboard Research

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Proposal 1433236 Chief Scientist Training Cruise The proposal requests $89,397 to conduct a short cruise aboard R/V Hugh Sharp with the principle aim of training early career oceanographers to conduct research cruises. A cruise will be scheduled, that consist of a 7-day cruise immediately preceded by two days of informationalpresentations, facilities tours, and cruise mobilization and one day of post cruise critique anddemobilization. This proposal?s PIs, Dr. Mark Moline and William M. Byam (Director of MarineOperations), University of Delaware Marine staff and guest speakers will take part as presentersat the information sessions. On the cruise, up to 12 participants and 2 instructors (SeniorScientists) as well as the ship?s Marine Technicians and crew will work together to accomplishscience objectives. The need to improve the skills of early career scientists has been recognized by UNOLS as well as Program for several years. Previous similar activities conducted on the West and East Coast under Clare Reimers were highly successful, and this effort would build on those experiences. Udel proposes a series of UNOLS Chief Scientist Training Cruises to provide opportunitiesfor teaching early career marine scientists how to effectively plan for, acquire, utilizeand report on, time at sea for multi-disciplinary research projects and education. Thesecruises, to be held on the R/V Hugh Sharp in 2014, they will also offer new investigatorsopportunities to test preliminary or unfamiliar research methods, work collaboratively,with others and acquire samples and experience critical for developing futureoceanographic programs for both research and education. Because berthing is limitedon R/V Sharp, the plan is to run three short cruises and a series of day cruises. Thisapproach will allow for a large number of participants, but will also provideopportunities for several participants to lead a cruise.The funding for the cruise is modest.The Intellectual Merit of this activity will be the results from the expedition to a scientifically important and interesting area. The activity is not just a "look and see", but rather "learning from doing" real science. The proposals lays out a very organized and proven time table for meeting the objectives. The Broader Impacts of the activity are the majority focus. Training the next generation of sea-going scientists is essential to maintaining effective US oceanography. It is particularly important at this juncture as the Academic Research Fleet downsizes and modernizes. This consideration, as well as advancement in technology to support field work, mandates that new users become familiar with capabilities that are rapidly evolving. This is one reason behind shifting the paradigm from learning through osmosis from seasoned veterans to actively participating in modern oceanography. The experiences of the previous generation are rapidly becoming less relevant to the careers of the up-and-coming scientists of tomorrow.