Hey kids! The workers finished putting the pipe together and we have finally begun drilling. Meet my friend Mike Widdowson. He came all the way from England to work as a volcanologist on this research cruise, and he can’t wait to see what comes up from the hole we drill in the ocean floor. Do you know what a volcanologist studies?

Mike:

Hi Stan, I’m glad that you’re finally here where the workers bring the drill cores to me and the other scientists. Did you know that there are more than 30 scientists on board this ship? All of us are working together on these cores to understand the formation of the Shatsky Rise. Oh, I think here is a new core coming along the catwalk, that is what we call this long working area beside the drill rig. Come on let’s have a look…..