by Brandi Williams

July 22, 2025

It’s been one week aboard the ship, and we’re steadily heading toward the East Pacific Rise, where our science mission begins in earnest. Initially, I was a bit unsure how we could possibly fill 12 days at sea, without going stir-crazy. Yet, surprisingly, there hasn’t been a single dull moment.

A Bit of Something Delightful for Everyone

After a week at sea, our days aboard this research ship feel like a perfectly curated mix of science and small joys:

• Wildlife on the horizon: Dolphins have been spotted frolicking in our “backyard”, little flying fish are skimming the waves, and adorable boobies occasionally glide alongside.
• Skies that captivate: Morning brings breathtaking sunrises; evenings gift us incredible sunsets. And once the Sun sets, the night sky unfolds—bright Milky Way arching overhead, with occasional shooting stars streaking by.
• Shipboard camaraderie: Our downtime is full of fun—Movie Night featured The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, a fitting pick for our floating lab (an offbeat ocean documentary/comedy by Wes Anderson with Bill Murray leading a quirky crew).
• Games & creativity: Gathered around the tables, we play cards and dice. At crafts sessions, we’ve folded origami, woven friendship bracelets, and stamped unique pieces of jewelry—all taking advantage of shipboard downtime to spark creativity.

Why These Moments Matter

These gentle pauses—watching wildlife, stargazing, playing, crafting—bring us together and recharge our minds before returning to the hustle and bustle of back-to-school time.

Meaningful Conversations & Collaborative Learning at Sea

Amid all the natural beauty and downtime, our expedition has also been a vibrant learning hub. The group—comprised of passionate science teachers—has engaged in rich, productive conversations about teaching and learning. The synergy is remarkable: everyone brings ideas, and within minutes, those ideas evolve through collaborative feedback. It’s thrilling to witness lesson plans transform from great to truly exceptional through peer input.

Workshop instructors have been incredibly supportive, offering targeted guidance and supplying educational resources tailored to our goals.

We’ve exchanged and refined lesson ideas in real time—seeing firsthand how a suggestion here or an example there shapes a lesson into something far more compelling. Each participant actively contributes, draws from others’ expertise, and receives constructive input. The result is a creative and collegial atmosphere, one that mirrors the collaborative spirit of Earth’s most dynamic ecosystems.

Midnight Mystery & Science Mode

The night before last—in the middle of the night— I woke to a strange chirping sound. I searched around but couldn’t find its source, so I drifted back to sleep. When morning came, the chirping was everywhere.

Turns out, as soon as we crossed into international waters, the ship switched into “science mode.” That chirping was part of the onboard sonar mapping system, collecting sonar data to chart the ocean floor.

The Marcus Langseth is designed for seismic mapping of the ocean floor. It is equipped to tow long cables—over 15 km—behind it to record seismic waves along the seafloor.

To generate those waves, it uses airgun arrays, powered by enormous compressors supplying 2,000–3,000 psi of highly compressed air.

These airguns “tap” the seabed every few seconds, sending sound pulses while trailing hydrophone-equipped cables pick up echoes. Though we are not conducting seismic operations on this expedition, it was fascinating to see how the process works because this setup forms the backbone of marine seismic surveys, mapping subsurface geology to understand tectonics, sediment layers, and potential resource deposits. It’s a vivid example of geophysics in action—combining mechanical engineering, acoustics, and data analysis—all while occurring on the middle of the ocean. It has been fascinating to see how many different types of people and jobs work together to bring science to life!

Onward to Discovery

We are getting closer to the spot where we will be conducting our operations. Once we reach the East Pacific Rise, we’ll encounter hydrothermal vent systems where tectonic activity brings heated, mineral-rich fluids to the seafloor. These vents form along spreading ridges—places buzzing with geological and biological activity. Our preparations now are crucial for collecting reliable data and samples once we arrive.

It is my understanding that we will begin our science operations overnight tonight, so tomorrow’s blog post should be really interesting— stay tuned!

Fair winds and following seas,

Brandi Williams

#NSFfunded