Meghan Donohue
Resident Marine Technician (aka restech)
Scripps Institution of Oceanography Shipboard Technical Support
University of California, San Diego (UCSD)
On this Expedition:
There is nothing I like more than to see a student succeed with their dreams. In this job, we get to work with students and scientists from everywhere; I have actually already run into a couple of my former students while at sea. My main responsibility is deck operations, day and night, whenever we do science work at sea. I train and supervise the science teams so that we can get our work done safely and smoothly. We start off with safety training and there are no exceptions on deck. When the seas are rough and we have strong winds, we still work 24 hours a day. We do weekly safety training and drills and never want an accident. Even though the conditions are sometimes difficult, we all work together and really like the work out here. It's an awesome job.
About myself:
I graduated from the University of San Diego with a degree in Marine Science and Physics and from the Maine Maritime Academy with a 200 ton mates license. Over the last few years I have worked as a computer technician, chemistry technician/teacher, able-seaman, mate, restech, and cookie baker. My favorite thing to do is oceanographic research on a tall ship in high winds and seas. Someday after I have had a little break from school I would like to get a Phd in acoustical or physical oceanography (I think).
For Students:
Well, first off, it's cool and fun to be at sea, but I'm guessing you have already figured that out. It's always an adventure. You are either part of ground-breaking research or a new discovery on every cruise. You get the chance to: travel the world; work with cool, interesting, intelligent people; and hopefully do what you love. If the world of academia is not for you, but you don't want to stop doing research or going to sea, try being a technician. An oceanographic technician is the person that works behind the scenes. They are the ones that actually make the science happen. A technician gets an oceanographer from A to B so that they can get the data to analyze and make their discoveries.
Cool things you should check out:
SEA-Sea Education Association www.sea.edu
These are summer high school programs and also university semester abroad programs
I'm an alumni, a former crew member, and a recruiter/interviewer for SEA!
Project Oceanology--CT area www.oceanology.org Boston Area and Avery Point, CT (UCONN's Oceanography Campus) They have elementary school through high school day programs.
Acadia Institute of Oceanography--www.acadiainstitute.org Seal Harbor, ME (Acadia National Park is their back yard)
High School Summer Camp. Special Winter Caribbean Camp for those that excel in the summertime.
Ocean Classroom--www.oceanclassroom.org Boston Area, These are mostly High School and College Programs
NOSB--www.nosb.org National Ocean Science Bowl is a High school Oceanography trivia competition.
If your high school isn't a part of it yet, get an advisor and start a team.
Envirothon--www.envirothon.org National Environmental Science Competition
High School Environmental Science Trivia. Same thing, start a new team!
William's Mystic Program--www.williams.edu/williamsmystic/ Mystic Seaport, CT
This is a college semester at sea program that focuses more on maritime history and sailing with some oceanography.
NOAA Aquanauts--www.noaa.org They have a High School Teacher grant program to get 4 students involved with an oceanographer doing their research for the year and doing a formal defense at the end of the year.
See how many cool things you can do even while you are still a student!
(alphabetical order by last name)
Sarah Baumgardner - Geosciences, MIT
Darryl Churchill - Engine Room Propulsion, RV Roger Revelle
Tom Desjardins - Captain, RV Roger Revelle
Meghan Donohue - Resident Marine Technician (aka restech)
Amy Eisin - Marine Geology and Geophysics, Texas A&M
Jay Erickson - Senior Cook, RV Roger Revelle
Joseph Ferris III - Second Mate, RV Roger Revelle
Dr. Fred Frey - Geochemistry Professor, MIT
Heather Galiher - 3rd Mate, RV Roger Revelle
Jackie Gauntlett - Geology and Oceanography, UCT
Howie Goldstein - Marine Mammal Biologist, Observer
James Edward Hayden, Sr. - Second Asisstant Engineer, RV Roger Revelle
Philip Hogan - Engine Room, Propulsion, RV Roger Revelle
Shari Hilding-Kronforst - Marine Geology & Geophysics, Texas A&M
Lara Kalnins - Geophysics, University of Oxford
George Kennedy - A/B Deck, RV Roger Revelle
Clemens Kessler - Seaman, RV Roger Revelle
Dr. Kolluru Sree Krishna - Marine Geophysics, Goa, India
Dr. Oleg Levchenko - Shirshov Inst. of Oceanology Professor, Moscow
Joe Martino - Seaman, RV Roger Revelle
Evelyn Mervine - Geochemistry Woods Hole / MIT
Laura Morse - Marine Biologist, Marine Mammal Observer
Brandi Murphy - Marine Geophysical Technician
Leslie Nemazi - Marine Geology & Geophysics, Texas A&M
Soumen Mallick - Isotope Geochemistry, Florida State University
Matthew Peer - Third Asisstant Engineer, RV Roger Revelle
Ines G. Nobre Silva - Isotope Geochemistry, University of British Columbia, Canada
Holly Owens - Geochronology, MIT
Scott Rasmussen - Geosciences, Brown University
Christopher Paul - Marine Geology & Geophysics, Texas A&M
Dr. Malcolm Pringle - Research Scientist / Geochronologist Professor, MIT
Dr. Dasari Gopala Rao - Marine Geophysics & Geology, India
Dr. Will Sager - Marine Geology & Geophysics Professor, Texas A&M
Dax Soule - Geophysicist, Geology, Texas A&M
Masako Tominaga - Marine Geophysics, Texas A&M
Richard Vullo - Chief Mate, RV Roer Revelle
Rory Wilson - Teacher at Sea, JOI Learning
James Wiltshire - Marine Geology, UCT
BACKGROUND
7/7 - Exploring the Heart of the RV Roger Revelle
6/29 - Looking into the Geophysical World (Undersea)
6/24 - Another Look at OUR WORLD
6/21 - First Look... Onboard the RV Roger Revelle
