Rime of the Modern Mariner

Overwhelmed by the cast of characters? Feel like you’re reading War and Peace or Lord of the Rings? Here are the Cliff’s Notes. I recommend using your “search” function freely.

The Research Team

	Dr. Ken Smith, MBARI Chief Investigator studying whether icebergs affect global warming, and if so, how.
	Dr. Bruce Robison, MBARI marine biologist, studying communities of zooplankton, fish & birds living under and around the icebergs.
	Dr. Steve Rock, Stanford University robotics specialist, using high-resolution sonar to map and image the underwater portions of icebergs
	Dr. Tim Shaw, Univ. of South Carolina environmental chemist, studying nutrients, radioactive isotopes, & trace elements, especially iron, in the water around the icebergs
	Dr. Benjamin Twining, Univ. of South Carolina coastal oceanographer, also studying iron and other trace elements in seawater, and studies iron from icebergs and the aquatic microbes that use it.
	Dr. John Helly, UC San Diego environmental and Earth scientist, studying iceberg dynamics — size, shape, density, movements, etc.
	Dr. Maria Vernet, Scripps, UC San Diego marine biologist, studying how microscopic plants affect the organic carbon in the water near icebergs
	Dr. Ron Kaufmann, University of San Diego marine biologist, studying communities of zooplankton in surface waters surrounding icebergs.
	Dr. Sue Lowery, University of San Diego marine biologist, studying gene expression and muscle growth in krill.
	Vivien Peng, Desert Research Institute biology research assistant, working with Dr. Alison Murray on organic carbon in seawater and how microscopic marine plants affect it.
	Stephanie Bush, MBARI research assistant, working with Dr. Bruce Robison on pelagic marine life. Squid are her specialty.
	Christine Huffard, MBARI biology research assistant, lending a general hand with sampling and other bio work. Her usual specialty is squids.
	Danielle Garcia, U. San Diego undergrad biology research assistant, working with Ron Kauffman, mainly on krill.
	Cole Hexel, U. South Carolina chemistry research assistant, working with Tim Shaw.
	Diane “P.D.” Chakos, Scripps biology research assistant, working with Maria Vernet on phytoplankton and algal mats.
	Adrian Cefarelli, U. La Plata Argentine biology research assistant and observer, working with Maria Vernet on microscopy.
	Marcela Charo, Argentine physical oceanographer working with Maria Vernet on iceberg analysis.
	Karie Sines, Scripps biology research assistant, working with Maria Vernet on phytoplankton and algal mats.
	Nicole Middaugh, Desert Research Inst. biology research assistant, working with Alison Murray and Viven Peng on diatoms.
	Preston Craig, U. South Carolina chemistry research assistant, working with Tim Shaw and Ben Twining.
	Hai Lin, U. South Carolina analytical chemist, working with Tim Shaw and Ben Twining.

The Engineers

Unsung heroes & heroines, without whom, nothing works. All of the engineers work on whatever needs doing at any particular moment, but here’s a list of their known roles on this voyage:

	Kim Reisenbichler, MBARI marine biologist and research technician, helped develop and put together the RC airplane for iceberg tagging & reconnaissance and is one of its pilots.
	Jake Ellena, MBARI research technician, can keep any piece of machinery working, and knows an Echinocrepis rostrata when he sees one, too.
	Paul McGill, MBARI electrical engineer, working on the Onscreen Display for the RC airplane, the tiny computer & software that the plane and its pilots to navigate. Also works on the ROV.
	Rob Sherlock, MBARI research technician and marine biologist, helping with the ROV, sampling mechanisms & cameras. Also an excellent diver.
	Dr. Alana Sherman, MBARI electrical engineer, working on the ROV & Lagrangian traps.
	Brett Hobson, MBARI mechanical engineer, working on the mechanical systems for the Phantom ROV and sonar.
	Mark Talkovic, MBARI pilot, mainly of ships and remotely operated vehicles. On this voyage, he will pilot the Phantom ROV.
	Steve Etchemendy, MBARI marine operations director (and NancyE’s bro-in-law), heading up the RC airplane team and will help keep the ROV working.
	Joanna O’Neill, Sonar Technician working with Steve Rock on multi-beam echosounder.
	Adam Jenkins, Raytheon Polar POC (point of contact), our liaison with Raytheon, handling logistics, which means, basically, everything.
	Nancy Etchemendy yours truly, ship’s horror writer (hard to pigeon-hole, so I just put myself here in sheer desperation).

Ship’s Officers

	Captain Mike Watson For the longest time, I didn’t know his last name. His shirt just says “Captain Mike.” Definitely the skipper.
	First Mate Rachelle Captain Mike’s right-hand woman.

Those on Shore

Not everyone is lucky enough to be on the icebreaker. Some will do their part from shore.

	Dr. Alison Murray, Desert Research Institute marine biologist, studying diatoms and marine bacteria. Vivien Peng will be her eyes, ears, and hands.
	Dr. David Long, BYU electrical engineer, studies size, shape & movements of icebergs using radar remote sensing techniques.
	Dr. Henry Ruhl, MBARI marine biologist, will be organizing data for the researchers.
	Andy Nunn, Raytheon Polar is an expert on the general computer systems and electronic equipment aboard the icebreaker.