“ The craftsmanship of the ship impressed the heck out of me . The welding is extraordinary . Looking at it , you have real confidence that this ship was built well .”
— Professor David Checkley
As for the forward view on the scientific front , this fall Scripps professor David Checkley will head out on the Sally Ride ’ s inaugural research cruise . A biological oceanographer , Checkley ’ s primary area of focus is on fisheries , including the ongoing impact that climate change is having on marine populations . Checkley , who will be retiring to emeritus this year , also is the current director of the California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations , or CalCOFI . The multi-agency organization was founded in 1949 to investigate the collapse of the sardine population in California , an event famously documented in John Steinbeck ’ s classic novel Cannery Row . The research conducted since continues to prove invaluable for resource management and fisheries conservation .
A CalCOFI team heads out to sea quarterly to take a variety of measurements at 114 stations set up in a grid stretching from the California coast to nearly 300 miles offshore . Scientists look at temperature , salinity , pressure , oxygen concentration and more , in addition to netting samples of plankton and other sea life from the water column . All of the routinely collected data is publicly accessible for anyone to analyze .
“ We ’ ve used smaller ships until now , so my group is very much looking forward to sailing on the Sally Ride ,” says Checkley , who also weighed in on the ship ’ s design as part of the UNOLS Fleet Improvement Committee . “ The craftsmanship of the ship impressed the heck out of me . The welding is extraordinary . Looking at it , you have real confidence that this ship was built well .”
IT ALL COMES TOGETHER With stints at sea that will last up to 40 days , physical space on board the Sally Ride must be perfectly in order , with every inch of the vessel serving a purpose .
Scripps distinguished professor Lisa Levin , a marine ecologist , does much of her benthic-zone research on biodiversity and ocean acidification onboard larger global ships that can accommodate additional scientists and submersible vehicles , but she too is eager for the Sally Ride ’ s arrival for a reason equally important to a research institution : the profound educational opportunities it affords for her students .
“ It ’ s an incredibly unique opportunity ,” says Levin . “ In just one day , students get to see many of the concepts we ’ ve discussed in class . It ’ s their first and possibly only exposure to communities in the open ocean .”
This exposure is made possible by the UC Ships Funds Program , which affords ship time to students and early-career scientists . Since 1995 , UC Ship Funds have supported an average of 57 days at sea per year on cruises that range from one-day field trips to months-long expeditions , all for those students who make up the future of oceanographic research .
“ One of the great pleasures of my job is administering this program ,” says Appelgate . “ It ’ s rewarding to see the quality of work that our young scientists perform on these cruises .”
In addition to hands-on experience , students and teachers around the world also will be able to take part in ocean exploration by interacting with scientists at sea via the ship ’ s robust satellite telepresence . R / V Sally Ride will interface with UC San Diego ’ s existing K – 12 outreach efforts , to demonstrate how STEM fields are exciting , meaningful and accessible for everyone .
While technology can bring the oceangoing experience to those on land , there ’ s no substitute for field work when it comes to oceanographic research . And with a field as vast and still mysterious as the world ’ s oceans , the ability to make an impact is entirely dependent on what can get you there . “ Climate change and ocean acidification are real and happening because of things we as a society do ,” says Appelgate . “ It ’ s the key area of research of our time . When you send someone to sea , there ’ s no telling what they ’ ll discover .”
For Appelgate , all that remains unknown is the most exciting part of oceanography . “ We scientists sometimes sound like we know it all , but we really don ’ t . You have to go out there and take samples and make observations and be continually surprised . Ocean research will always require a human presence , even as we develop more robots and autonomous tools . We ’ ll always need women and men out at sea , and that ’ s what the Sally Ride will make possible .”
Learn more about the ship and view the slide show at tritonmag . com / sallyride
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