Today was the big day…after an intensive 48 hour station and lots of data workup (and cramming information into their brains), the students finally gave their presentations. They were tasked with interpreting the data from their own station and presenting it in 10 minutes to the entire scientific party. We (the “scientists”) were all eagerly awaiting the presentations, since we have been too busy to analyze our own data (busy or tired or whatever)…and the end result, in a word, GREAT! They did a nice job, even going a step further in the interpretation than expected. Somehow it was very satisfying seeing the whole spectrum of our science in the student talks. They really took it seriously and demonstrated enthusiasm for the science. I am happy to see that they all learned something and I hope there will be a lasting impression from this cruise in their future endeavors. I really enjoyed this whole student cruise experience and it was a perfect ending of the two weeks, hearing what the students had to say about the science.

Some highlights from the SO234-2 SPACES cruise: Ping pong, natürlich 🙂 ; Intercultural interaction; Whales!!; Team work; Deutsch Weltmeisters, woohoo; drifting; for me it seemed full of underway sampling and filtering ;); and of course air-sea interactions of trace gases. So as an end to this first leg, I would like to say thanks to everyone who participated and especially to the co-PI, Birgit, and the Chief, Kicki, for a productive and educational time, with some fun mixed in. See you soon after sunning myself in Mauritius…to be continued…

by Christa Marandino