Rutgers has been participating in the National Science Foundation’s Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) project at Palmer Station Antarctica for over 30 years. During the fall of 2021, graduate students Quintin Diou-Cass and Joe Gradone joined UConn Postdoc Jessie Turner on the R/V Nathaniel Palmer to head to the West Antarctic Peninsula. Over the next few weeks, we are going to write up accounts of their experiences during their research way, way down under. Here is account of some glider recovery fun. Two gliders were deployed to study both the zooplankton distribution on the West Antarctic Peninsula as well as a hydrographic fronts in the South Bransfield Strait. These autonomous underwater vehicles make researchers’ lives easier at times by collecting data in harsh conditions where ships cannot travel. As anyone who has worked with a glider for just a few days can tell you, however, these cool instruments can be very fussy too. My job (Joe) on the cruise was to keep the two gliders we deployed as happy as possible while also continuing my work helping the Schofield phytoplankton lab. The cherry on top of an already eventful glider deployment was trying to recover both gliders in what was forecasted to be 50 knot winds and 10-20 foot seas. While a large research vessel would be able to sustain these conditions without issue, we needed to put zodiac’s in the water to recover these gliders. So, when we saw the forecast, we devised a plan to fly the gliders into the very northern edge of a channel in an attempt to essentially hide behind an island and seek shelter from the winds so that we could put a small boat in the water. Miraculously, this plan worked! The seas were significantly better behind the island and we were actually able to swim the glider almost right up to the ship. Definitely a memorable recovery.

Congratulations to Dr. Schuyler Nardelli on defending her PhD thesis entitled “Seasonal dynamics of plankton ecology in coastal Antarctica.” Schuyler will be moving on to a Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship at NOAA IOOS focused on marine policy. Through the fellowship, Schuyler hopes to step outside her comfort zone. “I am looking forward to learning how scientific research is used to create policy, working with diverse stakeholders, and stepping outside my comfort zone,” she said.

Join Rutgers oceanographer Oscar Schofield as he chats with researchers aboard the Nathaniel B. Palmer as they study the marine ecosystems of the West Antarctic Peninsula. Learn how the West Antarctic Peninsula has changed over the past several decades and how these changes affect life at every level of the food web, from tiny crustaceans to penguins, seals and whales. As part of the National Science Foundation’s Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) program, the Palmer Station LTER catalogs the effects of climate change on the environment around the Antarctic Peninsula, one of the fastest-warming regions on Earth.   Register now for this live Zoom event, sponsored by the National Science Foundation.* When: Thursday, December 16, 2021, 7 pm EST Register here: https://nsf.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_h5TX11w8TIiZ4wwW_GNTTQ   *The webinar will be recorded and available for viewing for those unable to attend the live event.

As we approach the winter solstice here in NJ, a team of RUCOOL graduate students have arrived in Antarctica for their summer research funded by the National Science Foundation’s LTER (Long-Term Ecological Research) program. Joe Gradone and Quintin Diou-Cass are on the R/V Nathanial B Palmer which is just off the West Antarctic Peninsula. While they may not be going to a baseball game, or swimming in a pool or at the beach, they are enjoying views of ice bergs, snow covered peaks and penguins, while occasionally getting beaten up in rough seas. When time allows, Joe, Quintin and Oscar Schofield, the LTER team lead for Rutgers, are blogging about their experiences at https://rucool.marine.rutgers.edu/blog/. Pretty cool stuff going on down there!

It’s once again getting close to winter here in the northeast US, but in Antarctica, spring is in full bloom with summer just weeks away. Rutgers has been participating in the National Science Foundation’s Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) project at Palmer Station Antarctica for over 30 years. This week, graduate students Quintin Diou-Cass and Joe Gradone joined UConn Postdoc Jessie Turner on the R/V Nathaniel Palmer to head to the West Antarctic Peninsula. They are all happy to finally get to sea after almost a month of travel and Covid quarantine protocols. We wish them all well for their summer Southern Ocean exploration.

Nicole Waite, Marine and Lab Technician at Rutgers University, Center for Ocean Observing Leadership Nicole has been working as a professional in ocean sciences since 2014 at Rutgers, with a focus split between Antarctic phytoplankton and underwater gliders. “I have been in the ocean science field since undergrad when I graduated with a degree in Marine Biology from the University of New England. Following that, I interned in a seagrass ecology lab at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab in Alabama.” Following her internship, she attended graduate school and received a Master’s in Oceanography from Rutgers University in 2014. Nicole first joined MTS as a graduate student in 2013. She has been an active member of the organization as an instructor on underwater gliders for MTS sponsored technology training camps. As an ECOP member, Nicole said she finds “the ECOP category to be highly valuable for the community and getting connected with other younger professionals in the field.” She said she is looking forward to getting more involved and to attending “events or meetings to connect research and academic institutes with industry – not just technology manufacturers, but industry wanting to get involved with research/technology use as well.” For more information on ECOPs, contact Joshua Baghdady to join or visit HERE.

Growing up in New Jersey, the ocean was always relevant to my life. As I grew older I knew I wanted a career on the water. I learned how to sail from a young age, eventually becoming a sailing instructor, and took every opportunity I had to be on or in the water. I got certified in SCUBA diving at 15 and proceeded to explore the oceans from below. After I applied to Rutgers, I joined the US Coast Guard Reserves, attending basic training in between college semesters. I managed my military career in conjunction with my education and graduated with a 3.44 cumulative GPA and a B.S. in Environmental Planning and Design with a double minor in Marine Science and Environmental Geomatics. Since graduation, I have worked for a national water utility company as well as the United States Coast Guard. I applied to Rutgers and once aboard was immediately drawn to the Marine Sciences Department. The vigor with which oceanographic study was discussed as well as the research opportunities for undergraduates hooked me immediately. The wealth of knowledge and experience in the building not only helped me grow but also helped shape my life plan moving forward. The highlight of my tenure with DMCS was earning a place at my most prized research opportunity, working with Dr. Schofield in Antarctica. My experiences with DMCS have influenced me to pursue further graduate study in the marine science field and to center my career around the ocean.