General Expression of Interest Questions
Can I submit an EOI to multiple tracks?
No, Expressions of Interest may only select a single track to be submitted under. Investigators are welcome and encouraged to submit more than one EOI where appropriate. If one EOI is contingent on another each will be reviewed for its own merit.
Does Schmidt Ocean Institute directly fund the scientists and researchers who it collaborates with?
No, Schmidt Ocean Institute is not a grant-giving organization. For Ocean Science Track EOIs, SOI provides collaborators with free access to Falkor and expert technical shipboard support in exchange for a commitment to openly share and communicate the outcomes of their research, including the raw observations and data. For other Track EOIs, SOI will provide collaborators with support through contract arrangements built to leverage SOIs existing relationships and resources to foster and compliment investigator’s success.
Can I submit an Expression of Interest if I am not a U.S. citizen?
Yes, Schmidt Ocean Institute may collaborate with and support investigators from any nation or institution.
Can I submit an Expression of Interest if I am not a researcher at a University?
Yes, Schmidt Ocean Institute may collaborate with and support investigators from any nation or institution, public, private, for or non-profit.
Will Schmidt Ocean Institute consider piggy-back cruises or science-of-opportunity during transits between cruises?
Yes, Schmidt Ocean Institute is happy to consider piggy-back cruises or science-of-opportunity during transits between cruises. We also will consider student opportunities and Artist-At-Sea berths during transits. Check out the Serendipitous Side Trip cruise for a previous science-of-opportunity example.
Ocean Science Track Questions
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
Coral Science Track Questions
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
Oceanographic Technology Research & Development Track Questions
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
Research Vessel Falkor Operations
Are the Falkor workboats available for scientific data collection and work?
Yes, the workboats are available for scientific use.
Our research team is working to maximize the roles of individuals invited to take part in our proposed cruise. Will we be required to include a technician to process and generate bathymetric maps from the data collected by the multi-beam or can Falkor technicians conduct the processing?
It is possible for the Falkor marine technicians to support the processing of multibeam mapping data. However, the marine technicians may not be able to be dedicated to that single task on a cruise as they have numerous responsibilities which may add constraints to the amount of processing that could take place during your cruise. Chief scientists who desire multibeam mapping are requested to supply in their science party sufficient numbers of personnel trained in the use of multibeam echosounders to stand watches during data acquisition and for shipboard post processing.
Are piston coring and remotely operated vehicle dive operations feasible for the Falkor during the same cruise?
Piston corers are usually heavy, long, and sometimes difficult to handle. Because of the operations involved and equipment needed, piston corers cannot be executed from every research vessel. Special handling equipment is required to safely launch and recover a deep sea piston coring system. Due to large tensions that can be induced inside of the winch wire when pulling the piston cores from the sediment, this type of sampling usually requires the use of heavy oceanographic wire and winches, some of which Falkor may not be able to accommodate. We currently anticipate that Falkor winches will be able to accommodate 0.322″ electromechanical cable (with the working load of up to 17.1 kN or 3,800 lbf) and 0.393″ electro-opto-mechanical cable (with the working load of 15 kN or 3,400 lbf) in 2016.
Would it be possible to add a new component to our full proposal that was not included in our expression of interest? Would rock dredging be capable from the Falkor?
Yes, you may add new components to your research plan. Falkor is capable of supporting rock dredging from its stern mounted A-frame but the ship is presently not outfitted with an embedded or bolt-on winch capable of dredge operations. If dredging operations are required then a portable winch would need to be installed on the Falkor’s aft working deck which may have a working and storage space impact to the complementary science and therefore should be carefully reviewed. Should rock dredging operations require a larger diameter cable that the type Falkor is currently outfitted with (0.322″ electromechanical cable), it will be necessary to verify that Falkor’s A-Frame is capable of safely supporting the elevated cable tensions.
