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3D modelling is very popular and becoming more mainstream away from the specialized field of computer game development. Online websites such as Sketchfab allow the upload of real-world 3D models or very elaborately-crafted 3D models of objects, each comprised of numerous mesh triangles and vertices, and usually covered with a texture or image in a … Continued

The first, essential, feature of this cruise is coral. We start with research scientist Taylor holding a bundle of Desmophyllum. These precious coral samples record the environmental conditions of the ocean at the time their skeletons formed. As we do not (currently) have access to a time machine on R/V Falkor, we rely on using … Continued

A few weeks before my Artist-at-Sea experience, the program coordinator emailed me to see if I would be interested in creating a painting for a panel on the Schmidt Ocean Institute’s ROV submersible named SuBastian. “Absolutely,” I thought. This was very exciting for me: what a rare opportunity to be one of the few artist … Continued

As this transit from Hawai’i to Fiji was my first time being at sea, I was very curious to experience the ship’s movement. Before boarding I was nervous about big swells and any kind of inclement weather causing sea sickness, but within hours of being onboard I overheard that we were expecting smooth seas ahead … Continued

One of the first things you notice being on a ship – rather than land – is the motion. Your foundation is always moving, making simple tasks (like taking a shower or walking down a hallway) into dynamic actions, as compared the almost thoughtless, natural acts completed while being on solid ground. Seeking to understand … Continued

I was up until midnight working on the whale skin. It is made from an old fender (a bumper that prevents damage to vessels and berthing structures). It looks like a perfect material for whale skin, but I am having a really difficult time getting it to stick. I will need to remove the material … Continued

Dr. Satish Singh sits down and begins with a confession: “I was not a marine geophysicist when I started in Cambridge, I was a theoretical seismologist. However, after a couple of cruises I got involved in marine science and was hooked.” Soon after, Dr. Singh rose to become one of the top marine geophysicists in … Continued

After five days at sea I am headed home to Rhode Island and looking forward to returning to the studio with new insight. One of my favorite things about being an artist is being able to take a flexible approach to research, and having the liberty to be inspired by the unexpected. Watching live footage … Continued

Boron isotope analysis is one of the studies that the experts onboard Research Vessel Falkor will be conducting during this expedition. In addition to calcium carbonate, corals such as cup corals and bamboo corals incorporate the element boron as borate ions into their skeletons. Boron has two isotopes, and analysis of the ratio of these … Continued

As Remotely Operated Vehicle SuBastian begins its ascent back to R/V Falkor’s aft deck, scientists leave the Control Room and stretch their legs for the first time in several hours. This expedition to the Emperor Seamounts has proven an emotional test for the researchers, who had to deal with anticipation building up during the long transit … Continued