For over two decades, the University of Washington has enabled at-sea experiences for undergraduate and graduate students through cruise participation. The UW has continued its commitment to providing 15 days of ship time per year to the OOI Regional Scale Nodes Observatory effort using the 274' global class Research Vessel Thomas G. Thompson. Each year, as many as 45 undergraduate and graduate students work and study alongside UW researchers and the ship's crew to learn all aspects of seagoing research, ship operations, and life aboard an oceanographic research vessel.
During the cruises, students develop projects around the use of robotic vehicles, mapping, and linkages among geological, biological, chemical, and physical oceanographic processes. Students share their experiences with the public through daily blogs. The VISIONS'14 cruise continues this tradition of taking students to sea.