VISIONS’24 Student and Guest Participants

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 the OOI Regional Cabled Array effort through use of the 274′ global class Research Vessel Thomas G. Thompson and other UNOLS blue water ships. Each year, as many as 21 undergraduate and graduate students will work and study alongside UW RCA researchers, engineers, and the ship’s crew to learn all aspects of seagoing research, ship operations, and life aboard an oceanographic research vessel. As of this year, over 250 students will have participated in this discovery program!

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 and through the development of engagement projects. The VISIONS’24 cruise continues this tradition of taking students to sea.

OOI also provides opportunities for external scientists and guest participants to take part in our annual research expeditions in order to conduct their own research at OOI sites, create art, or document cruise events in writing. They assist in the day-to-day activities of the cruise, observe the seafloor and midwater environments we visit, and learn about the technology we use to conduct long-term deep-sea research.

Roy An (Leg 2)

Hello, my name is Roy An, an upcoming Senior majoring in oceanography at UW. Living near a port city called Busan in Korea, I always

Read More »

Rika Anderson (Leg 3)

Rika Anderson is a marine microbiologist, geobiologist, and astrobiologist who studies how microbes and their viruses adapt and change over time in deep-sea hydrothermal vents.

Read More »

Kyle Brooks (Leg 3)

My name is Kyle Brooks (they/them), I am a first generation college student wrapping up my final quarter of sophomore level biology prerequisites at Peninsula

Read More »

Elena Calderon (Leg 2)

Hello! I just finished my first year of undergrad at Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington. I am excited about exploring new applications of Applied Mathematics

Read More »

Atticus Carter (Leg 1)

I’m Atticus Carter, a senior student in Oceanography at the University of Washington, pursuing a dual degree in Educational Studies, Research and Policy Option, with a minor

Read More »

José Cornejo (Leg 2)

Hi!! I am José Cornejo, a Peruvian rising senior studying Environmental Science and Sustainability at St. Mary’s University (StMU) in San Antonio, TX. I am

Read More »

Leo Couchon (Leg 2)

HelIo I’m Leo! (they/them) I am a community college transfer student now entering my second year at the University of Washington double majoring in Marine

Read More »

Erik Duarte (Leg 2)

Hello! My name is Erik Duarte and I am a Summer Intern for the Cooperative Institute for Climate, Ocean, and Ecosystems Studies at the University

Read More »

Morrigan Havely (Leg 3)

Morrigan is a first-year UW undergraduate, majoring in marine biology and oceanography. They spent their first year discovering all the opportunities UW’s marine science programs

Read More »

Nikola Jensen (Leg 1)

Hello! My name is Nikola Jensen (he/they) and I am an undergraduate rising senior studying geobiology and computer science at Smith college. I am joining

Read More »

Laura Lapham (Leg 2)

The goal of my research group (at the Chesapeake Biological Laboratory) is to enhance our understanding of methane emissions from aquatic environments. Methane is a

Read More »

Paige McKay (Leg 3)

Hi! My name is Paige McKay and I am a second-year oceanography student at the University of Washington. This will be my first experience aboard

Read More »

Catherine Rasgaitis (Leg 2)

Catherine Rasgaitis is a Computer Science and Neural Engineering student at the University of Washington. She has a wide range of research interests with previous work in

Read More »

Nichole Sams (Leg 1)

My name is Nichole Sams and I am a PhD Student in Human-Centered Design and Engineering. My goal is population level mental health improvement. My

Read More »

Naomi Wharton (Leg 2)

I am a graduate student in the physical oceanography Ph.D. program at the University of Washington School of Oceanography, where I am advised by Drs.

Read More »

Juliet Wiener (Leg 3)

Hello, my name is Juliet Wiener, and I’m thrilled to be participating on the Visions Cruise this summer. As an oceanography major entering my junior

Read More »

Zariel Zamudio (Leg 2)

Zariel Zamudio is a first generation student and current oceanography major at the University of Washington. She is a second year undergraduate student and plans

Read More »