“It’s been interesting and rewarding to see science taken seriously and have some action being taken.” An interview with Steve Montzka

Steve Montzka has been at NOAA for 28 years, working on atmospheric science, atmosphere chemistry, and trace gases in the atmosphere. He started there as a post-doc, drawn by the work he saw NOAA scientists doing on the hole in...

"He said, do you want to work on the carbonates in the Chicxulub Impact Crater? And my jaw dropped and I was like – Oh, of course!"

Carbonate sedimentologist Michael Whalen participated as a shore-based scientist on Expedition 364, Chicxulub: Drilling the K-Pg Impact Crater. Mike discusses his interest in these sediments, his time working on material at the Breman Core Repository in Germany, and how having...

"[the Chikyu] was not on my wish list… but I can't overstate how powerful the experience was [including] landing in a Bell 412 helicopter"

Structural geologist Jon Lewis sailed on Expedition 315 on the scientific research vessel Chikyu in 2007 - his first-ever at-sea experience. Jon explains this riser vessel, the training required for the helicopter landing necessary to join the ship, as well...

"…that first time looking up the central stairwell, seeing all the different logos from before… seeing just that snapshot of history…"

Bonus audio! Andrew McIntyre and Laura Guertin both sailed on JOIDES Resolution for the first time during Expedition 390 (South Atlantic Transect I) and sat down to record a conversation four months after their time on the JR had ended....

“By changing how science is done, we open it up to… more diverse experiences.” An Interview with Chelle Gentemann

Dr. Chelle Gentemann is the Open Science Program scientist in NASA’s Office of the Chief Science Data Officer. In this role, she works to understand the impact, and development assessments, of NASA’s strategy for Open Science. She recently sat down...

“I get excited about all of the projects that I work on because I see so much opportunity and potential.” An Interview with Allison Leidner

Allison Leidner is a program manager for Energy and Infrastructure applications at NASA’s Earth Science Division where she helps inform and connect decision-makers with the science behind renewable energy and climate resilient infrastructure. A conservation biologist by training, Allison recently...

"I think that those personal relationships… really make the science stronger."

If you are curious to learn more about the bonding and friendships that develop while at sea, listen no further than this conversation with Allyson Tessin and Ashley Burkett, two scientists that sailed on Expedition 392 (Agulhas Plateau Cretaceous Climate,...

“Scientists are just humans. If you feel somebody is too famous to reach out to, don’t.” An Interview with Aaron Piña

Aaron Piña is the National Program Lead for Atmospheric Sciences and Fire Weather Research at the United States Forest Service where he runs a research program that helps transition knowledge into the hands of decision makers around the world. Initially...

"The camaraderie that we had on the ship is still going… that’s a really special thing about being on the JR. And being a part of IODP."

What is it like to be a graduate student as part of the science party on JOIDES Resolution? Celeste Pallone shares her experience as a sedimentologist on Expedition 397 (Iberian Margin Paleoclimate, Oct-Dec 2022) as an early career scientist and...

Surviving a historic Vermont flood

Matt Commo (55) and Ann Commo (53) live in Waterbury, Vermont which on July 10th-11th experienced historic flooding. They share the flood’s impacts on them, their story of rebuilding, and their perspectives on the future living in a floodplain.

Surviving two historic Vermont floods

Patrick and Alison McHugh are a married couple, are both 43 years-old, and are both lifelong residents of Vermont. They discuss their experience surviving two historic floods - the first being hurricane Irene in 2011, and the second being the...

Kane Sweeney on the historic Vermont flooding in July 2023

Kane Sweeney is a 30 year-old board member for the town of Waterbury, Vermont and is involved in the recovery efforts following the historic flooding that occurred in Vermont in July 2023. He speaks about his experiences during and after...

"…they were relatively long shifts. But work-life balance is still important…and so we had a couple of fun activities that we would do."

Nannofossil paleontologist Claire Routledge highlights the need for a work-life balance while working 12-hours shifts, 7 days a week, for two months. After sailing on the South Atlantic Transect (Expedition 390), Claire shares her work responsibilities with nannofossils (along with...

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Ronald Britton and Chapin Montague

Ronald "Ron" Britton (71) recounts to StoryCorps facilitator Chapin Montague [no age given] his youth as a self-proclaimed military brat, the lives of his parents, and his career in oceanography and marine biology, all while sitting on the wood-lined deck...

"Each time you go out [on the JR], you see very different things based on your experience, level and just interests."

Microbiologist Jason Sylvan has sailed on JOIDES Resolution for three expeditions - each time, packing his camera and tripod. Jason shares how he captures photos to convey the work done on the ship, along with personal aspects of collecting photos...

"I thought I might speak about – it's a little bit sad – but the day we heard that the ship business is no more after 2024"

Aidan Leetz joined JOIDES Resolution as a thin section technician for Expedition 390 in 2022. In this conversation, he shares his journey to joining the JR, his reaction to the news of the end of JR operations, and why he's...

"Microfossils help us address the questions we can't otherwise answer"

Micropaleontologist and biostratigrapher Christopher Lowery shares his experience on a mission-specific platform for Expedition 364 during the drilling of the Chicxulub K-Pg impact crater. Hear how he describes how ocean drilling is like flipping the pages of a book backwards...

Climate resilience in the early years for RMI

Climate resilience in the early years is a focus for us here in the RMI. The work this entails is important so how can we bring existing work the government has done to upcoming projects for the more vulnerable in...