On the R/V S.A. Agulhas II, 11 students from various institutions in Europe and southern Africa are participating in “WHIRLSchool,” an opportunity to learn and gain experience in how research at sea is conducted. WHIRLSchool is a shipboard oceanographic training program attached to the WHIRLS project where students and early career professionals are exposed to a variety of ocean related topics. There was an open call for students from any institution and discipline and students selected were based on motivation, academic background, and trajectory.
The daily schedule for the superstations is slightly different to the nimble station as it balances practical and theoretical training. In the mornings, students focus on hands-on deckwork, rotating through activities to deepen their understanding of biogeochemical sampling. They gain essential experience by assisting with nitrogen and carbon uptake rate experiments, deploying bongo nets, processing samples, and studying phytoplankton diversity. Afternoons are dedicated to theoretical lectures on physical and biogeochemical oceanography, as well as data workshops. During these workshops, students learn how to use tools such as Python, QGIS, and ODV.
To complement this scientific curriculum, we also host professional development workshops covering science communication and navigating life after thesis submission. We also host our daily Sunset Research Talks, which provide an opportunity for visiting scientists to present their work, fostering engaging discussions among all WHIRLS participants. To balance their intensive academic and practical training, WHIRLSchool students also have downtime where they are encouraged to practice journaling, meditation, and yoga.
We are currently on our final day in the cyclonic eddy and are planning to recover the sediment trap tomorrow. We will then proceed to the anticyclonic eddy to continue our sampling there.
Featured image: the eleven students participating in WHIRLSchool. Photo credit: Sheveenah Sunnassee Taukoor
Authors: Kimi Rogers, Sebastiaan Swart, Joshua Mirin, Sheveenah Sunassee Taukoor, Morgane L’Oiseau