Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 12/23/2009 - 13:14
Forums
Dissolved Organic Matter in Antarctica

Have you four done other experiments together before this one? If so, how long has everybody known each other? Do you all get along well?

Sat, 12/26/2009 - 17:46

Sarah Diers

One of the greatest aspects of science research is collaboration between scientists who have vast knowledge in specific science topics- their combined expertise bring a greater understanding to the ideas they are researching. Some of the DOM team worked together before this expedition, but never before has the whole DOM team completed a field season in Antarctica. Christine has collaborated with the most people on the team. She and Yo were involved in other projects in Antarctica. Also, Christine and Birgit have spent time in Antarctica and are great friends outside to the lab, too. Furthermore, Christine is Heidi's graduate program advisor and began working in her lab at Montana State this past September. Yo also has a great connection outside of this expedition to other DOM team members. Collin began working in Yo's lab as an undergraduate, and is nearing the end of his graduate program with Yo as his advisor. Yo and Chip were graduate students at the University of Michigan and had the same graduate advisor- their relationship has continued professionally since then, and their friendship has as well! Mike came onto the scene as a post-doctorate scholar in Diane McKnight's lab just a couple weeks before he joined the team in Antarctica. Diane McKnight is a Co-Investigator with the DOM team; however, she did not join us in Antarctica this season. I briefly met Christine in July when I went to Bozeman, MT with another PolarTREC teacher, Lindsay Knippenberg with the express intent of having some time to get to know the Principal investigators for our expeditions. Whew, this reminds me of that game, Six Degrees of Separation. We all knew each other, or at least of each other before the expedition began.
Keep cool, Sarah