Engineering at Sea: Life Aboard an Oceanographic Research Vessel

Research Vessels are floating laboratories for conducting science at sea, gathering information vital to increased understanding and better stewardship of our planet.
This presentation delves into some of the challenges faced by field oceanography - crushing pressure, corrosive seawater, biofouling, material strength limits in long tension members, power limitations, arctic temperatures, Internet access, communications, personal safety, the logistics involved in operating to the literal ends of the earth - and the technical solutions engineers employ to overcome them.
Speaker Bio:
Mr. Wilson holds Bachelor of Science Degrees in Biology and Chemistry from the College of William and Mary and a Master of Science Degree in Marine Environmental Sciences from the State University of New York. Since 1983 he has served as the engineer and manager of the Instrument Laboratory of the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences at Stony Brook University. In 2023 he received the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Professional Service.

Tom's design credits include over 50 major items of scientific and oceanographic equipment. He is a founding member of the Research Vessel Technical Enhancement Committee of UNOLS, the coordinating organization for the US academic research vessel fleet. He has provided technical support to over 200 research projects at numerous institutions in the US and abroad, including sea time on 12 major research cruises in the Atlantic, Caribbean, Mediterranean, and Lake Victoria in Africa.

Agenda:
We will start our meeting at 7:00 pm. For the next 15 minutes or so, we will introduce ourselves and do a little networking. We will then start our presentation. After the presentation, feel free to stick around and chat with others to network or to further discuss our lecture topic.

NOTES
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