In the orientation phase, students select a topic of study that interests them and familiarize themselves with the instruments they'll need to collect data.

On this Voyage of Discovery, the students organized into four teams of three students each, each focusing on a specific field of study. In turn, each research team would work closely with an individual senior crew advisor.

Starting on Day Two and working into Day Three, the students began their voyage by learning about each possible topic and using all of our intruments. They also used this time to devise a hypothesis or guided question that they would then test for their presentation projects. Although the research teams' individual projects would be tightly focused, each student would also learn how to perform every experiment, including several which are not currently part of anyone's research projects.

Since learning to use our scientific gear is a central part of the orientation phase, the photos below illustrate our student crew members taking readings for the Deck Log rather than focusing on the topics of their own projects.

You can scroll down or use the links to jump directly to a topic.

Research Team 1: Celestial Tracking

Students: Loren, Michael, & Elaina
Senior Crew Advisor: Mary Ellen Jacobs
Hypothesis: Does the angular height and compass bearing of the Moon change over four nights and, if so, what is the pattern of change?

During the ship's data collection layover in Niantic Bay, Elaina, Loren, and Michael will track the arc of the Sun to determine true noon and true south. In addition, they will use data collected by the Anchor Watch each night from Day One through Day Four to track the course of the Moon, seeking to determine if the Moon's course differs over the course of four nights.

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Students: Alex, Tajanae, & Jon
Senior Crew Advisor: Ewout van Grondelle
Hypothesis: Does the number of leads used affect the force required to lift a set weight 15 cm? Does the number of leads affect the distance that the rope must be pulled for the same effect?

During the Half Moon's data collection layover in Niantic Bay, Alex, Jon, and Tajanae will construct a simple machine to lift a lead ingot, and will determine how different configurations of the block-and-tackle components of their rig affect the force needed to lift this weight a set distance.

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Research Team 3: Comparative Temperatures

Students: Jose, Tyron, & Alanna
Senior Crew Advisor: Deb Cowles
Hypothesis: If the air temperature rises, the water temperature will also rise, but not as dramatically.

Starting during our data collection layover in Niantic Bay, and continuing through our layover at East Haddam, Alanna, Jose, and Tyron will track the diurnal air temperature, surface water temperature, and the temperature of water samples in a column, seeking to determine whether a correlation exists between air and water temperatures.

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Research Team 4: Current Patterns & Depth of Tide

Students: Matt, DeNiro, & Nadia
Senior Crew Advisor: Captain Reynolds
Hypothesis: The wind will affect the tidal current, and the tide will go up and down.

During the ship's data layover at Niantic Bay, DeNiro, Matt, and Nadia will spend the day tracking the speed and direction of the current, as well as practicing using the lead line to sound the water's depth. They will extend this research at our East Haddam layover, using both collecting their own data and utilizing the aid of Anchor Watch to track current speed and direction, wind speed and direction, and height of tide over a full 24-hour period.