I am approaching week five at my new job, teaching at The Oregon Institute of Marine Biology, and I have never been happier!
It's Fall term here in Charleston, Oregon, and the trees (and the weather) are starting to turn. Every morning, I am welcomed by a cool breeze that carries a wonderful smell. It reminds me that I am just a stone's throw away from the ocean—this is where I belong. Living and working on a marine station is a joy. I feel immersed in my passion: marine biology!
This term, I am teaching Biological Oceanography. Over the past few weeks, I have been teaching the students about coastal upwelling and how the ocean's physical processes (e.g., wind-driven surface currents, stratification) affect its chemistry (e.g., temperature, salinity, density, dissolved oxygen) and biology (e.g., phytoplankton and zooplankton abundance). We recently completed two oceanographic research cruises inside and outside Coos Bay, during which the students learned various oceanographic research techniques to measure these physical, chemical, and biological ocean properties.
Here is a short video we made summarizing the highlights of our cruises:
Awesome video showing how the students are lucky to have you as their professor and Bradd/Caitlin/Scout/George working the Meglaopa.