Tag: Introduction

Introduction – Mackenzie Hilburn

On October 11, 2025

In Host, R/V Sikuliaq, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Vessel/Laboratory

Hi everyone! As a long-time follower of this blog, I am very excited to be sharing my upcoming experience aboard the R/V Sikuliaq as a Marine Technician Intern!

There’s not much ocean to be found in Missouri, but I make do.

My name is Mackenzie Hilburn. I love visiting new places, jamming out on my bass guitar, and watching/reading/writing/all things horror! Little known fact about me: I am afraid of deep water. In spite of this (or maybe because of it!) I have always had a profound love for the ocean. Vibrant shallow reefs, bleak and mysterious abyssal plains, teeth-chatteringly frigid polar shores– every part of Earth’s largest habitat is fascinating to me. My dream is to explore every unseen corner of the oceans; in other words, to boldly go.

Photo from a prior expedition; I absolutely love being out at sea!

I’m on the edge of my seat waiting for the beginning of this expedition! No small part of my excitement is due to the research cruise objectives, which have to do with the seasonal formation of coastal ice and how it affects the strength and frequency of waves impacting other coastal regions. This is a subject that is particularly close to my own heart; you can read about the specifics and further objectives here.

A large part of my excitement also comes from the fact that this will be my first time visiting Alaska! Earlier this year I had the incredible experience of sailing aboard Ocean Exploration Trust’s EV Nautilus in an expedition to the Mariana Islands backarc. In terms of geography, climate, and my own personal learning objectives, these expeditions are in such stark contrast, and I definitely intend to take this opportunity to broaden my experience in the field of marine engineering on the whole.

I just hope the winter jacket I ordered arrives before I have to travel!

Introduction! – STARC 00

By Kaleigh Ballantine

On July 9, 2025

In Ship-based Technical Support in the Arctic (STARC) Team, USCGC Healy

Hi everyone! My name is Kaleigh, and I’m so excited to be a MATE intern this year. I graduated from Oregon State University last year, where I studied environmental sciences with concentrations in oceanography, scientific communication, and a minor in graphic design. A bit of a mouthful, I know, but these topics combined together into my love for visual science communication. That passion led me to the NOAA Office of Education (and now the NOAA Digital Program too!), where I work as a communications specialist and graphic designer.

Rewinding a bit, I had the opportunity to do my first research cruise in my sophomore year of college on a small boat called the R/V Elakha. For a biological oceanography class, we went out on the Newport Line on the open ocean, and I immediately fell in love with working on the water. Pursuing this in stride with my love for high-latitude environments, I was then lucky to be an REU intern with the Northern Gulf of Alaska (NGA) Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) program. Because I wasn’t conducting research on the ship (my project used glider data to study the physical factors affecting the spring bloom), I spent a month on the R/V Kilo Moana (KM) running CTD casts, helping other labs where they needed it, and shadowing the marine techs.

*Fun attaching sensors upside down in the KM’s new CTD!*

Once again, I fell in love with the work, admiring the creativity and problem-solving of the marine techs’ job. Having multidisciplinary interests, I was fascinated with how they got to be involved with all the different research projects on the ship, and be so essential to their success at that. Since then, marine technology has been an interest chipping away at the back of my mind, especially as I look to the next phase of my academia and career. I love my science communication work at NOAA, but I miss doing the science! I’m so excited to be on the legendary USCGC Healy and learning all I can about the world of marine technology. As a lover of polar science and a self-described cold-weather-girly, I’m thrilled that I get to experience that in the Arctic, no less!

A big thank you to everyone who helped me get here, and everyone following along on this adventure now. Special thanks to Dr. Seth Danielson, Dr. Maria Kavanaugh, Marissa Jones and the rest of the NOAA Education team, the NOAA Digital Program, my family, friends, Declan, and, of course, the Coast Guard, NSF, and UNOLS.

As promised, polar bear count so far: 0

Daniel Silguero-introduction

By Daniel Silguero

On May 28, 2025

In Host, R/V Atlantis, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Hello readers! My name is Daniel Silguero, and this is my introduction. I am not quite a writer and never have been, so bear with me. I am currently a student at California Polytechnic University, Pomona, pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering.

Collecting the coherent thoughts to write this post is not an easy task. My mind is flooded with anxious excitement because later today I will board the RV Atlantis, setting sail on an adventure I have dreamed about since I was a little kid. Every academic goal and achievement I have accomplished have been small and deliberate stepping stones toward this moment!

For as long as I can remember, I have had a fascination with the aquatic world and a passion for engineering. I would spend much of my free time building, breaking, soldering, and sealing small underwater robots attempting to see what’s deeper than I can swim. Now, its finally time to step onboard and play my role in real-world deep sea ocean research, working alongside some of the most brilliant technicians in the industry.

Over the next 5 weeks, I will be part of the Alvin submersible team, sailing along the Aleutian islands of Alaska. I will be learning the intricacies of maintaining and operating a state of the art manned submersible system while finally experiencing what my younger self could only dream of.

I don’t think its possible to effectively describe the way I feel. The emotions of knowing how hard I have worked to be here are immense and I just know this is where I belong!

Over the next few weeks, I look forward to posting updates of my journey, and I can’t wait to see what’s in store!

Introduction- Micah Barton

By Micah Barton

On April 22, 2025

In R/V Thomas G. Thompson, University of Washington, School of Oceanography

Voyage Beginnings – 01

Hello sailors and scallywags! My name is Micah Barton. I am a recent graduate of Cape Fear Community College, with an associates degree in Marine Technology. The privilege of a high quality education has forever changed my life for the better, and I have developed a deep love and passion for marine sciences. Every moment has been wonderful, from surveying in the rain, watching sharks circle the trawl, troubleshooting software for hours, and even to counting thousands of shrimp- fantastic. I can’t imagine my life without it. I have an amazing crew of educators and classmates that have worked tirelessly and pushed me to make it this far; I work hard every day to make them proud!

This is a picture of my last cruise at CFCC aboard the R/V Cape Hatteras. Since day one of sailing, I knew that there was no going back for me- life at sea or bust! Like countless others before me, I have felt the breeze on my cheek and heard the voice of the sea;

Voice of the sea that calls to me,
Heart of the woods my own heart loves,
I am part of your mystery—
Moved by the soul your own soul moves.

Dream of the stars in the night-sea’s dome,
Somewhere in your infinite space
After the years I will come home,
Back to your halls to claim my place.

by William Stanley Braithwaite

Here I am! I love to fish, explore, and create. I will be starting my internship on the R/V Thomas G. Thompson. Through this blog I hope to share my journey, my perspectives, and the things I learn along the way. Thank you for joining me, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds!