Hi! My name is Bree and I am studying the possible fish aggregation effect on The Ocean Cleanup's System 001 aka "Wilson" (which he will be exclusively called for the rest of my blog) as they attempt to remove plastic debris from the largest garbage patch (2 times the size of Texas**) in the world! To be specific - I am a biologist studying fish that are hanging out AROUND trash. But I think trash scientist sounds WAY cooler so that's what I'm sticking with. More on my project later, because we haven't officially left the Bay yet so in the mean time, I'm going to fill you in on how a SoCal girl from a sleepy marina town got to work with one of the best-known organizations to come out of the Netherlands for her Master's Thesis. So I'm not convinced anyone other than my friend that convinced me to write this thing is going to read it but here's my shot: I applied to grad school in a crazy haze the last quarter of my fourth and final year of undergrad, because what else is a bored Bio major to do? Well, fast forward to the summer and getting interviewed by my advisor from the coffee shop in Powell's bookstore in Oregon a week before I pack my car up and move to Florida, and honestly this project sounded like a dream come true! The opportunity to use fishery applications with a marine conservation project - sounds like a DREAM come true!!! The first year of grad school flew by, with two trips to the Netherlands sprinkled in because I needed to meet my collaborators and do some work at The Ocean Cleanup Headquarters, along with getting to know my fellow students, scientists, and new state of residence! All too soon, I had to pack my life up (for the second time this summer because I had to move out of my original place but I live with HOMIES so its chill) YET AGAIN! Hurricane Bree struck my (still new to me) room and all of a sudden I had a checked bag, a duffel bag, and a backpack to my name and was on time to my flight back to California! Who is this woman who makes flights with TIME TO SPARE and arrives in style (or something resembling it) back to her home state? Where did the frazzled girl who packed up her car last minute and moved to Florida without a second thought go? She definitely was just hiding deep inside because let me tell you, packing up all my stuff to live on a BIG boat for two months when you're not at all sure what exactly your responsibilities aboard are, or what the temperature of the boat will be in the living quarters, or whether you will have your own room, or how often you'll have access to laundry...the list of questions goes on and on but I CAN say I packed and repacked my bag at least 5 times in leading up to the actual boarding of the vessel (including once that day...). What do you do in order to prepare for going to sea for two months, especially when it's almost say 6 times as long as you've been offshore before (maybe more but I'm gonna give myself the benefit of the doubt here) - YOU GO TO SAN FRANCISCO A FEW DAYS EARLY TO STAY WITH YOUR CHILDHOOD BEST FRIEND AND HER SISTER! See I apparently itch to keep on the move, even knowing that I'm going to be on the move pretty much for 7 weeks straight (and counting), I couldn't resist the opportunity to go and see the city that I will be sailing past TOMORROW!!! Our weekend consisted of lots of walking around a city simultaneously somewhat familiar and yet just outside of my comfort zone - exactly the way I like a city. My friend had to work on Friday and her sister and I went to the California Academy of Science - WHICH IS THE BEST PLACE EVER - ITS A NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM, AQUARIUM, AND A PLANETARIUM!!!! What more do you need??? NOTHING EXCEPT MAYBE A BOTANICAL GARDEN NEXT DOOR AND GUESS WHAT IS A FIVE MINUTE WALK FROM THE ENTRANCE??? Anyway I spent the rest of Labor Day Weekend like anyone else - I had a robot make me hot chocolate, I cried as I watched "Crazy Rich Asians" because it was just so dang poignant, and went to an Urgent Care that was out of my insurance's network. #justlastweekendashorethings amiright??? I am writing this blog post from the comfort of my cabin (we are aboard a big ship so I'm doing my best to use ship lingo - ya feel?), getting ready for anchor up at 8am - guaranteed to be the loudest thing inside the boat I've heard yet, but I'm ready to put the shore behind me and see some blue water! Also ready to cruise out of the Bay straight underneath the Golden Gate Bridge BECAUSE WE ARE JUST THAT COOL! Thanks for sticking with me this far, LETS SEE HOW THIS GOES! Anchors aweigh and I'll see what I can do to write from the ocean!
2 Comments
A trash scientist supporter
9/7/2018 10:29:10 pm
LOVE LOVE LOVE you are doing great things
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Davey Wavey
9/8/2018 11:42:05 am
Bree is my hero! We love you, keep the updates coming. Be safe out there, try to avoid storms.
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AuthorBree Gibbs, here. I'm a recent Master's Grad just trying to share what it's like to be a trash scientist (for those who aren't in the know, I'm a marine biologist). Categories
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