The Science Party
To maximize the research performed during the cruise, the science party consists of nearly two dozen biologists and geologists. Among the science party are experts in deep-sea animal groups and geologists who study aspects of seafloor geology and tectonic processes. Some of the scientists on board have had years of at-sea experience, while other will be experiencing life and work on a vessel such as the R/V ATLANTIS for the first time. Two scientists with a great deal of experience in this area, as well as long-term funded research projects here, are Dr. Karen von Damm (University of New Hampshire) and graduate student Breea Govenar (Penn State University). Karen studies the chemistry of hydrothermal vent fluids and Breea is an ecologist who will be recovering experiments that were deployed on the seafloor a year ago.
