Question One: What is the strangest thing you have seen in the ocean?

Jian Lin

I was on a research expedition in summer 2005 to the eastern Pacific Ocean off Central America, hunting for new deep-sea hydrothermal vents. Sailing towards our target area, we were all excited, expecting a hot and humid tropical equator and wearing T-shirts and shorts. But we got a big surprise when reached the equator - the air was chilly; the ocean was cool! So why is the equator off Central America so cool? Why was it so different from the hot and humid equator off Indonesia, which we also visited no long ago in the eastern Indian Ocean? As of today I still do not have a definite answer. Some of my colleagues said that this was caused by the very cold "Antarctic bottom water" moving north and rising up off the coast of Central America. Others told me that this had something to do with a particular way of air and surface ocean circulation. But whatever were the exact causes, it was a big surprise to me to experience a chilly equator!.

Monica Medina

It would have to be the deep sea critters collected in an research cruise that I volunteered on. The ROV used different tools to capture the most unusual looking marine invertebrates that could for instance bioluminesce.

Joey Pakes

The remipede, is a rare animal, which only lives in the marine layer of anchialine caves. As mentioned in my research description, anchialine caves are characterized by having a distinct halocline in which a lighter fresh or brackish water layer rests on top of a denser saltwater layer. The remipede itself looks a little like a white, eyeless centipede, but it is actually more closely related to crabs and shrimp. These crustaceans were only discovered alive in the 80s, but one fossil remipede found in Texas probably lived more than 290 million years ago! The first time I saw a remipede in a cave was amazing. I was shocked by how gracefully it swam and instantly appreciative of the fact that I had the opportunity to study such a strange creature.

E. O. Wiley

It is what I did not see that was strange. When collecting fishes off Eua in the Pacific Kingdom of Tonga I did not see a single shark. Apparently the sharks had been fished out for their fins. This is very sad, complete removal of a top predator from a reef cannot be good for the ecosystem.

Question Two: If we were to change one personal behavior to help the oceans, what should that be?

Jian Lin

Pick up a book or surf an internet site to learn more about the oceans, especially the open oceans that cover two third of our planet Earth! The more we personally know about the oceans, the more we would take personal actions not to pollute rivers and lakes, many of which flow into the oceans. We should really appreciate the critical roles that oceans are playing in making the Earth a habitable home for us all.

Monica Medina

Wear sun lotion that is not toxic to marine organisms.

Joey Pakes

Working to decrease ocean pollution by producing less waste, leaving beaches as you found them, and supporting more ocean friendly agricultural and industrial practices. The fertilizer and other waste from such industries often travels via streams and rivers to the ocean, poisoning marine life.

E. O. Wiley

I would consume only those fishes that are harvested from sustainable fisheries.

Question Three: Were you good in science when you were in school?

Jian Lin

I was good in science when in school. But what entrained me to Earth sciences was a horrifying earthquake that killed 243,000 people and flattened the city of Tangshan in China in 1976. I was then a student at a junior high school thousands of miles away from the epicenter. After the quake, I immediately joined a team of student "earthquake watchers". We recorded the daily water-level changes in an abandoned well and ground tilts, reporting our findings to a seismological bureau of our city. The above high-school experience led me to study physics and geophysics in college, followed by doctoral work and a passion for research on earthquakes, tsunamis, undersea volcanoes, and deep-sea hydrothermal vents.

Monica Medina

I was good but not the best in my class. I did enjoy reading about scientific expeditions and watching science related documentaries.

Joey Pakes

I was actually more interested in French and English literature in highschool. When I started college, I decided to give science another shot. Yet, I dreaded, was bored by, and did poorly in introductory science courses. Fortunately, I stuck with the subject and my interest in smaller marine and ecology-focused classes, led me to better grades and the desire to pursue research in these fields.

E. O. Wiley

I don't know how good I was, but I was very interested in science, especially astronomy, geology and biology. I had a rock and fossil collection, a telescope, two aquariums and lots of fishing gear. I was active in the HS science club and always entered the science fair. At least three of us from my class went on to Ph.D.s and careers in science. Not bad for a HS class of less than 100.

Question Four: Where is the coolest place you have travelled to?

Jian Lin

We had a cool and splendid experience in the middle of Indian Ocean, after sailing south of Cape Town of South Africa for four days, and only a few days before reaching the Antarctica. We were using sonar to map deep-sea volcanoes. Then a group of whales came, sprouting and circling our research ship. Meanwhile a mile-long iceberg gracefully passing on the background. It was the most exciting whale and ice show I can have expect - and it was free of admission!.

Monica Medina

I love the coral reefs in the San Andres archipelago in the Caribbean. The visibility is quite good for the region and they are still in very good shape.

Joey Pakes

A vacation to Croatia was culturally, historically, and biologically interesting. The coast there is beautiful and the area has a very rich history full of many different cultures and conflicts. Early inhabitants included celts, greeks, romans, and byzantines, who left behind ruins and artifacts. More recently, Marco Polo was born in a house on the island of Korcula. While traveling through the islands of the Dalmatian Coast, I snorkled in some gorgeous natural parks and underwater caves, but I will have to return now that I have my cave diving license!

E. O. Wiley

Carrie Bow Cay, Belize, where the Smithsonian maintains a research station. What is cool about Carrie Bow is that it sits directly on the barrier reel. Gear-up, hit the water, turn left, and you are there. Want to cruise the grass beds? Just turn right instead of left.