Shaazia Mohammed and Subrata Sarker

SMART summer school training experience Shaazia Mohammed and Subrata Sarker Wikipage : hƩ p://www.nf-pogo-alumni.org/ ~Shaazia+Mohammed Wikipage : hƩ p://www.nf-pogo-alumni.org/~Subrata+Sarker

Our trip to Ireland was one fi lled with excitement and anƟ cipaƟ on. The SMART summer school program was an opportunity us coral fanaƟ cs could not resist. We were able to uƟ lize the skills learnt in the ObservaƟ onal Oceanography program applying theoreƟ cal knowledge of biological, chemical and physical dynamics of the ocean to cold water corals. On our fi rst day in Cork Dr Pauhla McGrane (coordinator of SMART summer school program) and her team provided a one day workshop to brief us on our invesƟ gaƟ on site and sampling methods. All of which we would use to explore the cold water coral mounds in the AtlanƟ c Ocean. It was here we were also allowed to give fl ash presentaƟ ons of our past and current research projects. We soon realized how diverse each of our experƟ se was, bringing some nostalgia of our own POGO family back in Germany. The fi rst bit of excitement came when we were challenged with the intensive Personal Survival Training (PST) course at the NaƟ onal MariƟ me Shaazia and Subrata just concluded the College of Ireland (NMCI). Training combined both theoreƟ cal and pracƟ cal inNF-POGO Centre of Excellence in the AlstrucƟ ons on emergency survival and evacuaƟ on procedures. The pracƟ cal sesfred Wegner InsƟ tute. Ms Mohammed’s sion was a bit more intense, as we geared up into our immersion suits jumped research interests are thermal stress into a swimming pool simulated to capture a scenario of stormy thunder shower and subsequently coral bleaching while condiƟ ons. It was here friendships were created as we had to trust each other Mr Sarker studies coastal defense, cliin order to pass the course. In the end we all passed with fl ying colors much to mate change, aquaƟ c bio-diversity and our relief. This same day we were scheduled to leave the port. Excitement was ecosystem modelling on everyone’s face as we pulled up to the CelƟ c Explorer. Our fi rst evening on board the ship included a tour and emergency drill. The crew and chefs were very accommodaƟ ng ensuring we were all seƩ led in. The next day our shiŌ teams of four were formed as we arrived on site. A drop camera was sent down, recording an amazing video of life 1000 meters below mean seal level. This method was new to our POGO team and we were all amazed and curious to see these organisms in their natural environment. On this same day it was no surprise to send the box corer to retrieve a sample. We all rushed into the wet lab as the box corer came onto the deck. Dressed in full Personal ProtecƟ ve Equipment (PPE) supplied by the Alfred Wegener InsƟ tute (AWI), we were ready to get our hands dirty. Analysis of the sediments and determinaƟ on of the coral species and other benthic life were performed and samples preserved for further analysis. On the night shiŌ as the boat cruised at 5 knots, the topography of the mounds in which these cold water corals exist was invesƟ gated using mulƟ -beam. This instrument applies the acousƟ c properƟ es of sound in water detecƟ ng the refl ectance of the waves used to determine the inclinaƟ on of the sediment bed. The second day a transect of 8 staƟ ons across Shaazia, Mathew, Dr Karen Wiltcoral mounds was performed to accumushire, Subrata and Lobsang late a profi le of the water column for salinity, temperature, oxygen, fl uorescence and density parameters using the CTD Mathew, Subrata and Shazia aƩ ached to the RoseƩ e Sampler. Water during Safety Drill samples from diff erent depths were also taken to determine plankton and nutrient concentraƟ ons. FiltraƟ on and fi xaƟ ve methods were employed. Plankton specialist Dr Alexandra Kraberg from AWI shared her knowledge of plankton species typical for this area and season from examinaƟ ons under the microscope. Our fellow colleague from POGO, Shaazia Mo