“I spawned a wither!” and, “That is the weirdest world that has ever existed!” my twins yelled to each other from across my parents’ living room while they played Minecraft and I typed this post. I’m Sabrina (Sara) Whitaker, and in about a week, my view will change from the rain soaked prairie of Northern Indiana where my parents live to the waterfront of Lake Ontario where I will begin my journey aboard NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson as I continue the third leg of a hydrographic survey of Lake Ontario.
Our mission out on the water is a hydrographic survey—essentially mapping what lies beneath the surface. By charting depths, shorelines, and hidden underwater terrain, we will create the accurate maps ships need to navigate safely and keep our coastal waterways protected. Over the next two weeks, I will be learning the details that allow scientists to discover these secrets, and I hope you will join me as we do so.
Personal Log
While my parents live in Indiana and I lived part of my childhood here, I now live on Long Island and teach physics in Farmingdale, New York. The story of how I went from living in Indiana to ending up on Long Island is long and varied, but it closely follows my path toward becoming a physics teacher and leads directly to my newest adventure aboard NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson.
During this summer’s trip to Indiana, I got to visit my undergraduate physics advisor, Dr. Henry Scott, at Indiana University South Bend, where my physics journey continued after high school.
Sabrina and Dr. Henry Scott on the banks of the St. Joseph River during a visit to Northern Indiana, 2026
Under the mentorship of Dr. Scott and later Dr. Wendy Panero at The Ohio State University, I studied high-pressure mineral physics and conducted experiments at the synchrotrons at Argonne National Laboratory in Illinois and Brookhaven National Laboratory in New York. That foundation led to an incredible opportunity in Japan, where I worked with scientists at Ehime University’s Geophysical Research Center editing their scientific research papers.
Sabrina and a friend at the Chrysanthemum Festival in Matsuyama, Japan 2010
When my oldest daughter, husband, and I returned to the United States, I continued editing scientific papers, but I eventually decided to bring that love of science, travel, and global community into the classroom. To make the shift from researcher to educator, I attended Stony Brook University to gain the skills that would help me translate those experiences into inspiration for my students.
This upcoming voyage on Thomas Jefferson combines everything I love: science, travel, and finding fresh ways to engage my students. For two weeks, I’ll get hands-on experience in a branch of science I’ve never practiced, learning straight from NOAA scientists and bringing those lessons back to my classroom. I expect to make mistakes, learn from them, and have a lot of fun along the way. It’s going to be a great challenge, and I can’t wait to begin.
Did You Know?
NOAA ShipThomas Jefferson
NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson (credit: NOAA)
For this assignment, I will be living and working aboard Thomas Jefferson, a 208-foot hydrographic survey vessel.
Capable of traveling nearly 19,200 nautical miles and staying at sea for up to 45 days, the ship functions as a mobile lab. Its primary job is mapping the seafloor and lake beds to collect data for updating nautical charts.
NOAA Teacher at Sea Jennifer Widdig Aboard NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson June 17 – June 30, 2026
Mission: Hydrographic Survey
Geographic Area of Cruise: Lake Erie and Lake Ontario
Date: June 2, 2026
A New Adventure Begins
Welcome! My name is Jen, and I call the small town of Minford, Ohio, home. For the past decade, I have had the privilege of teaching a variety of life science courses at Pickaway-Ross Career & Technology Center in Chillicothe, Ohio. While environmental and animal sciences have been at the heart of my teaching career, I am now preparing for a brand-new chapter that is as exciting as it is unfamiliar.
This upcoming school year, I will be stepping into a role that is not only new to me but also new to our school. My focus will be supporting students through online coursework across multiple subject areas while helping ensure they earn the credentials necessary for graduation. It is a unique opportunity to combine education, technology, and student success in ways I have never experienced before, and I am eager to see where this path leads.
One thing I have learned throughout my career is to embrace opportunities that challenge me to grow. That mindset has taken me far beyond the walls of a classroom. Over the years, I have had the incredible opportunity to travel to Belize, Tanzania, Malaysia, and Peru. These experiences allowed me to collaborate with educators and researchers, participate in meaningful projects, volunteer in communities around the world, and gain perspectives that continue to influence both my personal and professional life.
Amazon Rainforest, Peru
Amazon Rainforest, Peru
Belize Classroom
Malaysia
Belize
Malaysia
Orphanage in Tanzania, Africa
Orphanage in Tanzania, Africa
Belize Classroom
Amazon Rainforest, Peru
Now, I am preparing for an entirely different kind of adventure.
For two weeks, I will be living and working aboard a research hydrography vessel on Lakes Erie and Ontario. Unlike my previous international experiences, this opportunity will immerse me in the daily life of a scientific research crew as they collect data, map underwater features, and contribute to our understanding of the Great Lakes. It is a chance to experience science in action, learn from experts in the field, and gain firsthand knowledge of the technology and research that support navigation, environmental monitoring, and resource management.
As someone who has spent years teaching science, I am excited to step into the role of learner once again. There is something humbling and inspiring about leaving your comfort zone and diving into an entirely new environment especially when that environment happens to be a research vessel floating across two of North America’s most significant freshwater ecosystems.
As I prepare to trade lesson plans for lake charts and classrooms for the deck of a research vessel, I am reminded that some of the best learning happens when we step into unfamiliar territory. This blog will serve as a real-time account of that experience. I’ll share the sights, the science, the challenges, and the unexpected moments that come with living aboard a hydrographic survey vessel. From learning the day-to-day operations of the crew to exploring the technology used to map the lake floor. I hope you’ll join me as I navigate life aboard the Thomas Jefferson, explore the science of the Great Lakes, and embrace this adventure one day at a time.
Mapping the Ocean with NOAA’s Teacher at Sea Program
Before embarking on my adventure, I want to share some information about the agency, program and vessel.
NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson (Credit: NOAA)
NOAA’s Teacher at Sea Program is an exciting opportunity that allows educators to step out of their schools and onto research vessels to experience real-world science firsthand. The organization behind this adventure is NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. NOAA is a federal agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce that studies and protects our oceans, atmosphere, weather, climate, and coastal resources. From forecasting hurricanes and tracking marine life to mapping the ocean floor, NOAA’s mission is to better understand our planet and help keep people safe.
Since 1990, more than 850 teachers have participated in NOAA’s Teacher at Sea Program, joining scientists aboard research vessels and bringing their experiences back to classrooms across the country. Teachers become part of the science team, helping collect data while sharing photos, blogs, and lessons that connect students to real scientific discoveries.
Teachers selected for the program observe and actively participate. Depending on the mission, they may deploy equipment, record scientific observations, monitor instruments, assist with data collection, and take part in safety drills. Research operations run 24 hours a day, and teachers often work alongside scientists during 12-hour shifts.
For my mission, I will be aboard NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson, a hydrographic survey vessel. The 208-foot ship can travel nearly 19,200 nautical miles and remain at sea for up to 45 days. The Thomas Jefferson is essentially a floating science laboratory. Its mission is to map the seafloor, support maritime commerce, improve coastal resilience, and provide data used to update the nation’s nautical charts. These charts help ships navigate safely through coastal waters and busy ports.
Hydrography is the study and measurement of underwater features and navigable waterways. Just as cartographers create maps of mountains and rivers on land, hydrographers map the hidden landscape beneath the water’s surface. Their work helps identify shallow areas, underwater hazards, shipwrecks, and other features important to safe navigation.
To “see” underwater, the Thomas Jefferson uses advanced technology. Side-scan sonar sends sound waves across the seafloor to create detailed images of underwater objects. Multibeam echo sounders measure water depths with incredible precision and create three-dimensional maps of the ocean floor. The ship also carries smaller survey boats that can reach shallow areas inaccessible to the larger vessel.
Hydrographic data has many uses beyond navigation. Scientists use it to study marine habitats, determine whether the seafloor consists of sand, mud, or rock, support dredging and construction projects, and assist with routing underwater cables and pipelines.
As I prepare to step aboard the Thomas Jefferson, I can’t help but feel a mix of excitement, curiosity, and gratitude. This experience is so much more than a professional development opportunity. I get a chance to become a student again, learning directly from scientists and crew members who dedicate their lives to exploring and understanding our oceans. I’ll have the opportunity to see hydrography in action, witness cutting-edge technology mapping parts of the seafloor, and experience life aboard a NOAA research vessel firsthand. Most importantly, I’ll be able to bring these experiences back to my students, sharing not only the science but also the adventure, teamwork, and discovery that happen beyond the walls of a classroom.
Hello! My name is Lisa Werner and I am so excited to be a Teacher at Sea for the 2024 Season. I have been teaching for 15 years, and currently teach 3-year old kindergarten through 8th grade music, 4th-8th grade band, and 5th-8th grade choir in Wisconsin. I am passionate about showing students the link between music and other subjects, as music has so many connections to everything we do. The students in my classes are curious about the world around them and have a very adventurous explorer mindset. I will be entering this experience armed with all of their questions to answer upon my return!
Students regularly study sound waves in band, choir, and music classes!
Our school music program is a bit unique – we are regularly exploring STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) concepts and turning them into STEAM (adding the A for Arts) concepts. Students in my classes use Virtual Reality headsets to practice performing their music to fight off performance anxiety. We study the effects of music and vibration on plant growth. We’ve even designed experiments for a zero-gravity parabolic flight. All of these music class units show students how music is interwoven into so many facets of our lives!
A St. Bruno student using a Virtual Reality Headset to practice for an upcoming performance.
Science and Technology Log
I will be aboard NOAA Ship Fairweatheras a NOAA Teacher at Sea. The Fairweather is a ship used to map the ocean in order to ensure safe navigation and commerce. The crew aboard the Fairweather collect data from sonar scans and echo sounders and then pass this information to NOAA cartographers who create updated nautical charts to support marine navigation. The data from the Fairweather is also used to study fishery habitats and marine ecosystems. The Fairweather is named after the tallest peak in the Fairweather Mountain Range, Mount Fairweather, located in Alaska’s Glacier Bay National Park.
NOAA Vessel Fairweather (Photo Credit: Hydrographic Survey Tech Kevin Lally)
Personal Log: Why would a music teacher be selected for this program?
I enjoy showing students connections between music and other subjects. I am a master at finding similarities between many areas of STEM fields and music concepts. The students I teach love learning about these connections and they often find inspiration to research and dig deeper into these experiences. My goal as a teacher is to help the students I work with find their spark – I know very few students I teach will become professional musicians, but I can help give them the skills they need to be successful in whatever area they choose. I can also help them to find their interests through experiences such as this one. I love to open the students’ eyes to life outside of our classroom and community and inspire them to make a difference.
Lisa Werner executing a student-designed experiment in zero gravity through the Space for Teachers Embedded Teacher Program (Photo Credit: Steve Boxall)
I anticipate using this program in a few different ways – I want to share the information we learn through the experience with the students. I plan to share the data with the students, and have them sonify the data into a musical composition. I want to record the sounds of the ship and the life at sea for the students to use in their musical composition recordings. While I am on the experience, I will also find similarities between the research going on and musical concepts I teach in the classroom, drawing comparisons between concepts students know from my class to help them understand what happens on a research vessel. Additionally, I want students to be aware of the missions of NOAA, and the research being done. I want to inspire curiosity in the students and to empower students to make changes to help the health of the Earth’s water. Seeing the important research being done will encourage students to look at how water is important in their own lives, even living a distance away from oceans.
I am excited to be selected for the Teacher at Sea program and have the opportunity to learn about bathymetry and oceanography careers. I can’t wait to share all that I learn with my students. Thank you to NOAA for giving me this opportunity to experience hydrography research in Alaska. I know that the students I work with and our community will be very inspired to learn more about the ocean!
Mission: Hydrographic Survey of the Northern Gulf of Mexico
Geographic Area: Galveston, Texas
Date: June 8, 2024
Weather Data from the “Bridge” (My Deck):
Latitude: 37.8715 º N” Longitude: 122.2730 º W 65º Fahrenheit Wind: 11 kn, Wind direction: SW Air pressure: 1011 hPa Humidity: 70%, Sunny Rainfall: 0 mm
Introduction
Hello! My name is Jacqueline Omania and I am preparing to join a hydrographic project on NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson originating out of Galveston, Texas on June 17th.
I am a fifth grade teacher at Oxford Elementary School in Berkeley, California. This coming year will be my 20th year teaching. I have a masters degree in Environmental Education and teach with a strong emphasis on outdoor education in my curriculum. Prior to being in the classroom, I founded the first school Farm and Garden Program in our district. Now, every school in our district has a school garden program staffed by a garden teacher. I am known at school as the teacher who takes her students on the most field trips; we go sailing, cycling, hiking, climbing, camping and dragon boating. Since my students do not all have the same access to outdoor experiences, I believe it is essential to experience the natural world as part of school. My goal is for students to fall in love with nature and, thus, be inspired to work together to protect it.
One special feature of my class is our success as a Zero Waste Classroom. For most of the last 9 years, we have made less than a quart of landfill waste for the entire school year. I weave a theme of sustainability into all the academic content areas all year. My students learn to be activists and to use their studies to make a difference. Recently (after 3 years of activism) my students have successfully persuaded our school district to switch from throwaway paper and plastic foodware to reusable foodware for school meals.
Landfill Waste for the ‘23-’24 School Year Photo credit: Jacqueline Omania; student photos courtesy of Oxford Elementary
Outside of teaching in the classroom, I run a local chapter of a youth group called Heirs to Our Ocean through which I continue to mentor my former elementary students in their middle and high school years. Currently, I have two students on our city’s Climate Commission, occupying the first-ever youth seats.
In my free time, I am learning sailing (started in 2022)—both locally in the San Francisco Bay and in the Caribbean, where I have roots. I am also fascinated by Polynesian wayfinding and the journey of Hokulea (a Polynesian double-hulled voyaging canoe which is circumnavigating the Earth to raise awareness of the importance of the ocean) and have been eagerly reading to learn more. I will definitely be working on knots and the star compass while at sea. Besides sailing, I love to be outdoors and enjoy long walks, gardening and trips to local beaches. I have two grown children—Mehrnush (PhD student in Geography at UCLA) and Farhad (working in a restaurant and reflecting on his next steps); I enjoy being a mother of grown children.
Caribbean Sea/ Photo credit: Jacqueline Omania; Hokulea photo Polynesian Voyaging Society Farhad and Mehrnush
Personal Log: Why am I doing this?
I love being at sea. I was fortunate to spend 100 days on Semester at Sea in my second year of college, sailing on the SS Universe from Seattle, Washington around the world to return to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. This experience gave me a strong experience in shipboard life, a deep respect for the ocean and a glimpse at many diverse cultures around the world. I continue to love exploration and marine science and work to weave ocean literacy into my classroom curriculum to cultivate students who will be inspired to learn more and care to protect our ocean.
I am excited to be selected for the Teacher at Sea program and have the opportunity to assist with hydrographic research, as well as learn about marine science careers. I can’t wait to share all that I learn with my students. They will be interested in how hydrographic surveys work, since we already study charts of the SF Bay. They will also be interested in jobs at sea since many absolutely love our class sail on the Pegasus and want to know more about ways to be at sea. Thank you to NOAA for giving me this opportunity to experience work in marine science in the Gulf of Mexico. This part of the world is new to me and I am very curious about what wildlife I will see.
Science and Technology Log
NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson is a 208 ft. long hydrographic survey ship that maps the ocean floor to help maritime commerce, to preserve the coastline and to better understand the marine environment. It uses side scan sonar to create images of the seafloor that help locate marine hazards as well as multibeam echo sounders to find accurate depths and create detailed images of the sea floor. The ship became part of the NOAA fleet in 2003 and was named after President Thomas Jefferson because he created the Survey of the Coast in 1807. NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson has also responded after hurricanes—as well as after other catastrophic events like the Deep Horizon oil spill—to determine when it is safe again for ships to travel.
NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson. Photo courtesy of NOAA.
Please write if you have comments and questions and I’ll respond to you!
Mission: Hydrographic Survey of the Pribilof Islands
Geographic Area of Cruise: Pribilof Islands, Alaska
Date: July 27, 2023
Weather Data
Location: 55°54.11’N, 168°33.69W
Outside temperature: 11°C
Water temperature: 10.5°C
True Winds: 8nm, 211.9°
Skies: Overcast and Foggy
Visibility: 5nm
Sea Wave: 1 ft
Swell Wave: 2 ft
Science and Technology Log
The entire survey department has diverse backgrounds rooted in Science and each took different paths before coming to NOAA Ship Fairweather. Their studies in college include Geography, Quantitative Geoscience, Environmental Science, Economic Environmental Policy, Space Studies, Physical Oceanology, Applied Math, Computer Science and Marine Biology.
I wanted to highlight two people in the survey department who I worked with over the last 3 weeks.
Alex Dawson, Physical Scientist, Project Manager for the Pribilof Islands
Alex studied in one of the only hydrographic programs in the U.S. for undergraduates, at the College of Charleston. This is a unique program where students gain technical, practical and research knowledge and experience. Alex obtained bathymetric data and translated this into a research project. She presented this information at a professional conference, which put her ahead of many of her peers.
In her current job at NOAA headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, Alex is a Physical Scientist and a Project Manager. She plans projects for the entire U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and planned this Hydrographic Survey of the Pribilof Islands; she is aboard NOAA Ship Fairweather for their Pribilof Island Surveys . Each project takes about 2 to 6 months to plan depending on the complexity of the specific area being surveyed. Alex and her team do this by looking at the environment of the area, known features and existing charts. She develops environmental compliance best management practices so the survey does not impact the local ecosystem or marine life. Any features that are on existing charts such as obstructions, shipwrecks, rocks, or pipelines will be included in the project’s GIS files, and she determines if those features need to be investigated more thoroughly. This is all put together in a project package that is sent to the hydrographic ship– the footprint of the survey, any special features that need to be investigated, environmental compliance information, and any previous surveys in the last 20 years that may abut or overlap the planned survey area. Alex also does hurricane response work; if a hurricane hits a port, then the port will be closed until a federal hydrographic survey comes in to make sure it is safe for commerce. This is done as fast as possible, sometimes within 24 hours.
Which projects get fulfilled depends on the navigational risks of each area. Alex explains: “Coast Survey determines which areas to survey within U.S. ports, harbors, and approaches, as well as U.S. waters more broadly, by using the risk-based Hydrographic Health Model. The model assesses risks to surface navigation from charted bathymetry and features, including both the likelihood of a risk (e.g. traffic density, known hazards to navigation, reported ship groundings, etc.) and the consequence of a risk (e.g. proximity to search and rescue stations, proximity to public beaches, reefs, or marine sanctuaries, etc.). A resulting accuracy factor indicates the urgency (or lack thereof) for new hydrographic surveys.”
In Alex’s own words: “I love mapping in general, but I think it’s really cool to map in an area such as the Pribilofs… to uncover what hasn’t been uncovered before – mapping where no one has mapped before.”
Alex Dawson aboard NOAA Ship Fairweather en route to the Pribilof Islands
Sara Ober, Hydrographic Survey Technician
Sara got her B.S. in Marine Biology from Texas A & M University. After college, she worked for 5 years in Alaska as a fisheries observer contracted through NOAA through the North Pacific Observer Program. She worked on smaller fishing boats to observe what they were catching and when. The calendar of the fishing seasons and quotas in Alaskan waters are mostly federally managed and she would observe the catch at the beginning, close and during the season and pass on that data to the Alaska Fisheries Science Center in Seattle.
Sara then became a survey technician with NOAA. At the time, hydrography was new to Sara, but she is currently in her second year and likes training newer survey technicians on how to precisely look at the data and check for accuracy. Every morning she makes sure everything is ready for the plan of the day in terms of surveying, ensures the processing from the night before is ready and addresses anything if needed. She likes helping others learn and members of the survey team often go to her for advice.
In the future, Sara is hoping to combine her marine biology and hydrography experiences together and do benthic habitat map work. The benthic zone is the ecological region found at the bottom of a body of water. Sara would like to use sonar data to see what the seafloor looks like and why fish live there, as well as predict where they migrate to.
In Sara’s own words:
“I really like hydrography, the technical part is fun and new to me. I wasn’t expecting to like it as much as I do. Being able to visually see something is very cool to me and having such an impact on things. We can see our direct impact when we submit our data and later on when nautical charts get updated. It’s like, this is what I did and here’s the final product.
I love being in Alaska. I like working on a ship, I think it’s fun.”
Sara Ober working in the Survey Department aboard NOAA Ship Fairweather
Personal Log
We will be arriving at port tomorrow in Dutch Harbor and my time on NOAA Ship Fairweather is coming to a close. I want to thank the entire crew for showing and explaining to me the amazing work they do and making me feel at home. The crew is highly skilled, patient, respectful and willing to pretty much do anything to help the mission. Their commitment to Science, to NOAA and to each other is commendable.
I especially want to thank LT Taylor Krabiel and Commanding Officer CMD Meghan McGovern for their hospitality, guidance, continuous check-ins, and making the most of my time.
