NOAA Ship Pisces – Page 3 – NOAA Teacher at Sea Blog

July 23, 2025July 23, 2025

Sinh Nguyen: Big Ocean, Big Mission, July 21, 2025

NOAA Teacher at Sea

Sinh Nguyen

Aboard NOAA Ship Pisces

July 7, 2025 – July 24, 2025

Mission: Larval Bluefin Tuna Slope Survey

Geographic Area of Cruise: North Atlantic Ocean, Slope Sea

Date: 7/21/2025

Weather Data:

4:27 PM Eastern Time

screenshot from the "Windy" app, showing a map of wind direction and speed in the eastern United States and Atlantic Ocean. A white dot near the continental shelf east of Delaware marks Sinh's current location. The colors and wind marks indicate a storm over the ocean to the east. — Information source: Windy app

The current temperature is 26°C (°79F).

The wind speed is 270 knots (21mph). Source: Windy app.

Science Log

Mighty Primary scholars: Our mission has officially started! NOAA Ship Pisces sailed to an area of the ocean called Slope Sea. Slope Sea is what scientists use to describe a part of ocean here on the East Coast.

topographic and bathymetric map of the North Atlantic Ocean, including the Northeast Atlantic Coast, up through Canada, and part of Greenland. — *The Slope Sea is a region, or area, of the Northwest Atlantic Ocean. Photo credit: NOAA*

map of the northeast Atlantic Ocean color coded to show ocean temperatures. "Slope Sea" is identified offshore, east of Delaware and New Jersey. — *We’ve been sailing to areas with the best conditions for larval bluefin tuna to spawn, where larval bluefin tuna are born.* Each color represents water temperature. On the scale (right), from blue to red represents colder to hotter water temperature.

a man stands at the front of the mess hall (we can see the tables with condiment baskets) next to a large screen mounted on the wall, displaying a slide (version 1) — Chief Scientist Dave gave a presentation on the goals of our mission.

Activity: Let’s explore Slope Sea on Google Earth!

Click on this link: https://earth.google.com/web/@40,-68,7.90643423a,629.4080939d,35y,0h,0t,0r/data=CgRCAggBQgIIAEoNCP___________wEQAA?authuser=0
Search these coordinates: 40°N, 68°W
Click the “Ocean” option if you want to see more!

Remember, our mission is to survey (catch and identify) larval bluefin fish. Since one of our science members focuses on surveying seabirds, there are 8 of us left for work. We are divided into two equal teams for the shifts, or watches.

Sunset Crew

This team works from the 3PM to 3AM watch. They get to see the sunset!

a man standing at a work table in the wet lab — Chief Scientist Dave

close up view of a woman flipping through a book — Autumn

a woman sitting at a desk with multiple computer monitors — Betsy

Sinh, in his Teacher at Sea t shirt and a backwards baseball cap, holds up a small sample vial and smiles for the camera — Myself

Sunrise Crew

This team works from the 3AM to 3PM watch. They get to see the sunrise!

group photo of four women in matching light-blue t shirts on deck (Version 1) — Sunrise crew is representing! Photo credit: Allison Black

group photo of four women in matching light-blue t shirts on deck (Version 2) — Sunrise crew is representing! Photo credit: Allison Black

a woman poses for a photo with a safety skills dummy in the wet lab — Kristen

a woman kneeling on the deck next to a piece of scientific equipment looks up and smiles for a photo — Amanda

a woman in a hard hat and life vest crouches next to a suspended larval fish trap and a drifter, on the aft deck at night — Sarah

a woman rinses down a plankton net into a sieve in the wet lab — Chrissy

a woman stands at the rail on the flying bridge of NOAA Ship Pisces. She looks through a camera with a large, long lense. Words on top of the image read: "Seabird Crew. Allison surveys seabirds on the flying bridge, the highest point of NOAA Ship Pisces! She then identifies them for research."

Seabird Crew

Allison surveys seabirds on the flying bridge, the highest point of NOAA Ship Pisces! She then identifies them for research.

With Allison, watching for seabirds or marine animals!

Sinh stands at the alidade, an instrument mounted on a pillar on an upper deck of NOAA Ship Pisces. The sky and ocean are a bright blue, and there is a low line of clouds at the horizon. (version 1) — This tool is like binoculars.

Mighty Primary scholars: Here’s a math connection. How many hours are there in one shift? If we combine both shifts, what is the total number of hours?

hands use a squeeze bottle to fill a small sample vial; we see a microscope on the table in front of this person. Words on top of the imeage read: "We've all been coordinating (working together) for these four tasks to be done:"

We’ve all been coordinating (working together) for these four tasks to be done:

Computer for CTD and Data

a woman sits at a computer desk with multiple monitors; she looks up at one of the higher monitors, which is displaying four outdoor camera feeds

We look at CTD data. We use walkie-talkies to coordinate with deck crew and NOAA Corps Officers so that it is dropped into the sea. When it’s returned, we record data.

We then print out CTD information (remember conductivity, temperature, and depth) to label our bottles of samples.

Sinh sits at a computer desk next to a woman in a blue sweatshirt. they both look up at the computer monitors displaying video and data feeds. — Recording CTD data

Sinh sits at a computer desk next to a woman in a blue sweatshirt. Sinh looks ahead at a lower computer monitor. — Recording CTD data

We make sure all the data is saved and then backed up, or stored, so that other scientists can use them for more research.

Washing Bongo Nets

two crewmembers in hard hats and life vests stand around the retrieved bongo nets, which are splayed out on deck. It is nighttime. Words on top the image read: "After catching planktons (tiny fish and other small creatures), we wash the nets carefully, so we don’t lose any samples."

After catching planktons (tiny fish and other small creatures), we wash the nets carefully, so we don’t lose any samples.

Bongo nets return to deck.

Chrissy washed down plankton into a tray.

Preserving samples

close up view of a sample jar in someone's hands containing plankton suspended in solution; it is a bit out of focus. Words on top of the image read: We wash and store planktons in jars to keep them safe.

We wash and store planktons in jars to keep them safe.

Dave carefully washed plankton down to be preserved and then observed.

a woman wearing large orange overalls stands at a metal table in the wet lab, an empty sample jar in her hands. — Amanda stored collected plankton into jars, which are then studied and then saved for later research.

These bottles are stored in ethanol, which helps preserve (protect) the DNA of planktons.

fingers smooth out a printed label affixed to the white lid of a sample jar — We print CTD information from the computer to label collected samples.

Identification (ID)

We look closely and carefully at planktons’ physical properties to identify them.

a woman adjusts the lenses of a microscope at a lab bench — We use a **microscope** for this.

What is a microscope?

A microscope is a tool that allows small creatures or objects to be seen. Almost like looking through binoculars or a camera to zoom in.

view over a woman's shoulder as she flips through a guidebook. her phone is on the table next to the book, displaying an image of a plankton. — Autumn was observing and identifying what kinds of planktons we saw on the microscope.

view through a microscope of several types of fish larvae on a petri dish — Autumn was observing and identifying what kinds of planktons we saw on the microscope.

Sinh looks through a microscope on a bench. his Teacher at Sea hat is backwards so the rim stays out of the way. there is a pair of tweezers on the bench in front of him. — I had to pay close attention! I had to move the planktons around a lot using a tweezer (can you locate it in the picture?)

Sinh, in the foreground, leans over a tray holding tweezers in his right hand and a light cord in his left hand. in the background, Dave points at a guidebook laying open on a table next to a microscope, and speaks with another person who is mostly obscured by Sinh. — Pouring the samples into a tray helped us pick out certain plankton to observe. The light and the tweezer definitely helped!

Can you guess what we were looking at?

in the wet lab, Dave holds up a sample jar for two other science team members to look at. we see two additional people in the background, facing away from the camera. — Sometimes, when a scientist is really good at one task, he or she would stick to it throughout the entire shift.

You’ve learned about NOAA Corps Officers who work in the bridge and support our science missions. We’ve also been working closely with the deck crew to make our surveying possible.

close up view of a bulletin board. a nautical chart forms the background. five images have been posted to this section, labeled "Deck Dept." Their captions read: Chief Boatswain James "Boats" Walker, AB Brandon Wang, Freeman, AB Rodney English, and AB-F Todd Fatkin. — The deck crew helps the ship work safely. They make sure everything on deck working right.
Photo credit: NOAA Ship Pisces

view of the bongo nets lying folded flat on the aft deck of NOAA Ship Pisces; beyond, we can see the CTD rosette. the sky and water are bright blue. — Nets on deck

at night, three crewmembers wearing life vests lean over the railing. one holds a purple line (rope) attached to buoys and feeds it over the rail. — Nets on deck

view over multiple decks of the Pisces while it is in port; possibly over a small boat covered and in storage — They do things like drive small boats to and from the ship.

a pile of ropes on the gangway leading up to NOAA Ship Pisce — They do things like drive small boats to and from the ship.

A video of deck crew members making sure ropes were tied to the dock.

Personal Log

Right now, I’m writing to you from the flying deck, or the very top part of the ship.

The flying deck is a wide, open area where scientists can get a great view of the ocean, sky, and marine life.

This is part of an anemometer that measures wind speed and direction.

Allison gets very excited when she sees fish or seabirds! If we’re not with her on the flying bridge, she sends photos and videos:

A brown booby bird flying around NOAA Ship Pisces. Video credit: Allison Black

a dolphin leaping entirely above the water — Photo Credit: Allison Black, NOAA

a seabird grasps a piece of something (a fish?) in its bill as it swims along the ocean surface — Photo Credit: Allison Black, NOAA

a group of people on deck surrounded by life jackets and bagged survival suits; the drill has not begun yet — We spent more time practicing safety drills. It’s important that all crew members know about safety equipment.

We went over how to evacuate our staterooms in case there’s a fire and lots of smoke. This included hands-on practice. We were blindfolded to make it feel real!
Was scientist Allison able to evacuate safely?

view of the buffet bar in the mess hall; a line of people work on fixing their plates — Good healthy food is super important on a ship! We eat three meals a day in the mess (kitchen). There are continental foods, fruits, and drinks we can enjoy all day and night. Do you recognize some of the food here? What is something you’d like to eat aboard?

Right now, because of my shift, I sleep in so I miss breakfast. I make it up by having a big lunch instead. Throughout the afternoon and night, I snack on lots of vegetables and fruits.

The stewards in our mission cook and prepare all the delicious food for everyone. They make sure the scientists and crew stay strong and healthy by serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They work in the kitchen (remember: called the galley or mess).

Our Chief Steward Jean and Steward Mo.
Enjoying an ice cream social.
Crew members hang out in the galley, or kitchen.
Jean and Mo preparing our dinner, listening to awesome music.
Crew members lining up for lunch.
A riddle on screen while we wait in line. Can you solve it?
My colorful meal!
Can’t forget the hot sauce.

Did you know?

There are 15 different types, or species, of tuna that live in all the oceans of the world! Some are tiny… and some are giants (as you know)!

Here are just a few types of tuna!

Bluefin Tuna

The biggest! They can weigh over 1,000 pounds. Found in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans

Yellowfin Tuna

Named for its bright yellow fins. Super fast swimmers. Popular in sushi!

Skipjack Tuna

Small but speedy. Most common in canned tun. Has stripes on its belly

Albacore Tuna

Known as “white tuna.” Has long fins. Also used in canned tuna

Bigeye Tuna

Got its name from its large eyes. Loves deep, cooler waters. Fished for sushi and sashimi

Now, if you’d like, try this activity: Compare and contrast two different types of tuna fish!

empty venn diagram circles, titled Venn Diagram Sorting — *Pick two types of tuna. Name them on each circle. Write or draw the differences (outside) or similarities (overlap, inside). Resource credit: Sinh Nguyen*

July 18, 2025July 23, 2025

Sinh Nguyen: What’s the Water Telling Us? July 15, 2025

NOAA Teacher at Sea

Sinh Nguyen

Aboard NOAA Ship Pisces

July 7, 2025 – July 24, 2025

Mission: Larval Bluefin Tuna Slope Survey

Geographic Area of Cruise: North Atlantic Ocean, Slope Sea

Date: July 15, 2025

Weather Data:

6:29 PM Eastern Time

screenshot of an app on a phone showing a map of the coastline around the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, with white lines indicating direction and speed of wind. temperatures are listed for the following cities on the map: Virginia Beach (82 degrees), Norfolk (82), Newport News (80), Poquoson (80), Cape Charles (80) — The current temperature is 27°C (80°F).
The wind speed is 6 knots. Source: Windy app.

Science Log

Uplift Education, Mighty Primary students: Ahoy from the sea! We’ve set sail this morning to Newport, Rhode Island. There’s a port there that our ship will dock at. NOAA Ship Pisces has been sailing smoothly, or without any issues.

distant view of a lighthouse surrounded by water, seen from the deck of NOAA Ship Pisces. the sky is mostly cloudy and the water is calm. — We spotted a lighthouse! Did you know that lighthouses were made to help ships travel safely? They shine bright light at night to warn sailors about dangerous rocks, reefs, or shorelines. They’re almost like traffic signals for boats.

Sinh, wearing a long-sleeve shirt and shorts, poses for a photo on the aft deck of NOAA Ship Pisces. We see upper decks and empty trawl net spools behind him. He clutches a laptop under one arm. — It’s colder inside the Lab Room to make sure the computers don’t overheat. I’m typing this post on one of the deck tables. It feels amazing with the ocean view and breeze.

Today, I’m introducing you to a special instrument, or tool, that helps us learn about sea water. It’s called a CTD instrument.

CTD stands for Conductivity-Temperature-Depth. Video credit: NOAA

The CTD is very important for science missions at sea. Do you remember the goal, or purpose, of our mission? Here’s a hint….

magnified image of a larval bluefin tuna. it is mostly white, with a large eye and just some patches of yellow and blue coloring. — Photo Credit: Chrissy Hernandez (one of our scientists), Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Yes, that’s right. We’re surveying, which means collecting and studying, baby bluefin tuna (larvae). The CTD will help us learn about the sea water where we find the larvae. Like how warm the water is and what it’s made of.

Conductivity tells us what’s in the water, like salt. Salt helps electricity move through water. If the water has more salt, that means it has higher conductivity.

Temperature tells us how warm or cold the water is. Some sea animals like warm water and some like cold water.

a bluefin tuna swimming underwater — Bluefin tuna larvae like warmer water, so that means grown-up bluefin tuna swim a long way to find warm water to lay eggs. The area where they lay eggs in are called spawning areas. Photo credit: NOAA

annotated illustration of the life stages of a bluefin tuna chasing their preferred foods. 1) Egg and Larva: 48 to 72 hours, droplet of oil. 2) Larva: 14 days, copepods and cladocerans (marine plankton). 3) Larva: 20 to 25 days, piscivore: larvae of tuna and other species. 4) Juvenile: from 25 days on, fish and cephalopods. 5) Adult: 4 to 6 years, fish and cephalopods — The life cycle of bluefin tuna. Photo credit: Planet Tuna

Depth tells us how deep the water is. The deeper you go, the darker and colder it gets, so we have find the depth where temperature and conductivity are just right for bluefin tuna larvae.

school of bluefin tuna underwater, as seen from underneath — This information helps scientists learn the physical properties of water where bluefin tuna larvae are found. This is important because larvae need just the right kind of living conditions to grow and survive. Photo credit: Discover Wildlife

By using the CTD, scientists can figure out where the best places are for them to live. This helps protect their habitat and make sure their population can last a long time. It also helps us find them next time, knowing where to come back to find them.

view of a scientific apparatus containing a probe and a ring of water sampling bottles as it is lowered by a winch over the side of a research vessel — During this mission, we’ll be using the CTD to sample, or study, the water. This requires a big crane like what you see at a construction site! Photo credit: NOAA

The CTD is connected to computers in our Dry Lab. This means we can see water information live, or real-time.
The CTD (Conductivity, Temperature, and Depth) apparatus.

Sinh, wearing his Teacher at Sea baseball cap backward, sits at a computer desk containing five monitors and several keyboards. He faces a computer screen. — **Learning how to read data, or information, from the CTD!**

Personal Log

There’s been plenty of time to review, practice, and set up equipment for our mission. Here are some updates.

Do you remember the drifters from our last post? Well, they’re finished! Look at the photos below. These traps will be attached to the drifters. The drifters will be thrown into the ocean. The light will attract bluefin tuna larvae and then trap them in the net. Each drifter also has a GPS so we know where they are always. Here, scientist Kristen was making sure the nets stay in place.

Kristen adjusts a trap
Larval fish trap
Two larval fish traps
Discussing the trap design

Two women sit on opposite sides of a wooden table on an outer deck of NOAA Ship Pisces. There is a canvas shade cover overhead. The table contains a laptop, a book, some sweaters, and some rope. The sky is blue with some clouds, and the water seems very still. Black barrels line the edge of the deck. — Scientists Chrissy and Sarah were helping me review this blog post. I wanted to make sure I can explain everything to you correctly. All scientists have been helpful. They’ve been explaining a lot of scientific words and information that I don’t know.

view of the isolated conductivity, temperature, and depth probe resting on deck (with two hands reaching in from the right side of the photo) near the bundled up netting from the bongo nets. — Scientist Betsy was working on a part of the CTD (right). Bongo nets (left) are also in this picture. They are shaped like a pair of bongo drums and used to catch very small sea creatures.

close up view of a cloth-bound book titled Development of Fishes of the Mid-Atlantic Bight: An Atlas of Egg, Larval, and Juvenile Stages, Volume V, Chaetodontidae through Ophidiidae. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. — Scientists were walking me through books that scientists have created to identify sea animals.

close up view of a page in a book showing rows of illustrations of larval bluefin tuna at successive stages — Here’s scientific information about Atlantic bluefin tuna larvae. They’re called Thunnus thynnus.

Scientists Amanda and Allison were observing birds.

view of a lounge room from one of the reclining chairs. a woman sits with a laptop in a different reclining chair. there is a TV mounted on the wall above a sound system. — In the lounge room with Autumn, one of the scientists who will be on 3PM – 3 AM duty with me once we begin our survey. Here, crew members can watch TV, read books, or work on their laptops during free time.

Tomorrow, there’s a full day of practicing emergency drills. I’m about to sleep early to rest and to feel better from sea sickness. The ship’s been rocking back and forth so it’s time to turn off my laptop for the day!

Did you know?

Dave stands next to a drifter comprising a tall metal pole and four small canvas sails. He ties a line onto the central pole. Small round floats are visible on the deck nearby. — Chief Scientist Dave was tying each drifter to a float.

a close up view of hands tying a purple rope to a small round orange float, about the size of a cantaloupe — To make sure each drifter is tied securely to a float, we tied a special knot called the bowline knot.

a woman bends down to tie a purple rope to a small round orange float; we can see the spool for the rope resting on the deck nearby — People have been using this knot for a very long time. It was confusing for me, so Dave and Kristen gave me plenty of chances to practice!

two orange buoys tied to purple ropes with bowline knots — Can you find some rope and try to tie a bowline knot?

Here’s a helpful video! Video credit: Youtuber NightHawkInLight

Here’s a fun way to memorize it!

“The rabbit comes out of the hole,
Goes around the tree,
And back down the hole.”

July 18, 2025July 24, 2025

Sinh Nguyen: Scientists who SEA, July 14, 2025

NOAA Teacher at Sea

Sinh Nguyen

Aboard NOAA Ship Pisces

July 7, 2025 – July 24, 2025

Mission: Larval Bluefin Tuna Slope Survey

Geographic Area of Cruise: North Atlantic Ocean, Slope Sea

Date: July 14, 2025

Weather Data:

1:32 PM Eastern Time

Norfolk, Virginia

The temperature is 32°C (89°F)

Career Spotlight

Uplift Education, Mighty K-12 scholars: Did you know some people have jobs where they explore the ocean, study sea animals, and help take care of our planet?

Some of you, even those already thinking ahead in middle or high school, might be wondering what kinds of jobs or studies you can pursue one day. Well, today we’re going to meet some real-life ocean heroes: the scientists on the science crew who are sailing aboard NOAA Ship Pisces for the larval bluefin tuna mission. They come from all over the United States and are experts at what they do.

Why are they awesome? If you’d like: go ahead and think, share, and then draw or write your responses on this digital whiteboard:

https://www.whiteboard.chat/board/963e0100-9dc6-4679-85ff-2116fdc539d1-pgNum-1

Based on some of your responses… these scientists are curious like inquirers, hardworking and knowledgeable, and they show they are caring by helping protect sea life. They are communicators who share what they know, and courageous learners who explore the unknown! Now, let’s learn more about our science crew to find out how you might be a sea explorer one day!

* Note: I’ll be updating this post throughout the cruise. These interviews were rephrased to fit into the blog. For full interview responses, please click here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bvKvswISdjFMMqG7QNoc8FDox74Ysey-Xp2ERMLvajc/edit?usp=sharing

a view from an upper deck of NOAA Ship Pisces over the bow. Four women stand at the rail, leaning on their elbows, looking ahead as the ship exits the port of Norfolk. We can see tall buildings and other large ships off to each side. The words Meet the Scientists! are imposed in the middle of the image.

Meet the Scientists!

Hi, I’m David Richardson! I live in South Kingstown, Rhode Island, but grew up in Sierra Madre, California. I studied Natural Resources at Cornell University, then went to grad school at the University of Miami. I’m the chief scientist on this cruise, which means I help plan how we collect data to meet our science goals. My research focuses on larval fish, fish migrations, and how ocean conditions affect fisheries. My favorite marine animal’s the sail fish. They’re beautiful at every stage of life! I love science because it helps us make the world better. In fisheries science, our work helps keep fish populations healthy so people can continue to enjoy fishing and have access to food.

Fun fact: My first research was on baby eels near Barbados. I discovered and illustrated six types of eel larvae that were new to science! That experience showed me how much of the ocean is still a mystery. My advice: Pay attention in math and writing but also get outside! Observing nature is one of the best ways to become a great scientist.

photo of a woman in a float coat, black overalls, a beanie, aand workboots standing on an upper deck of the ship; we can see part of the bow, calm seas, and a cloudy sunset in the distance

My name’s Allison Black! I’m from eastern Connecticut and often at sea. I studied Zoo and Wildlife Biology at Malone University and worked briefly as a zookeeper before focusing on ornithology. My favorite (yet unseen) marine animal is the Wandering Albatross. They can travel over 75,000 miles a year! On this project, I’m surveying seabirds and marine mammals. I love the ocean’s mystery and the chance to keep learning through different cruises. Fun fact: by year’s end, I’ll have 500 sea days! My advice: stay flexible, stay curious, and seize opportunities you didn’t know existed.

I’m Chrissy Hernández! I grew up in New Jersey and now live in Oxford, England. I earned my bachelor’s from Columbia University and my PhD from the MIT-WHOI Joint Program in Oceanography. I’ve worked as a researcher at Cornell and Oxford. I’m a population ecologist who studies biological oceanography and theoretical ecology. My favorite marine animal is the bluefin tuna! Aboard the ship, I help deploy plankton nets, identify tuna larvae, and guide sampling efforts. I love the ocean’s vastness and mystery, and how tiny organisms like phytoplankton produce half the world’s oxygen. Fun fact: I once shaved my head and tossed the hair overboard during an equator-crossing tradition!

Hi, I’m Autumn Moya! I’m from Colorado and now live in Silver Spring, Maryland. I studied Biology at Western Colorado University with a focus on environmental biology, and I’m finishing my Master’s in Coastal Science at the University of Southern Mississippi. My research models how offshore development might affect the Atlantic surf clam fishery. I’m currently a John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellow with NOAA’s Office of Marine and Aviation Operations. I support communications, policy, and events. I’m excited to join research cruises like this one. My favorite marine animal is the cuttlefish. Did you know they can change color as fast as a blink? I’ve always loved the ocean, even growing up in a landlocked state. Since finishing my bachelor’s, I’ve lived in seven states! My advice to future scientists: stay curious and never hesitate to reach out. Science is for everyone!

Hi, I’m Amanda Jacobsen! I’m from Rhode Island. I studied Environmental Studies at Connecticut College and now I’m working on my master’s in Marine Biology at UMass Dartmouth. On this cruise, I help deploy nets and collect seawater to study the carbon in it. My favorite sea creature is the lumpfish. Look it up, it’s cool! I’ve worked on over 80 boats, and I love biology because it lets me explore the hidden world of ocean life.

Sometimes only visible under a microscope.

My advice to you: Stay curious and try new things, you might discover something amazing or meet someone who inspires you!

a woman kneels on the aft deck on one knee, both hands on a piece of scientific equipment (maybe a water profiler) resting on deck. she pauses what she is doing to turn and smile for the camera.

Hi! My name is Kristen Walter and I live in Miami, Florida. I graduated from the College of William and Mary with a master’s in marine science. I now work for the University of Miami/CIMAS studying coral reef fishes and bluefin tuna! My favorite marine animal is probably the nudibranch! I’m here on this cruise to help locate larval bluefin tuna, set and recover nets, preserve and identify fish, and test out new methods of capture using light traps. A fun fact about me is that I got to participate in the Aquarius Reef Base Underwater Habitat in Key Largo when I was in grad school. If you’d like to get into marine science, look for summer internships. Many places offer programs for high school students. Get your feet wet. Anything is possible!

Personal Log

Over the weekend, we moved back onto NOAA Ship Pisces. It felt nice to return after a few nights in a hotel while crew members got everything ready for our big mission.

view of computer screens, keyboards, mice on a wooden desk in an interior room of the ship — When we’re not setting things up, we spend time working in a place called the dry lab. The dry lab has computers, machines, and tables for us to study the ocean data we collect during the mission. I’ve been using this time to write my blog!

broader view of the dry lab: metal tables, a wooden desk, computers, computer chairs, two unidentifiable people sitting, facing away from the camera — Many scientists also bring their laptops, journals, or books to read or work on. It’s a quiet place where people come and go, but when it’s time to work, everyone jumps in to help!

three women - one seated at a desk, two standing - are in discussion. the seated woman holds up a piece of plastic film with her left hand. — Scientists Kristen, Chrissy, and Sarah are making sure the light traps for our drifters (for catching fish) are ready.

Just like we practice fire drills and safety rules at school, there are also important rules and practice drills in case of emergencies.

two people walk through a hallway of the ship toward an exit to an outer deck — Staying safe is super important when you’re out at sea.

a NOAA Corps Officer (in blue uniform) stands at the front of the mess hall and holds a breathing apparatus up; it blocks the view of his face. we can see the chair legs are capped in cut tennis balls to prevent them from sliding — Lieutenant Musick, one of the operations officers, is giving us safety training. He’s showing us how to use an EEBD (emergency escape breathing device).

a group of people stand outside on the aft deck, surrounding a NOAA Corps Officer in a blue uniform using his hands to illustrate a point — We were given a tour of places to know for emergencies. All crews were involved including members from science, NOAA Corps, engineer, and deck teams pictured here

a piece of paper attached to a door with a magnet. the paper reads: TAS Nguyen, Sinh, and then lists three sets of muster locations for Fire & Emergency, Abandon Ship, and Mariner Overboard. The three scenarios also include depictions of the corresponding morse code, shown as boxes or rectangles — Outside of each stateroom, or everyone’s rooms, there is information on where you report to and what your role is during emergencies. It’s a good idea to study this information!

Sinh (right) and a woman (left) pose for a selfie with a dummy used in safety exercises — With our floaty rescue dummy!

Safety first! I need to make sure I can stay afloat in case I ever have to evacuate into the water.

I tried on an immersion suit, or “Gumby suit,” to make sure I can float in water. It’s also designed to keep people warm in the water in case they have to abandon ship or go into the water.

Sinh, wearing his Teacher at Sea baseball cap, poses for a photo - making a shasta sign with his left hand and with his right, grasping the bagged survival suit and personal flotation device. he is standing on an outer deck. — So far, I’ve really enjoyed getting to know everyone on board. I’m a lot more familiar with everything around the ship, including where all the rooms, crew members, and emergency equipment are. I’m feeling excited about our mission once we set sail.

Next time, I’ll be writing about a special tool we use called the CTD (Conductivity, Temperature, and Depth), which helps us learn more about the ocean!

Did you know?

NOAA ships have their own weather stations right on board. That means they can measure wind, rain, temperature, and more. Even while they’re sailing across the ocean! What do you think scientists do with that information?

close up of a digital display mounted to a ceiling. currently it displays latitude and longitude — The station also shows navigational information, which gives everyone exact locations (coordinates) of the ship.

July 12, 2025July 23, 2025

Sinh Nguyen: A Change of Command, July 8, 2025

NOAA Teacher at Sea

Sinh Nguyen

Aboard NOAA Ship Pisces

July 7, 2025 – July 24, 2025

Mission: Larval Bluefin Tuna Slope Survey

Geographic Area of Cruise: North Atlantic Ocean, Slope Sea

Date: July 8, 2025

Weather Data:

12:06 PM Eastern Time

Currently, the temperature is 28.9°C (84°F). The wind speed is 10 knots.

Career Log

Uplift Education, Mighty Primary scholars: Howdy from the sea! Mr. Nguyen here. I hope you’re enjoying your summer (and reading lots of books). Yesterday, I moved onto NOAA Ship Pisces. It was a long day at the port meeting everyone and learning the rules.

view of NOAA Ship Pisces in port, as seen from the dock well ahead. also along the dock are a truck, some dumpsters, a large spool - various equipment involved in loading the vessel — *I arrived early morning at the port in Norfolk, Virginia*

Right away, everyone made sure I felt comfortable, safe, and prepared for the sail.

On the ship are the following crews, or teams: NOAA Corps, deck department, engineering, survey, stewards, electronics, and scientists – which I’m a part of. Excitingly, there was a Change of Command ceremony, a special event when one commanding officer (CO) gives the ship to a new one. So, in honor of this celebration, I’ll be dedicating this post to the ceremony and to the career stages of NOAA Corps officers!

NOAA stands for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. They study and protect the ocean, weather, and animals.

Uplift Education, Mighty Primary scholars, what kind of animals do you think NOAA study in the ocean and in the sky? Let’s think, act them out, and draw! If you’d like, ask your parents to post your work in the comments!

A NOAA Corps officer is like a scientist and a ship captain. They wear uniforms and lead missions (special tasks) on ships. We respectfully address an officer by his/her rank or ship position. Yesterday, I got to see a Change of Command ceremony. That’s when one commanding officer (CO) finishes his/her job, and a new commanding officer (CO) takes over the ship. It’s kind of like picking and celebrating a new class leader. It shows respect, teamwork, and leadership.

view down (perhaps from the ship?) of a tent and chairs set up in the parking lock of the dock. We cannot see NOAA Ship Pisces, but another NOAA Ship, Ferdinand R. Hassler, is docked nearby and its name is clearly visible. — *NOAA Corps Officers and crew members set up the Change of Command ceremony.*

NOAA Corps outside NOAA Ship Pisces.

The ceremony took place outside Pisces. All officers wore white uniforms with badges and stripes that showed their rank (like how high their job is) and accomplishments (the amazing things they’ve done). Families, friends, and crew members said goodbye to the former CO and later cheered for the new CO. There were speeches and salutes to celebrate! After the event, there was time for lots of photos and personal congratulations.

The former CO and new CO saluting each other.

Sinh, wearing a Teacher at Sea t-shirt, stands for a photo next to the new commanding officer, in formal white uniform. they stand on deck in front of NOAA Ship Pisces, and we see the city of Norfolk in the distance. — The ceremony went great! The rain stopped and the weather was nice when everything started.

Seeing this ceremony was a great way to understand NOAA Corps officers and the importance of their work.

It takes a lot of practice and leadership skills to become a NOAA Corps officer! Here’s how it works:

Apply to join: https://www.omao.noaa.gov/noaa-corps
If accepted, go to Basic Training Academy as an Ensign.
Complete Basic Officer Training Class
Serve as a Junior Officer aboard a NOAA Ship
Show leadership, earn sea time, and complete more training.
Be promoted to Lieutenant Officer and you may be selected as an XO.
Get more leadership training and experience and you may be selected as a Commanding Officer (CO).

Can you list and write the steps someone takes to become a NOAA ship leader?

a flow chart with five empty steps connected by arrows — *Document source: Sinh Nguyen*

The NOAA Corps supports all crews on ship in many important ways. For the science crew, they make it possible for scientists to do their work safely and successfully on sea. Learning more about NOAA Corps makes us appreciate their incredible leadership and accomplishments!

In the classroom, how can you start developing your leadership skills? Just like NOAA Corps officers, we can show leadership skills in many ways. Every day is a chance to grow into a leader. Which learner profiles can we demonstrate to help others, take responsibility for our actions, and work together as a team? Go ahead and point to a trait that you can commit to for the new school year.

a diagram with an illustration of the globe in the center and 10 spokes leading out to images in circles. the spokes are labeled: inquirers, balanced, principled, caring, open-minded, communicators, reflective, risk taker, knowledgeable, thinkers. — These are International Baccalaureate (IB) attributes that help us become great leaders at Uplift Education, Mighty Primary. NOAA Corps officers show these traits when they lead their crew and support science missions on the ship. How can we practice these traits every day to grow as leaders? Photo credit: IB/PYP Website

Personal Log

There was so much to learn about crew members and rules, but everyone was so helpful. I felt like many of you have before, like a new student on the first day of school. A challenge was figuring out the layout, or set-up, of Pisces. At first, it felt like a maze as I was trying to figure out where to go and which rooms are in which deck. However, after asking for help, I was able to understand the layout better.

view of one of the ship's narrow hallways — *The hallways can be tight, but it taught me to be respectful and safe moving through a shared space.*

I really felt welcomed by my Chief Scientist, Dave Richardson, and by his science crew. The Chief Scientist is responsible for leading science research during this mission. In my next post, I’ll share more about the scientific work we’re doing at sea!

a group of four people walk across a brick-covered pathway through a park — *Some of us explored Norfolk, Virginia, as we walked to a restaurant for dinner. Downtown Norfolk is about a 15-minute walk from the dock, with a lot of beautiful ocean views and history.*

selfie photo (taken by Sinh) of six people on a dock; the four closest people are smiling for the camera and the two in the back seem to be looking elsewhere — Hanging out in Norfolk

view of city street. we can see an American flag on display. the sky is bright blue with some wispy clouds. — Norfolk Streets

photo of a large battleship, as seen from head of the bow. the water is very calm and there is a beautiful sunset. — Norfolk Streets

two women smile from a bench seat in a bar and hold up a piece of paper awarding a $15 prize — *At the restaurant, we played and placed 3^rd in a game of trivia.*

six people standing around on deck looking at large thick rope snaking all around; we can see the dockside area of Norfolk in the background, off ship — On deck on NOAA Ship *Pisces*

four people, two sitting in computer chairs and two leaning against nearby walls, look intently at a computer screen in the computer lab of the ship — *There were lots of opportunities to get to know the scientists, who are very supportive and friendly, just like all the crew members I’ve met so far!*

three people stand around some sort of equipment on board that has cross pieces, a mast of sorts, and canvas wings. Sinh is at right, and he and the woman in the center smile for the camera while another woman works on the equipment. — *We continued preparation. I’m excited to share more about this for the next post!*

Did You Know?

On NOAA ships, there are different names used for what we’re usually used to. For example:

Bedroom = stateroom

Bathroom = head

Floor = deck

Kitchen = galley

Dining Room = mess deck

Front of the house: Bow (front of the ship)

Back of the house: Stern (back of the ship)

view of a ship's stateroom containing two bunk beds (so, four berths total.) there is a locker room at the far side. each bed has navy bedding and brighter blue sliding curtains. — This is a photo of my stateroom (bedroom) on the ship. I share it with three other crew members. We all work at different times, so we have to be quiet and respectful so everyone can rest.

Learn more about NOAA Ship Pisces here: https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/technology/vessels/pisces/pisces.html

Explore previous research missions here:
https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/maps/ocean-exploration-data-atlas/

June 20, 2025July 18, 2025

Sinh Nguyen: Rooted in the Pacific, Sailing Toward Purpose, June 19, 2025

NOAA Teacher at Sea

Sinh Nguyen

Aboard NOAA Ship Pisces

July 7, 2025

Mission: Larval Bluefin Tuna Slope Survey

Geographic Area of Cruise: North Atlantic Ocean, Slope Sea

Today’s Date: June 19, 2025

Embarkation Date: July 7, 2025

Personal Introduction

Howdy from Fort Worth, Texas! My name’s Sinh Nguyen, and I’m a 2nd grade teacher at Uplift Education Mighty Preparatory.

I grew up in Aliso Viejo, California – bordered by Laguna Beach – along the southern Pacific Coast. Some of my favorite memories were made at its beaches: Catching our breaths while trailing down Laguna Beach’s infamous “Thousand Steps” for a workout; blasting music around San Clemente Beach’s firepits while huddling for bonfire warmth; and scrambling around with food trays at Dana Point’s Doheny Beach Park while searching for a picnic site.

Five members of Sinh's family (possibly, a mother with four siblings?) sit in a line on rocks at the seashore for a family photo. Behind them, the ocean is a very bright teal color, and the sky is whitish-blue with cloud cover. — A family photo taken in Laguna Beach, California.

I then relocated to Los Angeles for my undergraduate studies at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where there was a travel-study opportunity in Honolulu, O‘ahu, for environmental conservation work. One day, at the top of the Diamond Head trail, I stared into the ocean. She was so mighty… and vast. So spectacular that everything else around seemed incomparable. The feeling was humbling; and it taught me to seek out beauty among the unknowns of our world’s depth. I reminded myself to not only learn more about the waters, but to share that experience with others.

Sinh, clutching a water bottle, poses in the corner of this view for the photo. He is surrounded by something like palmettos. Beyond, we see the lights of Manoa, the high rises of Waikiki, and a mountaintop (Diamond Head?). The sky is pink with dark clouds, just after sunset. — Me atop the Puʻu Pia Trail near the University of Hawai‘i, Mānoa, our travel-study host campus.

a collage of three photos: at the top, a group of students clusters on the side of the road overlooking the ocean; at lower left is signage on the road that is difficult to read; at the lower right is a beautiful cove. — Our group, following an exploration and clean-up project of protected lands in Honolulu.

Fast forward to today: I moved to Fort Worth in 2016 to complete teacher training through the urban education model with City Teaching Alliance and Johns Hopkins University. Since then, I’ve been working as a primary school teacher here. I’ve noticed that even though oceanography is slightly covered in our science curriculum, students are particularly fascinated by the sea and its inhabitants (e.g., they fall in complete silence during Finding Nemo).

While there are pockets of water in North Texas, most of my students have never experienced the coast. “Mr. Nguyen, how can SpongeBob SquarePants live under the sea?” “Do octopuses behave like Ursula?” and “Can we make sand angels like they do in Lilo and Stitch?” are oftentimes asked as I hook students with sea world experiences. These “tricky questions” – inquiries – are my motivation behind this excursion. This sail will help me contextualize and gain first-hand experience of oceanic research, while exposing students to world-renowned scientists. My students are feeling extra curious and excited about the trip’s findings. They predicted a lot of seasickness (as a first timer aboard a ship) and plenty of “fish [to catch and study] because the waters are warmer in the summer.”

As I’ve told my students, for the following weeks in sea, the mission is clear: “To research, to inform, and to find Nemo!” Photo courtesy of Uplift Education.

Preparing for Research at Sea

Howdy, from Los Angeles! After flying out of Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, I planned to take the Amtrak down to Orange County for a family reunion. But there’s been a delay on the train, which means time to kickstart my travel blog. This trip is a chance to revisit loved ones before sailing, as not everyone has been caught up to speed yet in this process.

For preparation, I’ve been studying more about NOAA Ship Pisces, internalizing excursion protocol, and learning more about larval bluefin tuna. Because there are physical demands to this expedition, I’ve been following a daily running and fitness regiment. Mentally, I’ve been maintaining an open mindset as we’re told throughout training: anything can go once in the ocean!

overhead view of NOAA Ship Pisces underway, leaving a bright blue wake against a dark blue sea — All to be aboard NOAA Ship *Pisces*! *(Photo credit: NOAA Ship Pisces Facebook page)*

On Monday, July 7^th, I’ll be joining NOAA Ship Pisces in Norfolk, Virginia. I’ll have the honor of attending her Change of Command Ceremony; and there were arrangements made to ensure a warm welcome from the crew. I’ll spend that first night acclimating to life at sea and familiarizing myself with the crew and daily operations. The fishery research will begin on the following Tuesday and involves me participating in shifts of up to 12 hours, assisting the science crew, and documenting the experience through weekly blog updates. Essentially, I am supporting the mission as directed by the scientists and officers.

So, as I prepare to sail the waves aboard NOAA Ship Pisces, I carry with me the excitement and wonder of the students and school community I serve. I hope to bring back a wave of discoveries that will inspire the next generation of scientists to explore, protect, and appreciate (and demystify) our waters.

Let’s drift out into the ocean!