91传媒 geosciences faculty participates in national oceanographic research cruise
Contact: Sasha Steinberg
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥 A faculty member of Mississippi State鈥檚 Department of Geosciences has been selected to participate in a University National Oceanographic Laboratory System (UNOLS) Chief Scientist Training Cruise Program.
Under the guidance of senior scientists in the oceanographic research community, 91传媒 Assistant Professor of Geology Adam D. Skarke is participating in a two-week cruise designed to train early-career scientists to conduct research using the UNOLS fleet of oceanographic research vessels and submersibles.
Skarke said advising participants on best practices relating to scientific communications and public outreach also is among the cruise鈥檚 primary goals.
鈥淭here is a real emphasis on training scientists to communicate what they鈥檙e doing and why it is relevant without being too verbose or technical,鈥 Skarke said. 鈥淪o much of what I do research-wise is publicly funded, so it鈥檚 important to be able to explain to policymakers and other government officials why my research is significant and worthy of funding.鈥
Over the course of the cruise, Skarke and his 23 fellow early career scientists will be using manned and robotic submarines to study seafloor methane seeps that Skarke helped discover in 2013.
Skarke said use of telepresence, an audio and聽video聽satellite link聽between聽the聽research聽vessel and shore, will facilitate conversations between scientists on the ship and those participating remotely on land.
鈥淯sing a live video feed, those of us at sea will be able to contact experts who can tune in and offer insight. We also can share our expertise in real time with members of the general public,鈥 Skarke explained.
Earlier this summer, Skarke was one of two individuals named chief scientist, a designation involving the coordination of cruise logistics prior to departure.
Before joining 91传媒, Skarke gained experience in planning and leading research cruises as a physical scientist for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration鈥檚 Office of Ocean Exploration and Research.
Now in his third year at the state鈥檚 leading university, Skarke has broad research interests in the fields of marine geology and geophysics, including marine geology, coastal morphodynamics, sedimentology, stratigraphy and seafloor gap seep systems.
He also serves as a research fellow for the university鈥檚 Geosystems Research Institute, where he worked as a postdoctoral associate prior to becoming an assistant professor in the Department of Geosciences.
Along with serving on various committees within the College of Arts and Sciences and its Department of Geosciences, Skarke has served as a judge for the university鈥檚 Undergraduate and Graduate Research symposiums.
Originally from Austin, Texas, Skarke holds a bachelor鈥檚 degree in geology with honors from New York鈥檚 Colgate University, as well as master鈥檚 and doctoral degrees in geology from the University of Delaware.
For additional biographical information, visit .
Located in Hilbun Hall, the geosciences department offers courses and expertise in several areas of earth sciences, including climatology, geocognition, geography, geology, geospatial analysis and meteorology. For more on the department, telephone 662-325-3915 or visit .
91传媒 is Mississippi鈥檚 leading university, available online at .