Dive and Discover : Expedition 4 : Interview

Andy Bowen was in high school when he became interested in the ocean. He earned a mechanical and ocean engineering degree from the University of Rhode Island. Now 42 years old, Andy lives in Woods Hole, Massachusetts with his wife Linda, who is studying genetic counseling. He enjoys sailing and preparing with Linda for the birth of their first child, due in two months.

Question:
How did you get interested in this line of work?

Andy:
I knew in high school that I wanted to do something like this. I knew I wanted to work in the ocean, and I knew I wanted to work with robots. I lived in Montreal, so I didn’t grow up on the water, but I had a geography teacher who was a mariner and so some of his stories about life at sea got me interested in the ocean. Plus, I always liked to build things.

Question:
After you earned your college degree, what did you do before becoming an expedition leader?

Andy:
After college I started working for a company making robots for offshore oil and gas exploration. In 1985, five years after I graduated from college, I got the chance to work at WHOI to help build special vehicles like Jason.

Question:
Describe your role on this expedition. What does an Expedition Leader do?

Andy:
I help the scientists achieve their research objectives and teach them how the equipment works. We work together to try and make Jason and other vehicles do what the science party needs to accomplish their goals - to get a sample they want, or complete an experiment. For example, we’ll use the sonar on Jason to locate the vents. I help the scientists understand a little more about what the sonar can achieve, what its capabilities are.

Question:
What qualities are important in an expedition leader?

Andy:
A big part of it is being able to communicate well with people. It helps to understand something about the technology. And it helps to be able to anticipate problems before they occur.

Question:
What are some challenges of your job?

Andy:
Balancing the expectations of the scientists with the capabilities of the equipment. For example, a scientist may wish for Jason to carry more equipment than is possible because it is too big or too heavy (Jason can carry up to 150 pounds in the water). Then we’ll work together to modify their plans.

Question:
Since the scientists want to use Jason and the other vehicles as much as possible while we’re at sea, you work long days preparing and caring for the equipment. In the past, what’s the longest stretch you’ve worked without sleep?

Andy:
Thirty to 36 hours, something like that. It happens on occasion.

Question:
I understand that you are building a new Jason at Woods Hole. Tell me about that?

Andy:
This Jason has been in the field for about 10 years. Technology has changed a lot in that time, so even though this Jason has been upgraded and enhanced, we have reached the point where we need to redesign the vehicle using the latest technology. Jason II will have an improved capability in terms of manipulation - two manipulator arms instead of one - and a larger payload, meaning it will be able to carry more weight. We’ve got the design and a lot of the parts. We’ll begin putting the vehicle together this fall. It will be ready to go next summer.

Question:
When you’re not working on board the ship, what do you like to do?

Andy:
There isn’t much to do except sleep. Typically we have a lot to do, so we’re either working or sleeping. Oh, I’d like to say we do puzzles or watch movies, but there isn’t a whole lot of time for that.

Question:
What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever carried on Jason?

Andy:
An IMAX camera to film a shipwreck in Lake Ontario.