A question that has plagued scientists for generations is how to make complicated scientific research accessible to a public that might not be scientifically inclined.

After participating in a Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Student Experience Aboard Ships (STEMSEAS) research cruise, University of Delaware undergraduate Rachel Snyder gained an appreciation for how her other passion, art, can be a powerful tool for spreading the word and educating the public about marine science.

STEMSEAS aims to provide ship-based, 6- to 10-day exploratory experiences for undergraduate students from diverse backgrounds aboard National Science Foundation (NSF) research vessels. Students sail with experienced faculty and graduate student near-peer mentors and engage in geoscience and oceanography activities.

Snyder, a double major in marine science and art, said her love for marine science began when she was a kid and took vacations to the beach in Lewes, Delaware.

“For multiple years, my family would go on the same ecotour through the marsh and the bay, and I liked being out on the water and learning about the different organisms and qualities of the water,” said Snyder. “Through those experiences, I developed quite a passion for marine science.”

At UD, Snyder said she has enjoyed how the two majors engage different parts of her brain and is excited to combine them.

“Science communication can take on many forms, and I believe art can have great value in helping the public understand and care about marine science topics and issues,” said Snyder. “A key aspect of STEMSEAS is that participants are expected to design their own projects to continue working on following the expedition. My own project will involve creating a multimedia art installation that incorporates sculpture as well as photographs I took while at sea.”

Since returning from the experience, Snyder finished a sculpture she created for the STEMSEAS project. The piece is titled SR2607 after the name of the cruise, and its shape is based on a sediment core.

“The placement of the wires roughly follows the pattern of contacts and disturbances visible in the scan of the particular core that I studied while aboard the R/V Sally Ride,” said Snyder. “The sculpture is constructed from metal, wire, and fabric, with photo and video footage from the cruise projected onto it.”

Snyder’s STEMSEAS experience took place over eight days, when she and the other eight student participants traveled from California to Alaska.

They learned about an impressive breadth of topics, from sediments and plankton to ocean currents and plate tectonics, while gaining hands-on experience with tools such as a Conductivity, Temperature and Depth (CTD) instrument and an eXpendable BathyThermograph (XBT), a small, torpedo-shaped probe.

Snyder enjoyed hands-on oceanography fieldwork, deploying instruments and the experience of living aboard a ship. In addition to learning critical scientific skills, Snyder bonded with the eight other student participants, as they journeyed through rough seas together and spent their downtime learning how to play poker.

“I'm so thankful I had the opportunity to participate in STEMSEAS,” said Snyder. “This wonderful program has strengthened my passion for oceanography and has also inspired me to continue pursuing art."