Oceanography | March 2019
QUARTERDECK
We are family
Got my drilling partners with me
We are family
Time to drill down under the sea…1
Over the past two decades, it’s been a joy watching my family grow, thrive, and
accomplish so much. While I haven’t been a constant presence, I’ve been invited to
assist at critical junctures, helping to make sure that they continue to achieve great
things and break new ground globally, as well as nurture the newest family mem-
bers. At other times, I keep up with their activities by reading and occasionally chat-
ting with old friends. Busy with current projects, I kvell2 from afar.
Of course, I’m talking about my scientific ocean drilling family. Although it’s
been more than two decades since I was a program manager for the Ocean Drilling
Program (ODP) at Joint Oceanographic Institutions (JOI), I still consider myself a
devoted member of this community.
When I arrived at JOI as a young PhD, the senior program managers at both JOI
and the National Science Foundation—Tom Pyle and Bruce Malfait (both sadly no
longer with us)3, as well as Paul Dauphin—took me under their wings, welcomed
me to the family. They were generous with their time and taught me the ropes.
I learned how dedicated, thoughtful, and sometimes creative management could
help the community achieve its goals. These awesome people remain an inspiration.
So too does the scientific community involved in ODP. As a result of attend-
ing numerous ODP and US Science Support Program meetings and other activi-
ties, I was surrounded by outstanding and generous mentors, too many to name
here. They shared their passion for the program and the science, and also their ideas
about new technologies that could transform data collection in boreholes. Some of
those dreams led to breakthroughs highlighted in this special issue of Oceanography.
Through their actions and words, this community demonstrated how true scientific
collaboration can create a whole that is much, much more than the sum of its parts.
I should add that employment at JOI was also the beginning of a lifelong friendship
and working relationship with two very special people who make The Oceanography
Society tick. Jenny Ramarui, the TOS Executive Director, and Johanna Adams, the
Oceanography designer and TOS webmaster, were part of the JOI ODP team way
back when. I thank them for making each workday fun and for their continued out-
standing service and dedication to the ocean sciences community.
It is said that first jobs can have an impact that lasts a whole lifetime. No
doubt, scientific ocean drilling has done that for me—and I’m certain for tens
or even hundreds of others. It’s been an honor serving and being a part of this
large, wonderful family.
Ellen S. Kappel, Editor
We Are Family
1 With apologies to Sister Sledge.
2 From the Yiddish kveln, meaning “to be delighted,” which, in turn, comes from the Middle
High German word quellen, meaning “to well, gush, or swell.”
3 Read tributes to Tom and Bruce at https://doi.org/10.5670/oceanog.2011.82 and
https://doi.org/10.5670/oceanog.2014.97
June 2019
Salinity Processes in the Upper
ocean Regional Study (SPURS) – 2
September 2019
Partnership for Interdisciplinary
Studies of Coastal Oceans (PISCO)
December 2019
Flow Encountering Abrupt
Topography (FLEAT)
March 2020
Ecological Effects of Offshore
Wind Energy Development
https://tos.org/oceanography
Do you have an idea for a special
issue of Oceanography? Please send
your suggestions to Editor Ellen Kappel
at ekappel@geo-prose.com.
Oceanography
SPECIAL ISSUES
UPCOMING
CALL FOR IDEAS!