Expedition 402 is the second to last two-month expedition the JOIDES Resolution sets to sail. Our partners and sources can no longer commit more funding for operations, so the current crew feels the weight of another end.
Typically, the end of an expedition is sad because you are saying goodbye to a family and home you had for two months. It has taken years to fine-tune this international program and the overall operations of the ship. The contributions have been immeasurable and losing this expedition will be felt by the science community around the world. The level of excellence we experienced is unparalleled by any other research vessel we have sailed on.
The SIEM offshore crew and the Entier crew are experiencing a loss not only for a job, but also their second home. Many have recruited family members and friends to come work on the JR in the past, finding support in ways that they did not find at home.
In our last few days, the science crew has been making sure to hang out together more during sunsets, as well as making jokes at dinner tables and sharing photos of the trip. As we pass through the halls, the Entier and SIEM crew wave and share how their days are going. There is a lightheartedness as we finish operations — where we are sharing the good and the sad.
