SCIENCE COMMUNICATION AT SEA: THE 2023 JR ACADEMY TRANSIT FROM HERAKLION, GREECE TO TARRAGONA, SPAIN

The JR Academy is a program for undergraduate students aboard the U.S.-run International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) vessel, the JOIDES Resolution (JR). Designed to inspire students toward geoscience topics and careers, the JR Academy was held in February 2023 for the first time since 2019. Students were recruited from throughout the country and the cohort included 15 students from 13 states with a wide variety of backgrounds and interests. During the 10-day program, students lived and worked aboard the JR while in transit from Heraklion, Greece to Tarragona, Spain. Students learned about scientific ocean drilling as a tool to gather data about the history of our Earth, and the fascinating discoveries that have and are being made. The program also focused on effective science communication in order to share cutting edge science with the broader community. Each student is working on a science communication project as a part of the program.

Through a partnership with the NASA Astrobiology program, a NASA communication specialist sailed with the group. This provided students with new science communication tools, NASA opportunities, and connections between these exploratory programs. Students returned with enthusiasm, new skills, new ideas, new connections and new friends. This presentation will present the structure and lessons learned from JR Academy through the lens of student experiences. Funding for JR Academy was provided by three National Science Foundation-funded programs: IODP, STEMSEAS, and Ambassadors for STEM Training to Enhance Participation (A-STEP).