What Do Scientists Do?

What comes to mind when you think about scientists? Maybe you picture someone in a white lab coat working with colorful chemicals, or a crazy-haired mad scientist. Or perhaps you picture someone in front of a computer working with some data. These stereotypical ideas have something in common: scientists work alone and indoors.

This image is partially true: quite often, scientists do work alone. Even if they work in a lab or office with other scientists, they usually focus on a very unique and specific topic. Some scientists may be comfortable in this situation but, in general, being alone too much can be stressful or even lead to depression in some people [1].

While scientists need to be good at working independently, in many cases they also need to be ready to change and move. Learning new techniques and growing as a researcher often require moving to a new country, maybe far from your family and friends, and learning a new culture and a new language. Research can be busy and scientists must often work long hours, which can make it difficult to start a new social life.

If you are the type of kid who always wants to know how everything works, but you do not really like the idea of working alone, keep reading! There is much more to researchers’ lives than working alone in a lab every day.

Socializing as a Scientist

A researcher’s work depends greatly on collaborations with other scientists, often from other institutions. But if scientists spend so much time working alone, when do they meet researchers from other institutions? Scientific meetings are one good opportunity for meeting other researchers, but there is an even better way: fieldwork! In my experience, research cruises are one of the best ways to meet others—living on a ship is a collaborative, social, and fun experience (Figure 1). Sea surveys can turn scientists’ job into one of the most social and rewarding experiences. The sections that follow describe some of the social aspects of a research cruise that you can expect if you ever decide to do research at sea.

Getting Out of Your Comfort Zone

Moving to a ship for several weeks is a big change. You will be continuously surrounded by water and wildlife. Since there is not much opportunity to communicate with people beyond the ship, it is the perfect chance to make friends with your shipmates. Studies show that excessive use of technology affects parts of the brain associated with social interactions and making friends [2]. In your free time at sea, technologies such as mobile phones, internet, and TV will not be as important as they are back home. Instead, you and your shipmates will have more time for telling stories and jokes, playing group games or sports, and laughing together! But sometimes you may have to be positive and proactive to get out of your typical comfort zone and make the most of your time on the ship. How? By keeping an open mind and helping others, you will bond with your colleagues in no time!

Opening Your Mind

Good relationships do not just happen magically. Everyone on board knows that they will have to work, eat, and live together in the same small space for weeks. Nobody wants to see a grumpy face at breakfast every morning, right? That is why you might need to make an effort to have a good attitude and leave your problems aside. Now let the magic happen, because good mood is contagious! This effort is not always needed on land because it is easier to simply avoid people that you do not understand or who think differently from you. But at sea, you cannot just walk (or swim!) away. Imagine how wonderful it would be to be understood by everyone on board and feel that everyone is nice in their own way.

Helping Colleagues

Every cruise is different. Even if you do the same job, sail the same sea, or work with the same colleagues, every experience is unique. But they all have one thing in common: you will need help and others will need help from you!

When working at sea, you do not control your agenda. You must be considerate of other activities that are happening on board, and be ready for unexpected situations. “Surprises” can happen a lot and can change your plans in seconds. Teamwork looks different on board ship, too. You may have joined the research vessel alone or with your research team, but as soon as you begin setting up the labs, teams will mix and you may end up working with new people.

You will see experienced scientists, students, and crew, of many different ages and nationalities, helping each other by carrying boxes and sharing tools (Figure 2A). This is the beginning of what will become the new “big team”, which is usually given a nickname that describes the expedition (Rapid-team, Candyfloss-team, etc.). If you want to know more about the scientific work and equipment used on board a research ship, you can have a look at this Frontiers for Young Minds article. Without even noticing, you will become more flexible and collaborative, even when you are back in your lab on land.

Being at sea also means that any accident or emergency can quickly become fatal. Heavy doors and machinery can be extremely dangerous in rough weather conditions, and the nearest hospital is often days away. It is essential to be trained in how to respond appropriately in case of an emergency or evacuation, so that you can save your own life and the lives of others. Once, while we were navigating through the Drake Passage—the most dangerous and rough waterway in the world [3] (Figure 3)—some people had to tie themselves to their beds so they would not roll out of them! We all checked on one other because many people got seasickness.

Socializing in Person

During research surveys, time is precious. Research cruises are expensive and they take months of preparation. Everyone’s hopes are on collecting enough samples for the study. If you have the opportunity to collect data, you take it—because you can never have enough data!

The days will seem to last longer than 24 h because you do not have to deal with traffic jams or chores, and others prepare your meals. The 1-min walk from your bed to your lab, or from your lab to the canteen, gives you plenty of time to rest while still working about 12 h a day every day—because nature does not take weekends off! After dinner is when most people socialize: playing instruments, singing, playing games, looking at the sunset, or just chatting (Figures 2B–D). If you want more detail about what on-board conditions look like, you can visit the virtual tour of the RRS Sir David Attenborough here.

Although time spent collecting samples is precious in terms of science, time spent socializing is precious for keeping you in a happy mood. Socializing time can strongly influence your ability to collaborate. Collaborating with colleagues on cruises can bring out the best in everyone. Finding colleagues with whom you naturally connect is a joy. During this social time, you will discover great people and get to know them much better than you would on land, likely creating strong bonds and life-long friends!

Back to Reality

After several weeks on board, everybody is tired but proud of what they have achieved. You now know each other now much better than colleagues who have known each other for years on land. You will feel a bit sad about saying goodbye to the cruise team, but at the same time you will be looking forward to reuniting with your loved ones. The sentence that many people repeat is: “Back to reality”—because the time on the research cruise feels like a story book, a movie, or a dream that can surely not be reproduced on land.

Luckily, the story does not end when the ship docks. You will see some of your colleagues and friends in workshops and at meetings— and who knows? You might even write papers or work together in the future. Because from research cruises, we bring back more than science—we bring new relationships, too!

Glossary

Stereotypical: ↑ Based on a common idea people have about someone or something, even if it is not always true.

Canteen: ↑ Dining area, like a restaurant but where you serve yourself.

Conflict of Interest

The author(s) declared that this work was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

AI Tool Statement

The author(s) declared that generative AI was not used in the creation of this manuscript.

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