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Pat is shown here competing in the NBP2410 Olympics, where he perfected his disc golf trick shot and beat Kiley in a game of D-I-A-T-O-M.
Scientist Spotlight:
Scientist Spotlight:
Roger (Pat) Kelly
Roger (Pat) Kelly
College: Florida Institute of Technology
Graduate school: University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography
Current position: Marine Research Associate and Robinson Lab Manager at The University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography
The following information has been adapted from an interview between Kiley and Pat.
Q: What type of scientist do you consider yourself?
A: I'm a biogeochemist. I work in oceanography, but my work entails I do a lot of chemistry, biology and geology.
Q: What does an average work day back home look like for you?
A: I typically get to work between 8:30 and 9:00 AM and do a quick scan of the lab. I see what the students are up to, because they usually beat me there. I run some samples, get the instruments running, and order any supplies the lab needs. The afternoons sometimes have meetings and prepping for the next day's science. I also help out with several other areas of the University that need a hand with deployable instruments or engineering troubleshooting.
If we are doing any kind of field work, the day looks different and I might have to get there extra early and load up a truck with lab supplies. And then of course, there's the time I spend at sea for research as well.
Each day looks a little different. A lot of people get frustrated with their work because they do the same thing over and over again. I don't generally have that problem.
Generally I'm heading home around 5:30 in the evening and I don't really have to think about work anymore. I get to leave work at work and enjoy my time at home.
Q: What do you love about your job?
A: I like knowing that I am facilitating science. I think after years of doing this, it all boils down to: "did I help get some good measurements done?" And usually the answer is yes. Sometimes the answer is like no, because one or more things went awry. We might have to do it again but we're still always marching towards the end goal of scientific inquiry. I like making sure that my students have good data to work with to answer interesting questions.
Q: What are some of your hobbies and interests outside of being a scientist?
A: I love spending time at home with my wife and daughter. I also enjoy putting stuff together and getting things working around my house and workshop. I like hiking and working on my sailboat, which is very old and always needs work.
Q: What are you hoping to get out of this research cruise on the NBP?
A: Since I was on the 2017 version of this cruise, I mostly know my way around the ship and the equipment, so I'm just hoping for everything to go smoothly. I am hoping no one gets hurt, no equipment gets lost and we get good data.
I'm also excited that we get to go to Palmer Station this time, because I've never been. Last time, we went to McMurdo.
A photo of Pat from his last cruise on the NBP, securing science equipment for the rough seas
Q: How many research cruises have you been on?
A: I have been on 42 research cruises. After this cruise, I will have been to sea for something like 780 days.
Captain Nathaniel B. Palmer
Was the eerie presence Pat felt behind him the spirit of our ship's namesake?
Q: On a scale of 1-10, what sort of chances do you think you have for seeing the ghost of Nathaniel B. Palmer on the ship? 👻
A: I'm going to go with a 3. I want to say 0, but I'm not in the business of saying things are impossible. Check back with me in the latter half of the cruise and see if I've changed my mind.
I will say that every time I come to the aft dry lab door, I feel like something's behind me, and it sounds like something's stepping on the deck. I could be a fan. It could be a weird piece of metal. But maybe it's Natty B?
Links to Pat's research and more:
Links to Pat's research and more:
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