Five risks of joining Science Sets Sail

Sail (Image: Regine Oyntzen)
What goes up, must come down (Image: FAU/Regine Oyntzen)

Seasickness, being made to climb the mast or swim in deep water, unread emails, meetings missed .. we considered some of the real risks of joining Science Sets Sail. The results might surprise you!

1. Even the most senior professors and university officers need to take their turn with cleaning duty

FAU Vice President, Prof. Günter Leugering, preparing to swab the decks (Image: FAU / Blandina Mangelkramer)
FAU Vice President, Prof. Günter Leugering, preparing to swab the decks (Image: FAU / Blandina Mangelkramer)

 


2. While on watch duty, you can lose track of time and keep discussing science projects well into the night

Day and night (Image: FAU / Blandina Mangelkramer)
Day and night (Image: FAU / Blandina Mangelkramer)
Day and night (Image: FAU / Blandina Mangelkramer)
Day and night (Image: FAU / Blandina Mangelkramer)

3. When the luggage of 13 of your crew-mates doesn’t arrive at the port before the ship must depart, you learn the true meaning of problem solving, collaboration, and innovation (don’t worry – everyone shared whatever was needed!)

Team building exercise: emergency shopping in Riga and sharing the essentials (Image: FAU / Blandina Mangelkramer)
Team building exercise: emergency shopping in Riga and sharing the essentials (Image: FAU / Blandina Mangelkramer)

4. They make you eat ‘al fresco’ with lots of interesting people in far-flung ports

Captain's dinner (Image: FAU Regine Oyntzen)
Captain’s dinner (Image: FAU Regine Oyntzen)

5. You will probably get sea sick (for the first day or so), but don’t worry we’ll have you climbing the rigging before you are done (with full safety equipment, naturally).

The CHREN Watch, ready to climb the rigging (Image: FAU/Regine Oyntzen)
The CHREN Watch, after climbing the rigging (Image: FAU/Regine Oyntzen)