Sea Research Society is planning an expedition with the research vessel Urraca. The vessel was formerly owned by the Smithsonian and comfortably sleeps 16 people. For more on the Urraca check out our page on facilities and vessels. There will be a link to photos.
General Info relating to volunteering for upcoming Sea Research Society expeditions.
For any expedition there is a need for a wide range of people. Some people actually go on the expedition, many others others support it through clerical work, accounting, legal services, data entry and interpretation, historical research, advertising, marketing, funding (investing), making introductions, helping with political connections, etc.
Obviously, with bigger vessels an experienced crew (licensed captain/master, mate, engineer, deck hand) has to be hired to insure its proper operation. Others who take an active part in the “field work” (aboard the boat, underwater or immediately on shore) may be scientists (archaeologists, biologists, oceanographers), historians, technicians, computer geeks, sonar operators, divers, photographers, videographers, medics (doctors and nurses are always welcome to take short stints), cooks, etc. Sometimes there are several vessels (often of different sizes) involved in the same expedition. Most of the time the smaller boats are operated by the divers and/or the scientists.
There may be paid personnel, interns, volunteers, and guests (government officials, reporters, investors) involved in an expedition. An expedition may consist of multiple projects and have a variety of objectives.
Some of those people (like the boat’s captain and crew) will be hired for the duration of the expedition (or even for multiple expeditions). Others will participate only for days, weeks or months for a specific phase or part of a project.
The first step for someone trying to convince an expedition leader that he/she should hire them is to send them something listing/explaining the applicant’s qualifications, certifications, licenses, experience, education, special skills & training. Multiple skills help greatly but not everybody has to be an expert. What motivates you and evidence of a continued interest in the type of work the expedition will be doing helps. When applying, always try to include some personal information about yourself so the expedition will feel a connection to you.
The second step is to stay in touch. Expedition leaders sometimes select less qualified people because they sense a special quality or a true willingness to learn, help and work hard in that applicant.
Even if an applicant is qualified, there are so many qualified people to chose from that expedition leaders usually have lots of choices. Between two equals, they will usually select friends and/or people we have worked with before. Expeditions need team players. They don’t want people with drug, drinking or personality problems.
People with connections who can make things happen are a major plus. If you are a problem solver, let the expedition leader know that. Explain how you have solved unique problems in the past. If you are self starter and a leader let him/her know. If you aren’t a good leader but you are an excellent follower, talk about that.
Electricians, plumbers, carpenters, welders are sometimes hired or accepted as volunteers because they are used to working hard and their skills are always useful.
In some cases, an expedition’s financial backers (investors) will want to participate and, as long as they meet the basic qualifications, they will normally be allowed to. It is just part of doing business. The reality is that expeditions can’t take place without money and if someone is investing many thousands of dollars they deserve a place on the expedition. Other times investors won’t have the time or desire to participate themselves, but may want the expedition to use someone who they hire, know, respect and trust to look after their interest.
If you understand these realities, you are more likely to get hired or at at least be allowed to serve as a volunteer on an expedition.
Good luck,
Lee
PS: Even if you have some great credentials, there will be lots of other qualified people, so whoever is hiring for an expedition will have to know a lot more about you. You will need to make yourself stand out from the crowd. Tell them why you would be an asset to their expedition. Don’t be upset if they don’t reply. Many times they are just busy and have filed your messages to think about later, but if you send them message saying you are upset because you didn’t get a quick reply, you will have lost your chance forever.
If you are qualified, the biggest thing you need to do is to let the expedition’s director get to know you. But don’t overwhelm them with too many messages and don’t use “chats” as a way to communicate. Chats aren’t saved like messages so anything you say will be lost. Make every word count.
It is important that you make an effort to keep in touch. It helps the expedition’s planners see that your expressed interest isn’t just a passing fancy on your part. Also, if they are like me, they deal with so many different people that they may forget all about you unless you make the effort.
All expeditions take a lot of planning. They don’t come about overnight. The ones we are planning are no exception. I am over a year into the planning of this expedition, we have the boat but we still don’t know when we will start the field work. That will depend on many factors ranging from acquisition and installation of equipment, to permit approvals and funding.
Even though we aren’t hiring yet, I tell everyone who is interested in a job (paid or volunteer) to send me an explanatory email with their resume attached in MS-Word to (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) and to send a hard copy to my company’s post office box addressed as follows: SRS Expeditions, PO Box 4068, Irmo, SC 29063.
