Married to science: couple works toward a healthier ocean
Heather McFarland
907-474-6286
May 4, 2022
Science is a family affair for Claudine Hauri and Andrew McDonnell. They色视频下载檙e married oceanographers tackling issues like ocean acidification, lagging technology and 色视频下载色视频下载檚 massive lack of ocean data.
Married oceanographers Andrew McDonnell and Claudine Hauri while doing fieldwork in the Gulf of 色视频下载.
Throughout history couples like Marie and Pierre Curie, the physicists credited with discovering radium, have mixed romance and science to make new discoveries and create fruitful collaborations. In these cases, being married to your work means two brains rather than one, and drawing on one another色视频下载檚 strengths in ways that other couples may never understand.
Both Hauri and McDonnell have a passion for science and the ocean. They both work at the University of 色视频下载 Fairbanks 色视频下载 Hauri for the International Arctic Research Center and McDonnell for the College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences. McDonnell is intrigued by big ideas and scheming up new innovations, while Hauri loves problem solving and getting the job done.
色视频下载淚t色视频下载檚 fun. We have our personal relationship so I talk to her more than any other colleague,色视频下载 McDonnell said. 色视频下载淚 call her up or walk over to her office and we figure things out, or take a step back and think about broader strategies, new opportunities.色视频下载
Most recently they dreamed up a new way to track ocean acidification by attaching a carbon dioxide sensor to an unoccupied underwater vehicle. The carbon dioxide seaglider will be used to map how ocean chemistry varies across the Gulf of 色视频下载 and throughout the year. This data is needed to assess how 色视频下载色视频下载檚 marine resources are being impacted by human-made carbon dioxide and to develop informed responses for the future.
Hauri and McDonnell work together on R/V Nanuq to retrieve a 色视频下载渞osette色视频下载 with instruments that measure ocean chemistry in the Gulf of 色视频下载. Their bright pink carbon dioxide seaglider sits behind them.
It色视频下载檚 a challenging feat considering that the carbon dioxide sensor is about 10 times larger, heavier and more power-hungry than the sensors a seaglider usually carries. Mechanical and electrical engineers from around the world are lending their expertise to reengineer both the sensor and seaglider. This spring the team is in Seward, 色视频下载 testing out the new technology.
The seaglider squad includes several young members as well. More specifically, Hauri and McDonnell色视频下载檚 sensitive and affectionate 5-year-old daughter, and twin 3-year-old boys who are intertwined as only twins can be and best located by their chorus of squealing giggles. Having spent their entire lives around science, they色视频下载檙e adventurous and curious about what their parents do, especially when visiting new places.
色视频下载淭hey ask every day 色视频下载榃here did you work today? Did you work on the boat?色视频下载櫳悠迪略貪 Hauri said. 色视频下载淎nd we talk a lot about carbon dioxide. [Our five-year-old] always asks us why there is so much smoke and pollution around, so we talk about how that affects the ocean.色视频下载
Hauri and McDonnell greet one of the twins after a day of fieldwork in Seward.
It isn色视频下载檛 always easy being parents who do science fieldwork, especially for Hauri.
Their oldest was six months old when Hauri led , bringing young women on a 10-day science, art and wilderness expedition. She recalled spending months pumping enough breast milk to last the trip.
Several years later, she was pregnant with the twins when the was funded. Weeks after their birth, the whole family traveled to Seattle for the first seaglider trials.
Despite the challenges, being a mother has given Hauri perspective and made her more efficient. 色视频下载淚 love being a mother, and I色视频下载檝e come to realize that science is not the only thing in my life that matters. Compared to myself before kids, I色视频下载檝e become more effective when I actually do have time to work.色视频下载
Fieldwork with kids is only possible with a team. 色视频下载淵ou just have to have a supporting network around you and a husband who looks at you as a whole person and just as important as himself,色视频下载 emphasized Claudine.
That kind of equality bleeds over to how the kids perceive their parents too. 色视频下载淔or them there is no difference between mom and dad,色视频下载 explained Hauri. 色视频下载淚 really like that.色视频下载
Hauri and McDonnell色视频下载檚 family on the docks of Seward with the pink carbon dioxide seaglider.
Their support network includes grandparents, aunts and uncles. This go-around in Seward it色视频下载檚 Andrew色视频下载檚 parents, Marcia and Paul McDonnell. They色视频下载檝e traveled around the world lending helping hands during Claudine and Andrew色视频下载檚 research.
色视频下载淲e call it grandma and grandpa色视频下载檚 traveling baby sitting service,色视频下载 Paul McDonnell said with a chuckle. He describes himself as the assistant to the lead babysitter, Marcia.
They are a science family too, so they get it. 色视频下载淪cience just comes natural,色视频下载 said Marcia.
Author's note: In honor of Mother色视频下载檚 Day, this story is for all the moms in science and the grandmas who make their work possible. A special dedication to who taught me to be inquisitive, hard-working and kind.
NOTE TO EDITORS: Additional photos available, email hrmcfarland@alaska.edu.