The Darling Marine Center

It's been a little over two weeks since I started to get settled at the Darling Marine Center, and I realised it's about time I updated on here! So much has been happening in the last few weeks, it's all been a bit of a blur. Here are some photos to recap and update you all on progress - we're moving forward with several exciting things and have some great projects getting going soon - from Alaska to Antarctica - so stay tuned!

Aloha
Dr. W.

First off, there has been rather a lot of snow! Our lab mascot palm tree went out for a wander while technican  Christian was here to help unload and take part in a diving course. 

The Flowing Seawater Laboratory, home to the new Waller Laboratory after last weeks snow storm - a good 2ft came down in less than 24hrs! 

Friend of the lab Kate Buckman came down from New Hampshire to give some much needed unloading help! This is my new office, and storage area for all the lab gear until the lab next door is ready - it's undergoing some renovations at the moment. 

The POD container came and went - everything inside arrived safe and sound (aside from the odd Hawaiian cockroach that crept in there that didn't fair so well!)

Last week saw myself start an AAUS diving course (so I can dive in Alaska in March) and technician Christian take his drysuit certification (so he can also dive in Alaska in March). We're not crazy honest, it's actually quite toasty once you have all the gear on. 

The Polar Bear dive team - Diving Safety Officer Chris, Christian and myself. 

I'm getting used to the lack of geckos, cockroaches and mosquitos and having somewhat larger "friends" around instead. I have yet to see this creature around the Darling Marine Center grounds, but it has sure made a lot of tracks in the snow! 

Maine Arrival

Finally the Waller Lab has moved! Here are a few pictures from the sunrise this morning at the Darling Marine Center. It's a little different from the 84F in Hawaii right now, but spectacular none the less. 

The Administration and Cowbarn buildings on the upper campus area. 

Sunrise over the Horsebarn. Now just that container to unpack! 

The lab is packed thanks to all the amazing and fabulous helpers i've had over the last few weeks. The container gets picked up on Wednesday off on it's long way to the new home of the Waller Lab, the Darling Marine Center, University of Maine. The container won't get there until the 28th of December - it goes from here by boat on Thursday, then across country by truck - so it'll arrive just one day before I do!

Some pictures from the packing!
Aloha
Dr. W.

Ryan and Paula packing the mini-fridge. 

Even packing can be made fun! Paula, Doug and Ryan enthralled at getting mid-way through!

Packed! Or at least mostly, a few more items to add tomorrow and it'll be ready to go! 

Packing the lab

It's been all go the last few weeks, organizing, packing and getting the lab ready to ship to Maine. Tuesday saw the last day of work in the Waller lab of the Marine Sciences Building, and Wednesday - Friday has seen all the fabulous lab users kicking in to help get me packed and on my way. I can honestly say this move would not be possible without the help of the undergrads, grad students and postdocs who have made the lab, and the University of Hawaii, a fun place to be. More photos soon as we pack the POD container over the weekend. 

Aloha

Dr.W.

The PODS container arrives. 

The PODS container being dropped off in the loading dock of the Marine Sciences Building. 

Keo and Christian tackle packing my office.

Ryan packs the glassware in a very dismantled looking laboratory.

Daniel stacking boxes, ready for packing the POD this weekend. 

Progress....

Things are progressing in the laboratory! The formalin samples were shipped a few weeks ago, boxes have started appearing seemingly from nowhere and the chilled samples will be shipped over to Maine within the week. The container for all the rest of the lab arrives in just 3 weeks, time is certainly flying by. I'll update with pictures of the move when it comes!

Updates to the Alaskan Red Tree coral reproduction project has been posted!

Aloha
Dr. W.

Samples Packed!

Today Laura, Ryan, Louise, Christian and I packed all the histology samples ready for their long haul to Maine. It is a poignant moment, these samples will be the first shipment to land in Maine, ready for the big move. The container is booked for the first week of November, so all the rest of the lab is going to leave a good 5 weeks before I will actually be leaving the island. Up until now it hasn't seemed real, but time flies and soon the Waller lab will be headed to the cold East. Exciting to be moving somewhere new, adventures are always fun and this certainly will be an adventure, but also sad to be leaving Hawaii and all the students we've had through the lab. It's been a great group and i'll miss everyone who's been working here.

Lots more packing to go though, so better get moving in that direction!

Aloha
Dr. W.

Getting Ready for Projects and Moving!

Getting a research project off the ground is time consuming, you have to think of the project, write the proposal, submit the proposal, maybe have it rejected a few times, and then finally get it funded, organize the cast of characters working on the project, get the equipment together, sort through all the logistics - and then, and only then, can you actually pack your bags and head on out to do science. It definitely takes time.

Finally I am pleased to announce three projects are getting off the ground for the Waller Laboratory, two of them leaving in just a few months, and one leaving in May 2011. In August I'll be headed to Glacier Bay National Park, to do a somewhat scaled down version of the original plan (recon mission), meeting with the Park Service to work out logistics for what will hopefully be a larger project next year and even getting to go out on their boat for two days to take some environmental measurements from coral sites within the park. Check out the blogsite for that expedition if you're interested.

The second project is back to back with the first, from Glacier Bay National Park i'll be headed straight to Juneau to participate in a week long cruise SCUBA diving to collect corals from the fjords. That is the first of five cruises we'll have and is a pretty exciting project, be sure to keep an eye on that blogsite.

And next May, well we finally got the word we're headed back to the Antarctic to look at coral ecosystems in the Drake Passage. Be sure to keep your other eye on that blogsite, exciting things to come in the months ahead.

And the moving? The Waller Laboratory is officially moving, we're packing up and heading out to the Darling Marine Center at the University of Maine. It's going to be a big move and a big change, but an exciting one. That move will start to take place end of this year, and we'll blog about the progress right here.

So many things happening in the lab, including the official beginning to this blog! Individual pages will be updated as things happen, but this main page i'll update every few weeks with progress.....when not in the field that is.

Thats all for now

Dr W.