A UF Ph.D. student has been working with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to conduct deep-sea research.
Randy Singer, 31, has been involved with the NOAA since 2013 and is now a shore-based scientist for their Okeanos Explorer project.
The Okeanos Explorer project provides a livestream for viewers to watch remote-operated vehicles scan the deep oceanic floor, Singer said.
“The coolest part is it’s a really good intersection for people who are doing science to interact with the public and share in an experience together,” he said.
Singer initially got involved with the NOAA after taking a research cruise to research squid.
He said the benefits from the Okeanos Explorer project have been limitless, but the best part has been being able to interact with people in real time to discuss his research.
As a shore-based scientist, Singer is using the data from the exploration to conduct research and write publications.
Because the data is free to the public, Singer said many people will have the opportunity to interact with and observe professionals across the nation who are currently conducting extensive research on the deep sea.
“On a regular basis, people are all watching together and seeing things that nobody on planet Earth has ever seen before,” Singer said. “Everybody can discover the ocean together, its really cool.”
Contact Catie Wegman at cwegman@alligator.org and follow her on Twitter: @catie_wegman.
Randy Singer, a 31-year-old UF Ph.D. student, works with the NOAA to research rare deep-sea fish through their Okeanos Explorer project. Singer has been working with the NOAA since 2013.
