Ocean Currents 8/20/2024

A New Sediment Story is Up!

The sand collection of Dr. Richard Sternberg is on display in the lobby of the Ocean Sciences Building.  Each quarter our sediment group plans to highlight and briefly discuss groups of interesting samples--so keep your eyes out for the “Sediment Stories Quarterly” posted on the collection.  View the most recent one here. 

Ocean Tech Community College Workshop Hosted at UW

UW Oceanography hosted the second annual MATE Floats! Summer Workshop for community college students August 5-9. Sixteen students from community colleges all over the U.S. traveled to the UW Ocean Technology Center for an intensive week of learning about autonomous technologies like GO-BGC floats, oceanographic sensor and instrument building, data collection, and data analysis in Python. Students also completed a one-day cruise on the R/V Carson. The instructional team included Sasha Seroy, Rick Rupan, graduate student Katy Christensen, and undergraduates Paige McKay, Riley Smith, and Tegan Yao. The program is a collaboration with the MATE ROV Competition, the Marine Technology Society, the National Center for Autonomous Technologies, and GO-BGC. 

Looking for GAMP Mentors 2024

Hello Ocean Grads!

We are officially recruiting grad students to volunteer as mentors for our Graduate Application Mentorship Program (GAMP)!!!

The grad school application process can be a barrier to entry for students without resources and guidance to navigate the process. GAMP was created to connect prospective students with current graduate students to help demystify the graduate application process and provide tips and guidance for submitting an application.

Mentors will be expected to meet with their mentee for three, 45-minute sessions between October 8th and December 1st. We’ll provide equitable mentorship training (+free lunch (: ) and a variety of resources to make sure you have the information you need to succeed.

To volunteer please fill out this form. We use the information to match you with a prospective student. Answer what you want to, skip what you don’t want to.

We already have prospective students enrolled, so we need as many volunteers as possible to keep this program running! If you were matched with a mentee last year that ghosted you… hopefully that is not going to happen again. We are now requiring a confirmation check-in from our mentees before they are matched.

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out (sggarcia@uw.edu)

Thanks!!
GAMP Team

Facilities & Building Services Moving

Sam Drucker and Bill Nitsche, F&B Services, are moving to OSB (Sam in OSB 243, Bill in OSB 245). Email them for keys, key card access and any facilities issues you encounter. 

Travel Policy Updates: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

The Good: Venmo, Paypal and Mobile Payment Services

Receipts from these mobile payment services are now acceptable as receipts.

The Bad & The Ugly: Ground Transport

For all travel on or after September 1, 2024, car services reimbursement such as taxi, Uber, or Lyft will require a receipt. This is due to a widespread practice of travelers selecting upgraded car service fares for convenience/personal preference. The department's existing receipt waiver policy for car services under $75 will no longer apply.

How to ensure successful reimbursement for ground transport:

• If you want to pay for an upgrade, you will have to provide a screenshot of the price comparison before booking that shows the price of the standard, most economical fare and the upgraded price. We will reimburse the standard fare. Examples of upgraded fares include Lyft XL, Uber Black, Uber Comfort, and Lyft Priority Pickup.
• Be mindful when booking on an app as the app often lists an upgraded fare at the top of the list of transportation options as though it's the cheapest. We advise travelers to use the "by price" tab which actually shows the cheapest fares at the top and then shows escalating levels of fares
• Exceptions to this updated policy:There will be exceptions if there is clear business rationale such as the need to transport gear or multiple people all on UW business.
  • Please note that "running late" to make a flight is not an acceptable rationale.
  • Reach out to the Administrator regarding this in advance of travel. Note that exceptions REQUIRE the Administrator's prior approval.

Questions? Reach out to Monica regarding this in advance of travel. 

Admin Staffing Schedule Change

Effective immediately, Yun Hutchinson (OTB 102B) will be in-person Wednesdays and Fridays (not Wed-Thur) and Chanthavy Manikham (OTB 102C) will be in-person Mondays and Tuesdays.

Blast from the Past

Name that building!

Ocean Currents Moving to Biweekly Schedule for the Summer!

Ocean Currents will be published on a biweekly schedule for the summer. We know you will miss us frequenting your inbox each Tuesday, and we will miss you too. If you have a story you'd like to submit for Ocean Currents, you may do so here.