Siem personnel at muster during Sunday boat drill. (Credit: Sandra Herrmann, IODP JRSO) [Photo ID: exp396_153]

Hello to all at home – greetings from lifeboat number 4. From left: Reed Scherer (Micropaleontologist, Northern Illinois University, USA), Weimu Xu (Sedimentologist, University College Dublin, Ireland), Entier and Siem personnel, Sverre Planke (Co-Chief scientist, University of Oslo, Norway), Beth Novak (Assistant Laboratory Officer, IODP JRSO), Susan Boehm, Holly Pettus, Jessica Riekenberg, and Kara Vadman (Marine Laboratory Specialists, IODP JRSO), and Siem third mate. (Credit: Sandra Herrmann, IODP JRSO) [Photo ID: exp396_154]

Co-Chief Scientist Sverre Planke (University of Oslo, Norway) giving a presentation in the conference room. (Credit: Carlos Alvarez Zarikian, IODP JRSO) [Photo ID: exp396_155]

As the day goes on, Rose Jones (Marine Laboratory Specialist, IODP JRSO) works on another core catcher on the catwalk. (Credit: Sandra Herrmann, IODP JRSO) [Photo ID: exp396_158]

While the technicians are on the catwalk, Laboratory Officer Chieh Peng (IODP JRSO) gives them a hand and creates labels for split basalt pieces. Each piece receives its individual label, so it can be tracked through its journey the laboratory. (Credit: Sandra Herrmann, IODP JRSO) [Photo ID: exp396_159]

September is statistically the month with the most birthdays. Here Alyssa Stephens (center, Publications Specialist, IODP JRSO) celebrates her special day with (from left) Siem personnel and Susan Boehm, Holly Pettus, Mark Higley, and Kara Vadman (Marine Laboratory Specialists, IODP JRSO). (Credit: Kara Vadman, IODP JRSO) [Photo ID: exp396_160]

Another day, another birthday. Mike Hodge (Marine Computer Specialist, IODP JRSO) with his cake and the day shift scientists and technicians. From left: Sandra Herrmann (Imaging Specialist, IODP JRSO), Carlos Alvarez Zarikian (Staff Scientist, IODP JRSO), Chieh Peng (Laboratory Officer, IODP JRSO), Reed Scherer (Micropaleontologist, Northern Illinois University, USA), Irina Filina (Physical Properties Specialist, University of Nebraska, USA), Jessica Riekenberg (Marine Laboratory Specialist, IODP JRSO), Sarah Lambart (Petrologist, University of Utah, USA), Mike Hodge (Marine Computer Specialist, IODP JRSO), Beth Novak (Assistant Laboratory Officer, IODP JRSO), Natalia Varela (Paleomagnetist, Virginia Tech, USA), Sayantani Chatterjee (Inorganic Geochemist, Niigata University, Japan), Dustin Harper (Sedimentologist, University of Kansas, USA), Weimu Xu (Sedimentologist, University College Dublin, Ireland), John Millet (Physical Properties Scientist, Volcanic Basin Petroleum Research AS, UK), Brittaney Martinez (Curatorial Specialist, IODP JRSO), and Rose Jones (Marine Laboratory Specialist, IODP JRSO). (Credit: Sandra Herrmann, IODP JRSO) [Photo ID: exp396_161]

A milestone birthday was a highlight of the week the same day we crossed the Arctic Circle: Co-Chief Scientist Sverre Planke’s (University of Oslo, Norway ) 60th birthday. From left: Andreas Bjornestad (Observer, Norway), John Millet (Physical Properties Scientist, Volcanic Basin Petroleum Research AS, UK), Irina Filina (Physical Properties Specialist, University of Nebraska, USA), Stacy Yaeger (Micropaleontologist, Ball State University, USA), Sayantani Chatterjee (Inorganic Geochemist, Niigata University, Japan), Christian Berndt (Co-Chief Scientist, GEOMAR, Germany), Dustin Harper (Sedimentologist, University of Kansas, USA), Joost Frieling (Micropaleontologist, NIOZ, Netherlands), Geoffroy Mohn (Petrologist, University de Cergy Pontoise, France), Jack Longman (Inorganic Geochemist, Carl von Ossietzky University, Germany), Sarah Lambart (Petrologist, University of Utah, USA), Morgan Jones (Organic Geochemist, University of Oslo, Norway), Natalia Varela (Paleomagnetist, Virginia Tech, USA), Sverre Planke (Co-Chief Scientist, University of Oslo, Norway), Weimu Xu (Sedimentologist, University College Dublin, Ireland), Henk Brinkhuis (Micropaleontologist, NIOZ, Netherlands), Marialena Christopoulou (Sedimentologist, Northern Illinois University, USA), Reed Scherer (Micropaleontologist, Northern Illinois University, USA), Carlos Alvarez Zarikian (Staff Scientist, IODP JRSO), and Peter Betlem (Physical Properties Scientist, University Centre in Svalbard, Norway). (Credit: Sandra Herrmann, IODP JRSO) [Photo ID: exp396_162]

A week isn’t complete without a sunset picture. (Credit: Sarah Lambart & IODP) [Photo ID: exp396_163]

Siem personnel on the rig floor pulling a core liner out of the core barrel before it is handed to the JRSO technicians on the core receiving platform. (Credit: Sandra Herrmann, IODP JRSO) [Photo ID: exp396_164]

A core is cut into sections before it is brought into the laboratory for shipboard measurements, such as physical properties and visual description. (Credit: Sandra Herrmann, IODP JRSO) [Photo ID: exp396_165]

Igneous and metamorphic rocks are carried into the splitting room, where they get cleaned, cut into archive and working section halves and curated. Here, Beth Novak (Assistant Laboratory Officer, IODP JRSO) is pictured washing drilling fluid of the rocks that will then be sorted into split liners. (Credit: Sandra Herrmann, IODP JRSO) [Photo ID: exp396_166]

A MAD (moisture and density) sample was taken from interbedded sediment between the igneous rocks shown in the background. (Credit: Sandra Herrmann, IODP JRSO) [Photo ID: exp396_167]

The core barrel is being prepared for the next core by adding a core liner. (Credit: Sandra Herrmann, IODP JRSO) [Photo ID: exp396_168]

Siem driller in the doghouse. (Credit: Sarah Lambart & IODP) [Photo ID: exp396_169]

As night falls, the sunset hunters can be found all over the ship. (Credit: Sandra Herrmann, IODP JRSO) [Photo ID: exp396_170]

Core admirers around the sampling table. From left: Jessica Riekenberg (Marine Laboratory Specialist, IODP JRSO), Dustin Harper (Sedimentologist, University of Kansas, USA), Weimu Xu (Sedimentologist, University College Dublin, Ireland), Carlos Alvarez Zarikian (Staff Scientist, IODP JRSO), Marialena Christopoulou (Sedimentologist, Northern Illinois University, USA), Irina Filina (Physical Properties Specialist, University of Nebraska, USA), and Natalia Varela (Paleomagnetist, Virginia Tech, USA). (Credit: Sandra Herrmann, IODP JRSO) [Photo ID: exp396_171]

Siem personnel working on the rig floor. (Credit: Sandra Herrmann, IODP JRSO) [Photo ID: exp396_172]

Steve Midgley (left, Operations Superintendent, IODP JRSO) pointing out the works of the derrick during another ship tour. From left: Jessica Riekenberg (Marine Laboratory Specialist, IODP JRSO), Irina Filina (Physical Properties Specialist, University of Nebraska, USA), Rose Jones (Marine Laboratory Specialist, IODP JRSO), and Sayantani Chatterjee (Inorganic Geochemist, Niigata University, Japan). (Credit: Sarah Lambart & IODP) [Photo ID: exp396_173]

Thank you Sayantani for this great photo of Co-Chief Scientists Sverre Planke (left, University of Oslo, Norway) and Christian Berndt (right, GEOMAR, Germany) that are accompanied by Staff Scientist Carlos Alvarez Zarikian (2nd from right, IODP JRSO) and Reed Scherer (2nd from left, Micropaleontologist, Northern Illinois University, USA). (Credit: Sayantani Chatterjee & IODP) [Photo ID: exp396_174]

Red sky at night, sailors delight – how could we not show you this sunset. (Credit: Sayantani Chatterjee & IODP) [Photo ID: exp396_175]

Clay Furman changing thread protectors on a spring centralizer on one of the wireline tool string components. (Credit: Sandra Herrmann, IODP JRSO) [Photo ID: exp396_176]

Siem personnel helping to store the wireline tools on the tool palette. (Credit: Sandra Herrmann, IODP JRSO) [Photo ID: exp396_177]

IODP JRSO technicians on a ship tour. From left: Mark Higley, Holly Pettus, Kara Vadman, Alyssa Stephens, Susan Boehm, and Daniel Marone. (Credit: Daniel Marone, IODP JRSO) [Photo ID: exp396_177]

The Aurora borealis or Northern Lights at Site U1571 – the highlight of the week! (Credit: Sandra Herrmann, IODP JRSO) [Photo ID: exp396_179]