A Bangladeshi First time on Chinese Research vessel

The date 15 October 2017 is a glorious starting day of a Chinese research vessel towards western Pacific Ocean with 29 scientists. Among them, one was a Bangladeshi PhD student name M Shahanul Islam. He is continuing his PhD research on Carbon sinking in China Sea as well as oceans. 

This is the first time when Chinese government permitted foreign students as overseas students boarded on their most advanced ocean research vessel named Ke Xue (Science). There are separate lab facilities for the student of   Physical, chemical and biological oceanography in the ship. All labs are highly equipped with necessary instruments that help the scientist during research and sampling in ocean. 

The ship is well balanced and stable even during rough sea condition. The highest speed of the ship is 16 N.  During this cruise, a giant typhoon attacked the West Pacific with 40-76 chief scientist adjusted the operational sequence of the stations and successfully finished all the designed field experiments on 12^th Nov.

The food and other living arrangement of this ship was top class and well organized. Cleaning own rooms and food plates were a common culture there. There are a gym, a piano room, a relaxation room and a big laundry room in the ship.  Internet facilities were available as Wifi for all scientist to contact with any people on land as well as their families to console that they are safe in the ocean. All of the crews and officers of the ship were very helpful during the cruise.

M Shahanaul Islam described the magnificent view of Pacific Ocean as double rainbows on sky, flying fishes, deep black, deep grey and deep blue color of ocean water from time to time, the pacific morning blast, watching raining from a single cloud while other places were dry and sunny, seabirds etc.

He also said that it was his first research cruise in his entire life for 33 days, which ended at 16 November 2017. The adaptation with seasickness was a tough fight for him.  He conducted two separate sample processing over 18 different spots of the West Pacific. His primary concern was collecting phytoplankton sample with chlorophyll data and separately collecting zooplankton fecal palate for his research. 

From his own words, “It was a huge experience of ocean cruising. This is the destiny of every oceanographer.  Immense knowledge with new ideas can flourish through this journey. Meeting with many famous scientist was a bonus for me. I am grateful to the entire management”.

M Shahanul Islam was a graduate student of the Department of “Fisheries & Marine Science” in Noakhali Science & Technology University. He also finished his Masters on Oceanography from University of Dhaka. Now he is continuing his PhD research under great taxonomist professor Dr. Sun Jun in Tianjin University of Science & Technology, China.