Oh yes...

All the 4th years handed in their first drafts of their graduate theses on the 20th!

Congratulations!!

Lab meeting 2008.12.24

Asides from JDRs big adventure at the bonenkai, there is lots of news!

Present: All!

1. Party - wow. If you can donate 700 yen to the JDR fund, please do!
2. Over the winter holidays, the weather may turn bad, and/or we have to be careful about locking the doors. Don't forget to lock up and watch your valuables!
3. From January, JDR will have a new job and title. He may be suddenly busy, so do not believe his schedule, and if you make plans, try to invite other people too so that if JDR has a meeting it does not spoil your plans.
4. Korijima - MO, YI, TF, CA, JDR, and YM (snorkeling) will go to do a survey in this area from Dec. 28th to 29th. The weather looks good, so on the 27th we will get tanks from Seatopia. We will leave early on the 28th, and come back the 29th at night, staying at YI's house in Nago. There will be a meeting today after the seminar.
5. On January 3rd, we will go deep-sea fishing. Itg is 10500 JPY per person. Anyone who wants to come contact JDR!
6. XMA party at JDRs house from the vening of the 25th. Anyone welcome!
7. Anyone need a second screen for their PC? Let JDR know.
8. There are now 8 second years who are interested in MISE. Please invite them on sampling trips anytime.
9. Tank monitor this week: ES.
10. FS will go to an izakaya tonight, all welcome.
11. Sesoko tanks - After ES graduates, it would be good if someone can use them. Please think about this and contact JDR.

Merry Christmas!!!

忘年会(year-end party)

We made a year-end party on Dec. 21th.

We had two grilled fish ( tuna and mahi-mahi ) caught by Jamie and drank a lot of beer 

(especially JR). The party started from PM: 5 and then it continued until 7 in the morning! 

JR has continued drinking beer until the end of the party. He was completely drunk, and he seemed to be back when he was a baby who is same age as his daughter.

(For example, he began to peel a onion suddenly and scatterd its' skin around the room. etc...)

Eriko has a funny video. Let's check!

Have a nice Christmas day.          yuka

 

New paper

Small paper, but good for baseline data...
Galaxea, Journal of Coral Reef Studies Vol. 10 No. 2
-James D REIMER, Shusuke ONO, Frederic SINNIGER, Junzo TSUKAHARA
Original paper: Distribution of zooxanthellate zoanthid species (Zoantharia: Anthozoa: Hexacorallia) in southern Japan limited by cold temperatures

Should be out in the next week or two.

Lab meeting 2008.12.17

Updates from MISE:

Present: all but FS, who is still lost in Osaka (note - he has since come back).

1. Tanks this week: YI.
2. Koryo Japan-Taiwan scholarship due by end of this month for any students interested. Could be a good chance to go to Taiwan for some research.
3. Don't open the cooler on the deck - JDR has maguro guts in there!!
4. Don't forget your lab fees, 200 yen/month. We have been using it a bit lately as uni budget office is INCREDIBLY innefficient...
5. 4th years - first draft of your grad thesis due on the 20th - Saturday - at midnight!
6. Lab party (bonenkai) on the 21st. We will have a BBQ with maguro and mahimahi if the weather is nice. YH and JDR will organize.
7. Sunabe or Odo - diving and colony marking. YH and JDR will go on the 23rd. If you are interested please let us know.
8. YM will go to Sesoko Thursday or Saturday - again let him know if you can go.
9. Dec. 28th-29th; survey around Korijima. We will use YI's dad's boat. MO, YI, CA, TD, and JDR will go, and maybe YM will come to snorkel from shore.
10. Three more 2nd years have looked at the lab! Now have 8 people who are interested in potentially joining from next year!
11. JDR has a new job from January 1st - the lab will be able to do more research! Yah!
12. December 25th - XMAS - feel free to visit M and m at home in the afternoon. Bring some food if you can!

Today's photos were by TF, who talked about his "Ecological Survey of Ants in Room 352". Very well done! Next week FS and Osaka photos.

Today's image is of a marked P. tuberculosa colony at Sunabe by YH.

Lab meeting 2008.12.10

Winter (Okinawa-style) is here. The 4th years are busy furiously writing their papers, and I am fighting a cold.

Here is this week's news from the lab meeting. Everyone here except FS, who is obviously lost in Osaka...
1. Tanks this week - TF.
2. Lab year-end party on the 21st in the evening. We will do something in the lab. YH and JDR are party planners. If the weather is nice, maybe a BBQ?!?
3. YI, TF, CA, MO, and JDR will go diving around Korijima on December 28th and 29th to conduct some surveys of benthos. It will be fun - if the weather cooperates. Other people are more than welcome to come and do some shore diving or snorkeling.
4. This Friday (12th) YH, CA, and JDR will go diving to practice sampling. Anyone else is welcome.
5. Today's pictures were by ES of Iejima - very nice. Makes me want to go there...

Lab orders this week: erector set, dictionary.

Today's image - a huge dust storm from the Sahara heading towards the Caribbean. From the NOAA site. Wonder if anyone has looked in detail at things like this in Okinawa with all the Gobi dust we get?

That's all for now.

Lab meeting 2008.12.3

Another short meeting today, but many things happening!

Present: YS, YM, YI, ES, TF, MH, JDR, MO, YH, CA
Absent: FS (Osaka...)

Items for discussion:
1. YI and her dad, along with JDR and whoever else can come, will do a survey of the benthos around Korijima Island towards the end of this month. YI will check and see what dates are possible. Likely we will go around the 27th or 28th of Dec.
2. Tank monitor this week: CA.
3. YM can drive this Saturday a.m. for JDR's "kiso zemi".
4. Don't believe the 2nd floor! Well, at least check with senseis or the 5th floor first; there have been many mistakes lately by the office there...
5. DNA extractions tomorrow; CA, YI, MO, YM will participate with JDR.
6. Christmas/Bonenkai: JDR invites all lab members to his house on the afternoon of Dec. 25th for XMAS fun. Also, we will have a bonenkai on the 21st, after the 4th years have handed in their report (first draft).
7. Shopping: Erector set, lights for tanks, lights for microscopes, scales, sample nets, counter, etc.

Have a great week.

Today's picture is a cool image from Haeckel - one of his old textbooks I think.

Shizuoka

Hi, I'm YI.

 I introduce myself a bit. I'm a 4th−year student of MISE.   

My theme of graduation thesis is distribution of Zoanthid in Okinawa.  I'm interested in everything about Zoanthid. (lifecycle, taxonomy, evolution etc..) But I  know only a few things about Zoanthid. I have to study hard.

By the way, 

I've come back to Okinawa yesterday night from Shizuoka. I'll show you a few Shizuoka pictures.

This picture is view from the conference site. 

You know, Mt. Fuji! Beautiful.　　　

I went to the aquarium of To-kai university.

I found this beautiful Zoanthid but I don't know which species it is...

  

After the conference, I went sightseeing.

This is a picture of Oden.

Maybe not so many people know but Shizuoka is famous for Oden.  It's was tasty.

That's all.

I brought some souvenirs(fish paste stick and green tea) to the lab. Feel free to eat and drink!

Bye                            Yuka

Birthday♪

Today, Catalina's Birthday!! We celebrated her in the lab.


And we ate Birthday cake.


I bought this cake(Tube cake or chiffon cake..,) at the sweet shop "Minamotoya"in Nanjyo city.





Happy birthday Catalina !!

Have a good birthday !!

Eriko.

I'm TF

I am said to write this blog in the JCRS conference...

We went to 11th JCRS conference, and this was my first presentation of research. I am so tired because I got nerveous. But it was good experience for me to talk a lot of people without lab. menber. so, thank you for everyone who talk with me.

I think I should introduce me. My name is Takuma Fujii. I'm from Tsukuba in Ibaraki prefecture. I am not good at English because I study English little when I went to high school. I am learning English.

I wanted to study about birds or wild cat living in Okinawa when I enterd University of the Ryukyus. I am researching a undescribed Zoantharia species.

Because I was interested in Jamie (strange foreigner) rather than zoanthids when I say why I chose this lab.

I am interested in sea slugs, shrimps and gobies......ofcourse zoanthids. I am worring about what will I do in the future.

The ideal is this. Get up → breakfast → go diving → lunch and sleeping a little → go diving → free time → dinner →

The reality is severe.. I will find other future.

So, next time, I think Yuka or Eriko or Catalina should write anything. I want to read (^^)

Japan Coral Reef Society Conference in Shizuoka

YM, YI, TF, and JDR went to the 11th JCRS conference, held at Granship Convention Center in Shizuoka. All four of us gave poster presentations, and it went very well.

For the three students it was their first time to give a presentation at a conference, and the experience should serve them well in the future.

Things we learned at JCRS:
1. Many people study coral; few work on minor taxa.
2. Trains can be exciting when you have only 1 minute to transfer.
3. Networking is a key skill!

Check out the pix - it was fun!

Meeting 2008.11.26

Busy day!
Present: FS, MO, YM, CA, ES, TF, YH, YS, MH
Absent: YI (Shizuoka), JDR (prof meeting)

Here is the news:

1. CA and FS: copy your gaijin card, passport, and visa, keep them in a safe spot just in case.
2. Microscope and digital camera now ready to use! Thanks to MO and ES.
3. Primers - must be ordered by this Friday (FS, CA, YM, JDR).
4. Diving around Korijima - end of December!
5. FS will go to Hokkaido sometime next spring.
6. 2 more 2nd year students wish to come do research with us; now 5 people!
7. Shopping: lots on the wish list; JDR will order what he can.
8. YS showed us a video of him winning his pro debut fight in about 40 seconds. Don't get him mad!
9. Tanks: YM.
10. Seminar - do NOT forget to prepare a summary (Mon before presentation) and also to inform the chair of your title (Fri before). Send the PDF to the chair as well.
11. YS and YH: make webmail addresses.
12. YS: lab rule sheet please!

We then cleaned up the experiment room; it looks great! Thanks to everyone for their help.

Today's picture: Serious people at the JCRS conference last weekend!

Lab meeting 2008.11.19

Lots of small notices today...

Present: YS, TF, MH, YH, ES, YI, YM, CA, MO, JDR
Absent: FS (Europe)

1. New dissecting microscope and camera have arrived. Set up will be done this week, so ES can start work on Palythoa gametes. The camera can be mounted on the microscope, and there is also an underwater housing. Macro of 1 cm, and 12.1 MP, so we can really zoom in on the smaller reef denizens.
2. Lab fees: 200 yen/month. Please pay if you have forgotten.
3. 3rd years: Slippers, lab rules (YS), and please make a webmail address for seminar PDFs etc. (YS, YH).
4. Please tell JDR your IP addresses so he can keep track of them in the future.
5. If you are interested in studying overseas (undergrads only), please check with the student office ASAP - much info there.
6. To buy: computer locks, erector set for drying wetsuits. Please keep the lab windows locked at night for safety!
7. We will throw away the large green shelf outside the lab.
8. Primers - order by 11/30. YM wants new soft Concepcion et al 2008 coral primer set, CA and JDR will make some others too.
9. Nozawa-san from Kuroshio Lab will visit Thursday.
10. TF, YI, YM and JDR will go the 11th Japan Coral Reef Conference in Shizuoka this weekend. Check here for updates!
11. 3rd years and Masters seminar: Please prepare resumes, and send PDFs of the paper you are studying to the chair so it can be distributed to all members.
12. Tanks: this week: MO

13. Today's pictures were of Churaumi Aquarium training by YI. Next week, YS.

Picture above is of bubble anemone at Sunabe last week.

Lab meeting 2008.11.12

Present: MO, TF, YI, ES, YM, YS, MH, YH, CA, JDR
Absent: FS (Europe)

Not too much again today - everyone is busy with seminar preparation etc.

1. Money from Hedo and/or JCRS flights: YM and YH.
2. CA - trip to Osaka? Check with Intl. Student Office.
3. Friday a.m., go to the beach depending on weather for YH's research. YH, JDR, CA, ES, TF.
4. Jisshu: Friday night - Odo Beach during low tide... YM and JDR, TF will come along.
5. Tank this week: YS.
6. Makeman shopping: lights for TF and MH; salinity meter, blank DVDs, tissue. JDR will go Thursday p.m.
7. Part-time job: JDR needs transcription of Japanese interviews - TF will do it.
8. Pictures: Oops, YI and JDR mixed up, JDR showed pictures of Australia, next week is YI.
9. Computer (Windows XP with PAUP, net, Adobe Illustrator, etc.) now in lab, microscopes are moved to center table. Dissecting scope and mount ready to go but waiting for digital camera to arrive.
10. We have 36 l of tax-free ethanol (99%) = not for molecular but good for preserving etc. When you use it please fill out the paperwork in the lab by the formalin paperwork. If you have questions ask MO.

Today's picture is from the soft coral gardens during Friday's dive in Sunabe...

Sunabe Daiving

Today, we ( jamie and Catalina ,Takuma, Hibino,Eriko) dived at Sunabe.

After the diving, we ate burger in the restaurant (looks like Cafe..)

Burger is not big,a little expensive for the student, but it is very good !!!

And I order tortilla. delicious too!!

Let's go again !!

New book

Here is the first draft of very great book on chilean underwater fauna, with a particularly interesting zoanthid chapter ;o)

The main authors of the book, Vreni and Gunther, with me in the middle...

News from Europe

Takuma was definitively the most successful in histology!

After obtaining successful results withTakuma and Yanagi-san in Chiba, I had a wonderful flight over snowy Siberia (now I really want to go there!) and finally landed in Geneva before heading to the World Marine Biodiversity Conference in Valencia (Spain).

La Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, the conference site with great architecture

European way of moving around

The conference is great, unfortunately I would need some help as there is three session running in parallel and I still did not find a non lethal way to divide myself in three parts.

Two thumbs up for the auditorium with an aquarium background, when in some very rare cases the talks get boring it is fun to watch the fishes.

Lab meeting 2008.11.5

Short and sweet today.
Present: YM, YI, MH, YS, YH, CA
Absent: FS, TF (Chiba), MO (Tokyo), ES (Yokohama)

1. Internet - no illegal downloading please! Big Brother is evidently watching.
2. Car accident last weekend on the university loop - be careful, especially after rain.
3. Tank manager this week is YI.
4. Any lab things needed? Pincettes (ES and YM), light (MH), waterproof notes (all), specimen labels (how much?).
5. Taiwan/Aus collaboration potentail - check www.koryo.or.jp, and also discuss at JCRS.
6. Two 2nd year students are interested in our lab, so please invite them as buddies for trips to the ocean, and they can help while learning about our lab.
7. YM - presentation on glitter orchids - great! Thanks.
8. JDR back from Aus, great time!

Next week YI and Churaumi pix.

Today's picture is a giant giant clam (70 kg maybe) at the GBR, taken by JDR last week.

Histology

Here are some pics of Chiba, where TF and I (FS) are learning histology with Yanagi-sensei who is a very good professor. We are both totally enthusiastic with histology and nematocysts studies as we can see "immediate" results and it's quite fun to do.

Takuma concentrated on the selection of the polyps to cut.
In counterpart we showed Yanagi-san DNA extractions, and we will show him PCRs in the next days.
We enjoyed to go get some samples while the polyps were getting embedded.

Smily happy fish in the collection of the Chiba Museum
Smily fishes in my plate, in the menu: blue marlin, katsuo (the one on the way back to south, supposed to be different than the one from spring) and some other delicious fishes.

Now the polyps are embedded, the paraffin is hard so we need to trim our paraffin block and fix them so tomorrow we can start cutting, it looks easy but it is real art and f.....g difficult (at least for me and my two left hands).
Tomorrow will be a very long day slicing polyps and hoping that the sand will not mess everything...

In the news

Our Corallizoanthus work made the Okinawa newspapers, front page in one. Here are the links on the net (in Japanese - be warned):

http://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/storyid-137736-storytopic-1.html
http://www.okinawatimes.co.jp/news/2008-11-02-M_1-021-1_002.html

Nice to have get some publicity on the lesser-known organisms!

New additions to the library

Here are new books in the lab library:

1. Corals in Space and Time - JEN Veron.
2. AIMS Annual Report 2007.
3. Soft Corals and Sea Fans - K Fabricius & P. Alderslade
4. Hermatypic Corals of Japan - JEN Veron
5. Forgot the title (YI has it) but Surveying Methods of Coral Reefs or something like that, by S. Englsih et al.

JDR back from Aus

Hi all,

Back from Aus and a great meeting at AIMS, with a layover in Taipei and discussion with Allen Chen. Here are my thoughts/news/ideas on things in no particular order:

1. Marine biodiversity is getting a big push, not only in reefs, but in other areas, like the deep, lagoons, continental plains, etc. FS was right that we need to dive in "less beautiful" places!
2. Technology is going to be huge in the near future. This is obvious, but things like AUVs and ROVs, remote sensors, etc. will change how we measure biological data. We need to get on the wave.
3. Japan is VERY far behind in some areas, particularly education of university-level students, and facilities. Ryudai and almost every other university I have seen here would be put to shame by what is happening in Aus. I hope someone higher up in Japan wakes up before it is too late! One concrete example: use of the internet and computers as a teaching tool. Japan is still in the 70s or 80s...
4. We are also way behind, or perhaps a lost cause, in terms of management. GBR management, while imperfect, is miles ahead of what happens here. Perhaps I will become an eco-warrior. Someone has to drag us out of the Stone Age.
4b. Well, at least Japan and JAMSTEC are miles ahead on deep-sea stuff...
5. Great researchers in Aus, hope to get there again.
6. Dr. Carden Wallace and the Tropical Queensland Museum have a great coral collection. Wow.
7. Dr. Allen Chen and his lab are active, fun, and would be a great place for any of us to go do some workshops or research. We need to think of some great ideas we can work on together.

Today's pic is of a massive humphead wrasse on Wheeler Reef on the GBR.

Meeting 2008.10.22

JDR had only two hours' sleep, so apologies for any mistakes in advance.

Today's meeting info:
Present: JDR, FS, YM, CA, TF, ES, MH, YH, YS
Absent: MO (Tokyo), YI (Churaumi Aquarium)

Notices:
1. Please pay JDR money for Hedo camping if you have not already! He is a bit poor this week.
2. 3rd year/Master's seminar: will be held on Wednesdays after lab meetings. We explained guidelines and rules today. JDR also handed out schedules and information later Weds. Check your desk or inbox!
3. JCRS 11 poster printing: JDR will make reservations tomorrow. We will print between Nov. 18-20, depending on available times.
4. 3rd years - good luck on your research. Now is the time to get started seriously before spring exams and job hunting!
5. TF is tank water manager this week. Yoroshiku!
6. JDR, FS, YM, TF, and MH went to Manza last week after visiting Churaumi Aquarium. Great dive! Also, we got to see YI doing her on-the-job training class at the aquarium. Nice boots! YM will do some electron microscopy with Nonaka-san.

Trips:
1. JDR off to Townsville, Australia for the3rd Japan-Australia Marine Research meeting. Oct.25-Nov.1
2. FS is thinking of Yonaguni sometime over winter holidays (Dec. 24-Jan.9)
3. FS and TF go to Chiba from Nov. 1st to Nov. 5th to work with Yanagi-san on histology and DNA.

Today's presentation was CA, who showed us pictures of Colombia. The food looked particularly good. Next week; YM.

Today's picture is an octocoral at Manza from last weekend - CA.

Have a nice week!

Lab meeting 2008.10.15

Just a few things this week at the meeting:

Present: Everyone except YS.
1. Tanks: We are back to weekly tank-keepers. This week is ES, next week is TF, and the last week of October is MH. We have a salinity meter, and pH monitor as well, so please use these. Even if you do not go to the beach, it is the monitor's job to remind others to get seawater.
2. We will have weekly seminars for 3rd years and masters students on Wednesdays from about 16:30 in room 528. This is for YM, CA, MH, YH, and YS, but others can attend too. Don't forget to register by October 23rd!
3. As well, we will have a writing class for students interested in writing papers. MO, YM, CA, YI, and TF wish to join. It will be on Thursdays at about 5 pm.
4. FS will go to NE Okinawa on Saturday. If you are interested please tell him.
5. JDR, YM, CA, TF, MH, and FS will go to Churaumi and Bise for research/diving next Tuesday.

MO did a quick slide show today, showing us pictures of Singapore.

Today's picture is from CA's entrance ceremony last week.

Lab meeting 2008.10.8

Quick meeting this week, many small announcements...

1. CA has arrived - and has met everyone but YH. She also brought some nice souvenirs from Colombia with her. TF is addicted to them already. Welcome to the lab!
2. From next week (Oct. 15th) we will have small presentations during the lab meetings every week. If he is here, MO will show pictures from Singapore.
3. For students who have not paid, please pay JDR for 1) Hedo camping, and 2) JCRS air tickets. Thank you.
4. Tank management will start next week, rotating turns as detailed last week. You do not necessarily have to get water yourself if you arrange for someone else to get some.
5. Wish list - MISE has a bit of extra budget. Write your ideas down on the list on the fridge in the student room.
6. This weekend, FS and JDR will take CA to the beach for a snorkel. Place and date to be announced on Friday. We may have a BBQ too, as we have extra charcoal left over from Hedo camping. All welcome!
7. Yakiniku this Friday night. We will leave the university around 6:30 pm. All welcome. Location: Chatan.
8. The eMac is now hooked up to the net, so feel free to use it for pictures, net, or music.

Also...
9. YH needs to explain the lab rules to YS, who will make a sheet.
10. Two new iBooks arrive tomorrow for CA and YI.
11. All 3rds years - buy slippers for the lab ASAP, and CA too!

Have a nice weekend, and check out this link (look at the bottom right corner)!
http://tenkaichi-stadium.com/tenkaichi.html

Oh yes, MR says thanks thanks thanks for the wanwan!

Today's picture: Tasty-looking lobster from Oku. All we took were photos. Photo: FS.

Course Blog

Blog link for Coral Reef Diversity and Conservation course to be taught by JDR added. Check here for class updates and recommnded reading.

Lab Meeting 2008.10.1

End of summer, fall semester is almost here...

Notes from today's meeting:
Present: FS, MO, YM, ES, TF, JDR
Absent: YI (touring Okinawa), MH & YH (visiting home), YS (broken motorbike)

1. Tanks: The two common tanks will have a "monitor" every week to make sure they are OK. As well, the monitor will make sure there is enough ocean water, and take steps to ensure that people get water. Also, occasionally water should be changed, as otherwise salt content will become higher and higher. For individual's tanks (YM and TF), you are responsible for your own tank!

2. "Normal" lab meetings with short (5 min) presentations will start Oct. 15th - if he is here, MO will show Singapore pictures.

3. The student room key is now on your right side when you enter the experiment room, on a hook. Don't panic if you can't find the key in its old location.

4. Don't forget to pay lab money.

5. We have some extra budget, so if there is anything you need write it on the "wish list" on the student room fridge.

6. When you know your 2nd term schedule, please tell JDR, so we can arrange a lab seminar. For this term, 3rd years and Masters students will all do the seminar together. 4th years are also welcome to attend, of course.

7. CA arrives this weekend! We made desk space for her, and discussed going to the airport to pick her up. FS, YI, ES, and JDR et al. will go welcome her. We will have dinner earlier at the airport too. Probably (if the weather is fine) we will go to the student festival on Sunday.

8. FS and YM will get an inkan ordered for CA. JDR will take her to the bank.

That's all for now, have a great week.

Today's picture is YH taking a picture of a lion fish at Oku during the camp trip.

adventurous snorkeling on day 2 @ Hedo

While a group chose the close beach of Oku to go snorkeling (maybe to be sure to be on time for breakfeast...), another group decided to go check the entrance down the cliff at Hedo. The access was exciting but worth it. We snorkeled a bit toward the Cape, but we soon met some strong current pushing us away so we decided to swim back and rather explore tidepools where we met lots of spanish dancers (YH maybe fell in love...) and some very nice zoanthids...

TF, our guide

YI and YH following

The new love of YH

YI, YH and TF

Camping @ Cape Hedo - Day 3

Thanks to the air conditioning, people wake up slightly later today.

8:30am: Breakfast - pancakes! By YH and YS.
8:30-10am: Cleaning up and packing.
10am: Check out. We hit the road heading south from Cape Hedo along the eastern coast of Okinawa.
11am: Arrive at Yona Tunnel dive point, thanks to guidance by TF. Everyone except YS and M&M head for the water.
12:30pm: Back on the beach. Nice dive, lots of current and zoanthids. Find some rare unknown specimens, and Parazoanthus gracilis too.
2pm: Lunch in Nago, at a soba restaurant near YI's parents' home.
5pm: Everyone is back at the university, cleaning and unpacking.

A great trip! As is said in Japanese, "otsukare sama"!

Picture: The alien world of Yona Tunnel point.

Camping @ Cape Hedo - Day 2

HOT! The heat wakes most people (except M) up at about 6:30 or 7.
7am: Off to Oku Beach for a quick snorkel! Nice way to wake up.
8am: Breakfast - wow, like a restaurant - by ES and MH.
9:30am: Off to the beach for a dive - some people go to Oku, others to Hedo for a more adventurous entrance. Great dives, not too deep, but lots of coral and zoanthids.
1pm: Everyone is back at the bungalow. The river is a perfect way to wash the saltwater out of your wetsuit.
1:30pm: Lunch - okonomiyaki by YI and TF. Amazingly, no bones in it!
2:30pm: More people off for the next dive.
5pm: Back again. Frisbee, naps, or relaxing.
7pm: BBQ dinner again - JDR and MR make pork ribs with sauce.
9pm: Night dive or snorkel - Oku. Lots of lobster out and about. Very dark night, you can see Yoron Island and the Milky Way.
11:30pm: TF starts preparing seafood; like an "inaka izakaya". Poker breaks out.
3am: The end of poker, bedtime with the aircon on - we have learned from yesterday.

Picture: The perfect place for research! Oku Beach.

Camping @ Cape Hedo - Day 1

Hello - back from a great camping trip to Cape Hedo at the northern end of Okinawa. All members except MO (in Singapore) were able to participate. Weather was great, dives were fine, and everyone managed to dive or snorkel and get some research done.

As camping was 3 days - I will just do a quick overview of each day, so to start here is Day 1.

10 am: FS, TF, YI and JDR meet at Seatopia and fill up their cars with 28 tanks!
11 am: YM starts getting sampling gear ready in the lab with MH.
12 noon: Leave the university. BIG RAIN - uh oh.
2:30 pm: Shopping for food in Nago.
4:30 pm: Arrive in Oku and check in.
5:00 pm: A quick trip to Oku Beach for a snorkel.
8:30 pm: Dinner - chicken BBQ by FS and YM.
10:00 pm: Poker - taught by JDR, but he loses big - MH is the big winner.

Everyone falls asleep before midnight after a long day!

Lab Meeting 2008.9.17

Lots to discuss today...

1. Lab camping next week at Cape Hedo-misaki. We have rented a bungalow for two nights - everyone can come except MO, who will be in Singapore at Raffles Biodiversity Museum. Camping details...
a. Groups of two people will be responsible for one meal each. JDR will get some meat for BBQs this weekend. All food costs willl be divided evenly.
b. We need 28 tanks!!
c. Bring sleeping bags, fun stuff, and drinks too (juice, etc.).
d. JDR, FS, YI, and YM will drive cars.
e. Each person needs to pay about 1500 yen for the two nights to JDR.

Also, normal meeting items...
2. Slippers for the lab for YH and YS. YH needs to explain lab rules to YS.
3. JDR and YS will snorkel at Convention Center this Friday from 10am - Zoanthus spp. identification practice and snorkeling practice.
4. FS kindly asks that when you are doing experiments to put your slippers back on the shelf to not crowd the entrance.
5. ES, MO, and YM will get ocean water for the lab tanks from Sesoko. If this doesn't work we will switch back to weekly responsibility for everyone.
6. Please write your name on the hub end of the LAN cables in the student room. The hub has 7 ports, and there are 9 students - this is necessary to avoid disconnecting people from the net inadvertantly. Another hub has been ordered and should arrive soon.

Picture today of an Epizoanthus illoricatus colony at 30m at Manza.

JCRS update

One more short note. It looks like JDR, YM, YI, and TF will all attend the 11th JCRS Conference in Shizuoka. Great news!

2008.9.10 Meeting

Meeting notes from today - at 1 p.m. instead of 4.

Absent - MH and YH diving, TF in Yaeyama, ES at a practical course, and MO on his way to or from the airport.
Present - FS, YM, YS, YI, and JDR.

1. Typhoon coming! Check IMOC for details, but this nasty storm has cancelled the trip to Kumejima this weekend. Make sure all dive gear is inside, and no computers or electronic gear are near windows. Shut all windows as well.
2. 11th Japan Coral Reef Conference is in Shizuoka this year, Nov. 22-24. Application deadline for presentations is September 26th. If possible, it is highly recommended to go. Confirmed attendees: JDR, hoping others may come!
3. Sasagawa Scholarships for Research: MO received this for this year, so if you want to apply (4th years who are continuing and YM), see MO for advice and help.
4. Printer in the student room is out of ink. New ink has been ordered, but if you need something printed soon, use JDR's in his office.
5. For 3rd years:
a. lab fees (for stationary and other supplies that are too complicated and wasteful to get from the Uni) are 200 yen each month. Please put the money in the jar on the fridge, and check off the payment on the sheet on the fridge.
b. Slippers for the lab!
c. YH and YS - bring computers to hook up to the network.

See you next week - important meeting as we discuss Hedo camping.

Today's picture is MH starting her research at Manza. Great dives last week.