A not so deep dive into the Bass Program “Learning from Whales”: Challenge, Collaboration and Communications
Learn more about the challenges and advantages to being a part of a Bass team according to team leader Thomas Schultz.
By: Noelle Fuchs (Trinity ’25)
We know that science is invaluable. But what impact can it have if it is not communicated properly to the right audience? It is critical that we consider the importance of communication, especially when it comes to sharing noteworthy research findings. On the other hand, communication does not go far without knowledge. To learn more about the research, the history and future of the program, and the team dynamic of Learning from Whales, I sat down with one of the team leaders, Tom Schultz. Doing so helped me establish a unique perspective on the flexibility and communication skills required to make a program like Bass operate. Initially, I felt like I was thrown into the deep end. But throughout the interview, I was reminded why I signed up for Bass in the first place.
​
Challenges: Swimming Uphill!
One of the most unique aspects of Bass is being able to get involved in research as an undergraduate student. Tom and I talked about this experience from both the the student and team leader perspective.
“It's the aha moments, right?... the path of discovery and actually using research and experimentation to discover how science progresses and how slow science is,” said Tom. “I think one of the things that's really interesting is the students; they sign up for Bass thinking they're going to be out doing whale watching every day. And then once they get into it, they realize that even the people who are responsible for doing the whale watching are not out there every day,” he added. “But again, it's maybe not an aha moment, but a learning experience. And it's a learning experience that doesn’t come from sitting in a class and listening to a lecture and having somebody talk to PowerPoint slides, but by actually doing things.”
“The deep end's not a bad place to be if you don't drown,” Tome shared. “It doesn't make sense at first, but the more you show up and the more you hear it, the more you listen to it, and the better it gets. But you have to put in the time and the work to do it, especially if it's something you enjoy.”
Collaboration: Seas the Day!
Being a part of a Bass program, and this project specifically, opens up so many opportunities to learn about team dynamics.
“I think it's really good for students to work as a team and learn about teamwork and contributing to a project and how that works. And then watching the interpersonal dynamics and how you move things forward,” he said.
Something that was also mentioned during our discussion was how truly valuable it is to have so many intelligent people from divergent backgrounds as a part of this Bass group. It is evident this team is comprised of many diverse leaders, with impressive knowledge in their respective areas, who enable growth and demonstrate the value of collaborating with people from all backgrounds. Having the perspective of a physiologists, geneticists, cancer biologists and marine scientists all in one cohesive group adds a lot to trajectory of the research and is what drives the answer to many of our questions.
“It's kind of funny, because I hadn't appreciated this,” said Tom. “I'm not sure I ever make this point very effectively, but I'm going to keep making it, because it's an important point. Right now, we are using the term diversity in our society to mean a very specific thing, cultural, racial diversity. Right? That diversity is so important in everything that we do. You see it in our team,” he continued “I love the fact that we have a diverse team that has different people with different expertise. That diversity is rich and plays out on so many distinct levels that it can go unappreciated. You don't realize how rich it is to have such a diverse scientific team until you really start interacting with them.”
Communications: A Whale of Tale
One of the key takeaways of our conversation was, unsurprisingly, the value of communication on all levels. Communication and collaboration between individuals in a team is important, but so is communication between researchers and the broader scientific community. The way in which science is presented to the general public can make a dramatic difference in levels of awareness and education when it comes to critical, yet overwhelming, topics like marine conservation and climate change.
​
“But scientists need to do a better job at communicating their science at a level that everybody understands,” emphasized Tom. “ Some people do that really well and some don't. And that's where science communication, in my mind, really becomes important.”
Given the immense diversity presented by the team leaders of this Bass program, it would be both interesting and valuable to solicit the input and opinion of other team leaders, each of whom have a unique background that interacts with the project. Beyond a doubt, working to understand the intricacies of molecular adaptations that marine animals undergo to sustain themselves in an underwater environment is vital work, but it would be difficult to make research progress without the support and diversity that a group like this one provides.
As my interview with Tom ended, I was energized and enlightened by our conversation. He’s obviously passionate about marine science and teaching; someone equally comfortable at sea and in the Bass classroom. And he knows how to share a whale of tale. Thank you Tom for the inspiration.