| Today I graduated from MIT! I'm incredibly grateful for the many, many people who helped me get to this point. Since I didn't graduate from high school, this is was my first degree (B.Sc. in Mechanical and Ocean Engineering). Even though I missed the ceremony, I followed along the live feed and flipped the "brass rat" class ring with the rest of my classmates. Someone put a model of Doc Edgerton's iconic milk drop image on their cap at commencement. I've been working with the MIT Edgerton Center (blog post here) to use their remarkable high-speed camera for Mission 31. With this camera, we'll try to capture Goliath Grouper's unique feeding behavior, hoping to validate an unproven theory that they use the sound of a collapsing cavitation bubble formed in their head as a weapon to stun prey. We should produce some amazing footage if all works. We tested the Edgertronic camera by filming the M31 German Shepherd mascot "feeding" on milk (video here). Doc Edgerton also worked with Jacques Cousteau. The commencement speeches were inspiring, such as MIT President's Reif's charge below: |  I flipped my "brass rat" class ring undersea at approximately the same time as my classmates at commencement today. (Photo Nokia Lumia 1020)  Graduation hat with Doc Edgerton's iconic milk drop image. Credit to @ctempesta |
| "Whatever road you choose to travel, I want you to reject the idea that what you see in front of you is the best that we human beings can do. I want you to see the status quo as nothing more than ... a place to start, because you know we can do better. ... More daring and more passionate. More rigorous, playful, and ambitious. More humble, more respectful, more generous, and more kind." -- from MIT President Reif's commencement charge to graduates today |
 The best graduation gift: The aquanauts in Aquarius put a special graduation message inside the habitat visible on the live feed camera (top right). Thanks guys :) One of my favorite quotes: Do something you're not ready to do. In the worst case, you'll learn your limitations. -- Marissa Mayer |  I'll always remember freshman year when my physics professor said one of his students gave him his Nobel Prize to thank him for his mentorship. He then rummaged around his top desk drawer and among pencils and paper clips, he pulled out the medal and handed it to me! It was heavy! I was awestruck and took a picture of the medal on top of my physics problem set due the next day. |
Right now I'm excited for ...
- World Oceans Day, which is Sunday
- The Edgertronic high-speed camera arriving with its new waterproof housing from Sexton Corporation next week (Doc Edgerton)
- Ian Sommerhalder visiting tomorrow (Ian's foundation)
- Dinner with Sylvia Earle and Jean-Michel Cousteau (tonight!)
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