A brief overview of the Argonauts day:
It is now 7:52 PM on Friday the third. tomorrow we will be rising from bed around 1:45 and eating a simple breakfast before our long 19 hour day. It is necessary for us to leave our bedding at 3:00 am at the latest, for we are expected to arrive at our broadcast site at 3:45-4:00 ( a typical sequence of events in the JASON life for argonauts).
Once we have arrived someone will direct us toward the station at which we will be located. We, argonauts, will either stay at this station throughout the day or we will be rotated with other argos. Each station is very different. Each station is another field of science, save one. The stations are: Astronomy, Biology, Geology, "Genetics," Helicopter viewing of the Pu'u 'O'o cone, and a back stage interactive interview with the cast.
I, for example, began today with the "Roving Reporter" station, the interactive interview. I remained at this station for the first two broadcasts, out of five. After the first two a van transported me to the active lava flow. I, personally, was working with Dr. Frank Sansone, a marine Chemist. In this station we actually take a sample of flowing, molten lava. We place the sample in either fresh or sea water and test a few things: has the water gained temperature, has it become more or less acidic, and by how much.
If you've watched a broadcast you will remember in this station a spatula is used to take the samples. This is my favorite station. However, other argos have very different opinions.
The roaming reporter station is much more relaxed, compared to the rest of the show. This acts as our Comic Relief and has turned out to be one of the most popular sections on the show.
The Biology section is based partially on insects. In fact this section is almost Entomology, with the exception of a bird studied, called the Honeycreeper.
Astronomy works well while it is dark. However, there are five broadcasts ranging from 5:00AM to 12 noon and later in the day the astronomical point of view is limited.
The helicopter ride is incredible, but most argos only have one ride. The Chopper flies to the Pu'u O'o cone about five miles away and the argo inside receives a birds eye view of the cone.
Of course it is possible for an Argonaut to have an off period. I almost consider this a disadvantage, because we only have four or five hours of sleep; when we have nothing to keep our mind occupied it almost shuts off. By 7:00 PM we are so exhausted that we laugh and giggle at very stupid things. This adds to the amusement of the trip.
I believe everyone is having a blast, we are all learning and are looking down on returning home. Be sure to come view a broadcast soon.
Josh Holman
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Gene Carl
Feldman
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Todd Carlo Viola,
JASON Foundation for Education
(todd@jason.org)