Meet John Dower

Meet John Dower

What is your job title?

Associate Professor

What do you study and why is it important?

I'm a biological oceanographer. My main area of interest concerns the ways in which interactions between physical and biological processes regulate production in marine ecosystems. This is important because variations in production at the bottom of the food chain determine hoe much energy is ultimately available to support higher trophic level organisms such as fish, seabirds, marine mammals and fishing vessels (the ultimate top predators in marine ecosystems!).

What will you be doing on the Rumble III voyage?

I will be helping to over see the hydrographic surveys (with the CTD rosette) and the zooplankton sampling (with the MOCNESS).

Where were you educated?

I did my BSc in Biology at Memorial University of Newfoundland (Canada) and my PhD, also in Biology, at the University of Victoria in British Columbia (Canada).

How did you become interested in the ocean?

I guess it's in my blood. I grew up around the ocean, and my family have been fishermen in coastal Newfoundland since the mid 1800's.

Do you get seasick? And if so, any tips on how not to?

Nope. I guess that's also in my blood. Staying on deck, where you can see the horizon and feel the sea-breeze (and not smell the diesel smell below decks!), seems to help many people.

What do you enjoy about your work?

I'm a university professor, but I much prefer to be out on a ship....anywhere, any time. In fact, I often joke that my worst day at sea (a 36hr stint in 15m seas in the North Pacific) is still better than my best day behind a computer in my office.

What are some of the challenges you face?

Finding creative ways to get out of my office so that I can go to sea!

What have you learned/discovered? What do you hope to learn?

Hmm....let's see. I've helped to show (i) how isolated seamounts support rich fish stocks, (ii) that small-scale turbulence can control the feeding and growth of larval fish, and (iii) that vertically migrating krill may represent a previously unrecognized source of ocean mixing. What do I hope to learn? The secret to making truly fall-off-the-bone BBQ ribs.

How do you spend your spare time?

Does listening to loud obnoxious puck music count? If so, then that's my answer. If not, then I'd have to say cooking.