We built this city on rock and roll

One of the challenging things about our field season, which makes it kind of unique amongst field programs, is that we're not doing that much actual "field work". Certainly the field work is a critical piece, and our proximity to the ocean is key. However, we come all the way here and then basically spend several days setting up a lab in a remote location. From Monday until now, we have been setting up and making noise. Soundtracks are included.

Caulking projects: The Rolling Stones, The Eagles, Right Said Fred

Caulking projects. Here's hoping it doesn't leak.

Other, more creative caulking projects.

We arrange the tanks with water recirculators so we can keep them at constant temperature. The lights and black plastic control the simulated night/day cycle. This is the heart of the project. 

Soundtrack: UB40, REO Speedwagon, Steve Miller Band

In reality, the soundtrack here was overlain by some "heavy lifting" noises.

Er... what?

My, what a lot of tubing we have. Oh, more snakes!

We have now reassembled the microscopes. Soundtrack: Ray Lamontagne, Carly Simon

I actually took about 30 pictures of this one, so I can remember to get it right when disassembling it later.
I'll spare you the full set.

A few weeks ago, I bought a bale of bubble wrap. Literally, it was the size of a bale of hay, one of the big round ones. I used up most of it in packing glassware.

Soundtrack: War (Low Rider), Rupert Holmes (the Piña Colada Song)

All that bubble wrap just to cushion a teeny ground glass stopper...

Lining the countertops with lab shelf paper is an important team effort.
Note the brand new scissors, the result of another Costco adventure.

Calibrating all of the meters. Soundtrack: Cameo, George Clinton, The Isley Brothers.

Are you sure I press this one?

Assembling the filtration apparatus. Soundtrack: Los Van Van.

It all starts as a jumble of more tubing. It took me 4 trips just to assemble all this!

Finally found an appropriate use for those tweezers that come in a Swiss Army knife.
You know, the ones you always lose, along with the toothpick?

Demonstrating the use of the filtration apparatus.

We did a lot of other stuff, too. We washed glassware for a few hours, and then did it some more. I got out all of the collecting gear and laid it out in the sun and untangled it, which took an hour. We pumped up the buoys, which sounds a lot more exciting than it actually is. The most exciting part about it, frankly, was that I didn't end up having to use a foot pump.