Ellen Prager Chasing The Sea

The greatest alien geographical feature on Earth turns out to be the open sea. The human population has supposedly only investigated about five percent of the world’s oceans, leaving the rest open for breakthrough in finding new life. Marine scientist Dr. Ellen Prager discusses the importance of the study of the seven seas in her book, Chasing The Sea: Racing Hurricanes, Stalking Sharks, and Living Undersea with Ocean Experts. Dr. Prager displays the research, analysis and importance of the study of the ocean and the life forms, which exist in the parts of the unknown on Earth. Through the perspective of many marine scientists, a documentation of their experiences and accumulation of knowledge provides an in-depth view into the life of a very

interesting career. The call of marine biology is amplified and illustrated through the countless stories and adventures of Prager and other marine scientists.

As chief scientist of Aquarius, an underwater research station, Dr. Prager shows the personal accounts of the hardships and success of the unpredictable world of the oceans in Chasing the Sea. As chief of a marine biology research center, Prager’s reputation and qualifications make her an ideal educator on the marine environment and is more than capable to help with the exploration of the oceans. Prager’s focus on the spread of awareness to the general public about the ocean sciences through the platforms of media, books, and cooperation with differing organizations bringing to life the surprise, frustration and danger in marine fieldwork, both above and below the waves. Dr. Prager’s work regarding the ocean and its impact on the world have been published and spread to all ages. Her exploration in marine science allows for an educational study on importance of the ocean and why the mystery of the seas matters and how the future of ocean study can look like.

The public’s interest in the unexplored oceans stems from an appreciation of the mystery inherently present within them and the surprises dark depth of the oceans hold for explorers. Prager’s multiple personal experiences are not limited to a strict scientific study; undeniably, she also instills a sense of humor and fate in the reader. For instance, a narrative shared by her colleague Captain Phil Sacks, who encounters the carcass of a sperm whale and attempts to capture a few teeth as relics, is met by one of Nature’s greatest hunters: sharks. They naturally did not want to share the remains with Captain Sacks but his fascination for sharks made this event into a happy coincidence one of the most memorable times on his time at sea. The adrenaline and thrill from the close encounters of sharks has always been a dream of mine. The adventures and experiences of the Prager and her colleagues instill a sense of duty within myself and a sense of courage to go swimming or at least witness the majesty life of sharks. The adventures of Prager and her team range from major catastrophes as avoiding oncoming hurricanes to peaceful moments such as whale watching.

Alongside an in-depth background of marine science and research, Dr. Prager mentions that even though fieldwork is important in studying the ocean, the costs sometimes outweigh the benefits. The research devoted to the exploration of the ocean depths are lacking in more ways than one. The collection and research of data on the ocean’s top comes with a hefty price, meanwhile underwater fieldwork requires far more funding just for the equipment necessary to travel undersea. Due to the fact that the latter research isn't a top priority to most nations across the globe, scientists have to rely on the grants given by the government, private institutions, and sponsors of similar minded individuals with deeper pockets. I feel as if this bias towards the small funding of oceanic exploration should be changed to become fairer to marine scientists. While the government annually spends nearly eighteen billion on space exploration, only a fraction of that money is invested into the scrutiny of the ocean. I appreciated the fact that Prager seemed truthful and forthcoming towards the subjects of her fieldwork and obstacles. This bias towards the appropriation of funds might stem from a greater interest in space research driven by the public’s curiosity and the fascination of life outside of our planet Earth. Due to the lack of funding, marine exploration has become increasingly competitive among the science community, as has the interest of underwater exploration grown in the communities of students aiming for a career in marine biology. Through Prager’s expedition, she explains the need for the validation of satellite observations of the seas through fieldwork to learn more about the undiscovered oceans. A real time issue comes to life as Prager offers an analysis of the budget of ocean exploration needed to properly conduct studies and results.
Through her novel, Prager hopes to convince that researching and the exploration of the ocean is just as important as the exploration of space.

While both fields carry importance within the science community, I feel that both should be given equal opportunities to be explored. Prager also expresses that students should have more opportunities for fieldwork and research when studying the seas. She continues to express the importance of fieldwork to not only students in marine sciences, but in any field of science. The physical action of working and collecting data alongside performing observational studies has been proven to improve students’ ability to learn. Prager vocalizes that the discovery and uncover of the mysteries of the oceans is through the future generation of scientists. In my eyes, the money spent on ocean and space exploration should be equal. The general understanding is that the creation of life might have begun in the depths of the oceans. With a scientific background I feel as if the exploration of the oceans should be given more attention to the exploration of space. The exploration of the oceans might lead to new clues on how the human population truly came to be. Marine exploration should be just as important as space exploration because this bias of funding is not evenly distributed within the science community. I learned that our actions here on land in terms of trash and debris management have a huge impact on the marine life throughout the oceans, as certain areas of the ocean are becoming dead zones due to our negligence and improper disposable of our debris. Prager concludes with the discussion of how the oceans are changing due to the impact of human negligence, and the importance of scientific research to understanding how these changes will affect our lives in the

future.
As for the book overall, I can state with full confidence that the text captured my interest and only dug deeper into the mystery of the unknown in the seas. One of the key themes that captured my interest was Prager’s personal experiences and anecdotes. Another one of her strong elements includes her testimonials, which helps guide the audience through her through process of the journey on sea. The addition of the subchapter about her own mistakes while out in the field allows the readers to be able to resonate and understand that even scientists are prone to error. The realization brought along with each chapter on the true meaning of a life on sea shows the hardships experienced by marine scientists, something you can’t find anywhere else. A key mindset set by Prager in her themes is that optimism is crucial while being a scientist out in the field. Trial and error is the constant process of field scientists and it was beneficial to see that even though mistakes are bound to happen, persistence will not recognize failure. The diction of the book was easy to follow and it was admirable how Prager was able to connect multiple points to emphasize one key message. One key point of the text was the connection between Prager’s colleagues and the sum of their experiences and knowledge into a book was rather easy and interesting to follow instead of being boring and repetitious. The addition of these experiences brings forth an interest in myself that I have not yet found in many scientific based novels. This interest allows me to concentrate on the book and learn more about the marine scientific life of a scientist. The choice of words and diction lead me to believe that the book is intended for a mature audience with a slight background in marine biology or even a basic understanding of oceanic principles.

As the chapters continued to talk about new topics such as underwater habitats, a slight background of the development and history is the habitats were really helpful. The text continued to talk about the usefulness of these habitats, which got me thinking more in depth about the research, and exploration of these living conditions underwater. Something I found in the text that I valued was how Prager didn’t hide the negative aspects of the fieldwork. The passages were full length in detail divulging into the danger and frustration of the life of a marine scientist. Prager takes a direct approach towards the dangers in the line of her work. She constantly discusses the possible threat of hurricanes, severe rain and waves, which could wreck a fighter ship. This straightforward approach about the prerequisites of the job as a marine scientist instills a sense of trust between the author and myself, which includes other readers. There is plenty of mystery in the ocean to go around, the author doesn’t need to keep anything secret from her audience nevertheless. Another aspect I admired was the addition of pictures periodically throughout the chapters. Even though pictures are thought to be for works of literature other than scientific, the incorporation of a real life image brings to life the day-to-day adventures discussed in the chapters which helped me visualize the readings.

Overall, I believe that this is an excellent book for those who are interested in the life of marine biology. Prager’s inspirational text about the science of the sea is sure to instill a sense of directionality in those who are interested in the career choice of a marine scientist. This book is a treasure waiting to be discovered by people interested in the study of the mystery of the sea. The depth of experience and insight behind the book alongside the testimonials and adventures of Prager’s colleagues causes this book to be a page-turner. It truly is a testament to the sacrifices that many marine scientists must go through and the hardships that they have to endure. However, Prager clarifies that all of the obstacles are worth overcoming to witness the beauty and magic of the oceans. I can appreciate her approach while writing this book, as it was targeted to educate readers about the full devotion into a line of study. She uses her experiences to not only inform the reader, but to also inspire them to follow their curiosities and turn them into answers that could eventually benefit the world. Once more, I support the points that Dr. Prager makes about why people in general should care about the ocean, and about how the study of marine science is important to us. While exploring and figuring out what our galaxy holds, I find it just as crucial to figure out exactly what our own planet Earth is hiding from us. I believe that it is our job as a population to take care of our oceans, and to explore them as much as we are capable. I highly recommend this read to any audience, whether young or old, educated or looking to be educated. This text was an astonishing piece of literature. The information provides a detailed amount of insight to anyone who reads it. This book has instituted a sense of newfound passion in regards towards a more economically advantageous lifestyle alongside a newfound interest in marine biology.