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Title
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Dr. Russell Cuhel
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Type
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Primary: Host Researcher
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Operation
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Resilient Planet
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Mission:
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Mission 1: Invaders
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Subjects
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Science
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Grades
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5 | 6 | 7 | 8
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Keywords
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Dr. Russell Cuhel; Senior Scientist; Great Lakes WATER Institute at the University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee; ecology; Lake Michigan; alien; mussel; zebra; quagga; ecological; balance; University of California, San Diego, Scripps Institute for Oceanography, oceanographer, Perth; Australia; Antarctica, New Zealand, sea, biology, chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MIT, ALVIN, deep sea vessel, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, Rosensteil School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Miami
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Duration
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00:00:00 (HH:MM:SS)
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Audience
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Teachers | Elementary Grades | Junior High
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Created On
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3/10/2008
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Copyright
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Peter Haydock, The JASON Project
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From: Resilient Planet Mission 1: Invaders |
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Dr. Russell Cuhel Read about Dr. Russell Cuhel, a Host Researcher from Operation: Resilient Planet. |
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Dr. Russell Cuhel
Host Researcher,
Ecologist,
Great Lakes WATER Institute,
Milwaukee, WI
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Dr. Russell Cuhel is Senior Scientist at the Great Lakes WATER Institute at the University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. Russell is studying the ecology of Lake Michigan. He is particularly interested in two alien mussel species and how they affect the ecological balance of the lake.
Dr. Cuhel spent his childhood in California. His first taste of the excitement of scientific exploration came with a few unexpected mishaps with his chemistry set. Today he bares the scars, but fondly remembers the first time he was awed by the power of chemistry.
After high school, Russell went to college at University of California, San Diego. To help pay his educational expenses, he participated in a work/study program at The Scripps Institute for Oceanography. He was in charge of cleaning the laboratory glassware.
"I was a dishwasher!" Russell explained.
Although the job might not have been too exciting, his work environment was full of oceanographers who went on adventurous expeditions to investigate extraordinary problems out at sea. Russell relentlessly requested to go. Finally, he had his chance – he set sail on a scientific expedition to Perth, Australia and onto Antarctica and New Zealand. Russell immediately connected to the sea. He loved the challenge of collecting samples in rough seas and being part of a scientific quest.
"If this was oceanography," he declared, "I wanted to be part of it!"
When he returned to school, he realized it would take a lot of knowledge to work as an oceanographer. He set his mind on earning two degrees, one in biology and another in chemistry.
As he completed his studies, Russell and other oceanographers would get together at the local T.G.I.Friday's restaurant to share ideas and debate scientific issues. One such encounter opened an opportunity for Russell to attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
"I have always told my students," Russell confides, "Networking cannot make up for a lack of substance, but networking can make substance work for you!"
Through MIT, Dr. Cuhel clocked many hours working on the ALVIN, a deep-sea vessel at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute. He continued his work at the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Miami before moving on to what Dr. Cuhel describes as his dream job at the Great Lakes WATER Institute.
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