Research

Expedition team OAR Northwest in training _____ photo: Joel Rogers

Principle Investigator
B. Anders Holmberg, M.Sc.
Doctorate Candidate
University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK)
Department of Kinesiology, Recreation, and Sport Studies

Anders Holmberg has seventeen years of rowing and coaching experience.  As a national team rower for Sweden, Anders competed at World Championships and European regattas.  Anders maintains a competitive profile, winning in his class at Boston’s Head of the Charles Regatta.  He currently coaches Seattle Rowing Center oarsmen and UTK Lady Vols Rowing Team, and in August will become sport psychologist for UTK campus sport teams.  Anders entered coaching career with Boston University Men’s Crew.

While pursuing his doctorate degree in Kinesiology, Anders focus on sport psychology and motor behavior involves the use of psychology to enhance performance.  Additionally, he investigates the roles of coaches and how they affect their athletes.  Anders uses interview techniques with Olympians and World Champion rowers, such as in a recent study (manuscript in preparation) examining expert rowers’ personal experiences of mental imagery use.

Existential-Phenomenological Psychology

Anders wishes to create an image of the physiological and mental characteristics needed to withstand the demands of crossing an ocean, unsupported.  To learn about ocean rowers’ experience of crossing an ocean (alone or as part of a crew), the investigator carries out a phenomenological investigation that involves the oarsmen of the Oar Northwest expedition team.  Using a qualitative research methodology – existential-phenomenological – the study’s objective is to uncover and descriptively express themes of individual rowers’ experience and describe “keystones” that come into play, such as, the characteristics of the performer, the demands of the task, and the performance setting.

Sleep Science

In a partnership with Fatigue Science and a team lead by Dr. Charles Samuels from the Centre for Sleep and Human Performance at the University of Calgary, OAR Northwest will use Fatigue Science Readibands during the Salish Sea and Africa to Americas expeditions.  Using these bands during regimented sleep cycles, OAR Northwest will compile data for each crew member and provide it via satellite upload for analysis by Dr. Samuels and his team.

Marine and Oceanographic Science

Partnering Members:

Dr. Fritz Stahr                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  University of Washington, School of Oceanography

Eric Grossman                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        United States Geological Survey (USGS), Marine Geologist

Dr. Joel Elliot                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   University of Puget Sound, Marine Biology

The ocean vessel is equipped with instrumentation that measures and provides the following parameters:

Automatic:

Water Temperature, Water Salinity, Water Turbidity, Disolved Oxygen Content of Water, Chlorophyll Content, Broad Spectrum Hydrophone, Air Temperature, Wind Chill Temperature, Apparent and True Wind Speed and Direction, Barometric Pressure, GPS Latitude and Longitude, Heading, Pitch and Roll

Manual:

At Depth (~50 feet) Water Conductivity, Temperature, Salinity, Pressure, and Speed of Sound

Photo and Video of Marine Life (Animal/Bird/Marine Organisms)

Use of Data:

Longitudinal multi week study of surface and 50ft depth ocean environment in 20 minute and and 2 hour time frames.

Use for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) in classrooms

Many general and specific hypothesis to be investigated via use of data aggregated into existing data sets (i.e. how does snow pack run off western Vancouver Island effect water and habitat)