Dynamical Oceanography - VirtualShip Classroom

February/March 2026 | Utrecht University

  • VirtualShip provides an authentic experience of oceanographic expeditions anywhere in the global ocean.
  • As scientists, you will plan and execute an oceanographic expedition, analyse the resulting data and communicate your findings in a final presentation.

Your expedition 🚢

  • Congratulations on receiving a student research grant for ship time on a virtual scientific research vessel!
  • As a group you will:
    • Have access to the ship for a maximum of three weeks and you can conduct your research anywhere in the global ocean.
    • Have access to a wide range of oceanographic instruments, including CTDs, ADCPs, Drifters, Argo floats, and more.
    • Be responsible for planning and executing your expedition.
      • Including submitting a proposal for your expedition, which will be reviewed by a panel of experts (i.e. the teachers).
    • Be expected to communicate your findings and experiences in a final presentation.
    • Write and submit a Code of Conduct for your group.

The presentation

  • As a group, you will create a slide-deck to present your expedition to the class and teachers.
  • Your presentation should be 12 minutes long, and will be followed by a few minutes of Q&A.
  • The grade (30% of the course) is based on the slides and presentation (rubric will be provided).
    • The group grade is the average of that by the lecturer, the two VSC teachers, and the average of the peer students.
    • How the grade is divided between group members is based on Code of Conduct.
  • The presentation should include:
    • An introduction and motivation for your expedition.
    • A description of your expedition plan, what instruments you deployed and why.
    • A discussion of the challenges you faced during your expedition.
    • An analysis of your data, including computing derived quantities.
    • An animation of the data (in time and/or space).
    • A discussion of your findings.

Timetable

Session Date Objective(s)
Tutorial 4 20 Feb Code of Conduct, start expedition proposal, start trial run of VirtualShip
Tutorial 6 27 Feb Begin your own expedition, 360° videos
Tutorial 7 4 March Continue your expedition, analyse expedition results
Tutorial 8 6 March Analyse expedition results
Tutorial 9 11 March Presentation preparation
Tutorial 10 13 March Presentations


Note

Note, you are expected to work on your projects in your own time/outside of class as well.

Deadlines

  • Code of Conduct: 17:00 20th Feb
  • Expedition proposal: 17:00 25th Feb
  • Upload presentation slides: 17:00 12th March
  • Final presentations: 13 March (Tutorial 10)

Our request to you

Profile Emma Profile Jamie

  • We are developing the VirtualShip Classroom platform as part of a UU-NIOZ project.
  • Emma and Jamie (VSC teachers) are Postdoctoral Researchers and will use your feedback to improve the platform and course for future implementations.
  • We will ask you to please complete a survey at the end of the course, as well as invite you to participate in an interview at a later date.

Tutorial 4 (20 Feb)


Today’s objectives

  • Log in and set up virtual environment (SURF Research Cloud)
  • Code of Conduct (remember, hand in by 17:00 today!)
  • Choose region/topic of interest → start expedition proposal (due 17:00 25th Feb)
  • Start trial run of VirtualShip (complete by 17:00 25th Feb)

Tip

You have a free afternoon on Wednesday 25 February to complete your trial run (and expedition proposal)!


The relevant links to each of these components will be posted on Brightspace.

Tutorial 6 (27 Feb)


Today’s objectives

  • Using your expedition proposal, start your own expedition in VirtualShip!
    • MFP route planning
    • Schedule and instrument deployment planning
    • Execute your expedition simulation
  • Explore the 360° videos of the ship and instruments.

The relevant links to each of these components will be posted on Brightspace.