Ian Cortez
He followed in his dad's footsteps from the Philippines to the JOIDES Resolution to become a "roughneck."
Ian Cortez
Roughneck, JOIDES Resolution
he/him
Twitter Handle: @TheJR
TIME AT SEA
Ian’s work as a roughneck aboard the JOIDES Resolution requires him to go to sea for two months at a time, then go home to the Philippines to see his family, including two young children. . . two months on, two months off.
HOMESICK
In Ian's opinion working on a ship is not easy. The JR crew works 12-hour shifts that are continuous for their two months at sea. Ian says, "You miss your loved ones and you have to always be flexible in all things." He adds, "I keep my self working by thinking and reminding myself that I have a family to feed and need to keep us going." His motivation to work is family, especially his wife and their two-year-old son. He spends his break time aboard the JR in the crew lounge. "The ship has karaoke, i just sing there and it makes me feel relaxed. It's a stress reliever. We all know that singing can express what you feel."
time at sea
homesick?
try this
sacrifices
learning path
long voyage
TRY THIS
The International Ocean Discovery Program sends out a publicity tour in the shape of a flock of kiosks used to explain the science that takes place aboard the JR, and a giant inflatable ship. On site wherever the exhibit travels, docents are brought on board to introduce the work of this group and their ship to the public. Learn about the traveling exhibit In Search of Earth's Secrets and its docent program here.
SACRIFICES
Ian recalls, "My father made big sacrifices for us, too. I decided I wanted to be like him. By following in his footsteps I learned and experienced what my father did in order for us to live, and I'm proud of it. So I embrace the work aboard the JR even though the job is risky. My father told me one thing: be a nice person and get along well."
LEARNING PATH
Ian took courses in computers and business, before getting his bachelors degree at Central Luzon College of Science and Technology. It was an all-male school. "I had fun on my studies. We were all men in class, so there was basically lots of boys' madness." But Ian values other skills and abilities besides education. "Taking this course in school is not what you really need," he says. "You need to focus, open minded and psychologically aware of what could go wrong. In short we all know that working at ship is not easy, lots of dangerous task and unstable weather out there."
LONG voyage
When last heard from Ian was traveling from Capetown, South Africa… back home to Apalit… and eventually to the Arctic. Find out where the JR is going here.
getting to the core
Learn about Ian's ship and the science it makes possible here.