Maintaining an Environment of Respect Aboard Ships (MERAS) - Draft

Maintaining an Environment of Respect Aboard Ships (MERAS) Committee

Mission & Purpose

The MERAS Committee promotes a respectful, inclusive, and professional environment aboard vessels of the U.S. Academic Research Fleet (ARF). MERAS works to ensure that all participants, regardless of role, background, or career stage, can safely, productively, and fully engage in shipboard research. MERAS recognizes that research vessels are both workplaces and living spaces, and that a culture of respect is foundational to scientific excellence, safety, and well-being at sea.

What MERAS Does

MERAS serves the UNOLS community by:

Recommending policies, resources, and best practices that support respectful and professional shipboard culture.
Advising the UNOLS Council, fleet operators, and funding agencies on workplace climate, inclusion, and safety.
Developing and maintaining training materials, discussion guides, and educational resources for the UNOLS community.
Supporting inclusive cruise planning, accessibility, and shipboard safety practices.
Creating spaces for listening, learning, dialogue, and continuous improvement across the ARF.

Why It Matters

Research vessels are unique workplaces where people live and work together for extended periods, often in remote and challenging environments. A culture of respect strengthens safety, collaboration, trust, and scientific productivity, while also supporting equity and retention across the oceanographic research community. MERAS helps ensure that all members of the fleet community can contribute their expertise in an environment that values professionalism, accountability, and mutual respect.

History of MERAS

The MERAS Committee was established by UNOLS in response to growing recognition that a respectful shipboard environment is essential to safety, mission success, and the long-term health of the academic research fleet.

MERAS traces its origins to 2015, when the Pregnancy, Privacy, and Harassment Committee was formed as an ad-hoc UNOLS Council subcommittee to examine policies and practices across the U.S. Academic Research Fleet, including pregnancy and nursing participation, privacy, and related workplace concerns. As this work expanded, the committee transitioned to a special committee in 2017 under the name MERAS and collaborated with funding agencies and fleet partners on initiatives such as the Shipboard Civility Module videos.

Following the 2019 UNOLS election, MERAS was established as a standing committee in recognition of the ongoing importance of its charge. Since then, MERAS has worked collaboratively with fleet operators, scientists, technicians, students, and funding agencies to promote shared expectations, develop practical resources, and support efforts to improve civility, reduce harassment, and strengthen shipboard culture across the Academic Research Fleet.

Who MERAS Serves

MERAS serves the entire U.S. Academic Research Fleet community, recognizing that respectful shipboard environments are a shared responsibility across many roles and institutions. This includes:

Scientists and Chief Scientists at all career stages, from students to senior researchers.
Marine technicians, shipboard technical staff, and operators who support scientific missions.
Vessel crews, including officers and unlicensed personnel, who live and work alongside science teams.
Students and early-career researchers gaining formative sea-going experience.
Shore-based administrators, fleet managers, and institutional leaders involved in cruise planning, policy, and oversight.

MERAS works to ensure that expectations, resources, and support systems are clear and accessible to everyone who participates in research at sea.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What authority does MERAS have?
MERAS is an advisory committee of UNOLS. It does not investigate incidents or enforce policy, but it provides guidance, resources, and recommendations to help institutions and vessels maintain respectful and professional environments.
Is MERAS a reporting body?
No. MERAS does not receive or adjudicate reports of misconduct. Instead, the committee helps clarify reporting pathways and promotes awareness of ship- and institution-specific procedures.
Who should complete the Shipboard Civility Modules?
MERAS recommends that all members of the science party and shipboard team, including crew, technicians, students, and leadership, complete the modules as part of cruise preparation.
How are the MERAS materials used?
MERAS resources are designed to be flexible. Institutions and vessels may incorporate them into pre-cruise briefings, onboarding, safety training, or facilitated discussions tailored to their specific needs.
How can I provide feedback or suggest new resources?
Community input is essential to MERAS’s work. Feedback, ideas, and suggestions can be shared through UNOLS channels or by contacting MERAS committee members via email at meras@unols.org.

Get Involved

MERAS periodically seeks nominations for committee members representing diverse roles, institutions, career stages, and lived experiences across the Academic Research Fleet. To learn more about MERAS, current initiatives, or opportunities to participate, email meras@unols.org.

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