Originally Posted by
Khashoggi
The psychologist is a curious addition.
According to German news reports, the IFM-GEOMAR institute (Kiel/Germany), which participated in the last mission with their REMUS 6000 (AUV ABYSS) declined to participate in the upcoming mission (with their ROV Kiel 6000) because the "level of psychological stress would be too high". So maybe there's a hint why a psychologist is part of the team.
In German:
SPIEGEL report
Absturz von AF 447: Kieler Forscher steigen bei Wrack-Bergung aus - SPIEGEL ONLINE - Nachrichten - Wissenschaft
Press Release IFM GEOMAR
IFM-GEOMAR: Aktuelles aus dem IFM-GEOMAR