News

June 29th 2026
SEA Campus, Falmouth, Massachusetts

Waking up this morning one thing was on our minds: Woods Hole. As we arose from our sleep we gathered for breakfast and prepared for a full day in Woods Hole. Leaving at 8:45 our first stop was WHOI (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution). Meeting our guide at the front doors, we delved into a real scientific laboratory that was preparing for multiple research trips and, luckily, we got to see all of them. We learned about the RAFOS, the CPIES, and the ARGO floats. The RAFOS floats, which are used to gather salinity, temperature, conductivity, and pressure, are deployed every year to gather important data regarding our oceans all over the world. The CPIES are the long-term version of this, gathering data over two years including tracking the currents providing better data. Finally, the ARGO was a long-term data collection device which is able to sink to the deeper ocean around 1000 meters below the surface. We then got an in-depth explanation on how these mechanisms worked from the resident engineer.

Following this, we pulled up to the WHOI discovery center where we learned about plankton, robots, space, DNA, and wrecks. The interactive models really enhanced our learning and allowed me to retain a deeper understanding of the subjects. After we were done, we had around two hours in Woods hole to relax. We spent most of the time eating, beaching, and shopping. We then went to the MBL (Marine Biological Laboratory) and learned about multiple different species including squid and striped bass. After this we went to the library and got to look at books from the 1500s and got to hold a Nobel peace prize made from real gold. Finally, we toured SEA’s research/sailing school vessel and got a better understanding of what life is like on the boat. This was probably the highlight of the day for me. We then made our way back home where we ate a great dinner, courtesy of Irene, Rylie, and I. We then settled down for the night after a long day of learning and fun. In all, I am very excited for the following days and cannot wait for the rest of my time here.

Jackson Bloom, Pre-College Oceanography