Our Mission, Vision & History
The SEA Mission
SEA is a global teaching, learning and research community dedicated to the exploration, understanding and stewardship of marine and maritime environments. SEA empowers students with life-changing sea voyages of scientific and cultural discovery, academic rigor and personal growth. Our SEA programs feature an interdisciplinary curriculum and dynamic leadership-development experience – at sea aboard tall ships and on shore.
The SEA Vision
SEA educates and inspires ocean scholars, stewards and leaders. SEA fosters and enhances knowledge about the state of oceans and coastal communities. It also helps shape public dialogue and policy through long-term environmental research, global partnerships and the continued impact of our students, faculty and alumni worldwide.
EXPLORE
Academic Approach
SEA programs are multidisciplinary learning communities focused on addressing critical environmental issues such as climate change, sustainability, biodiversity, human impacts on the ocean, and environmental justice. Acknowledging that human actions underlie environmental change, we realize that these issues must be approached from multiple disciplines across ocean sciences and blue humanities. With this in mind, SEA believes that students of all majors can benefit from deepening their understanding of and connection to the ocean through classroom learning and field research experience. All SEA programs are designed to fit seamlessly into undergraduate coursework as major, minor, or elective credit.
Boston University has served as SEA’s school of record since 1971. All SEA courses are individually approved through Boston University’s internal course evaluation process. SEA students earn 17-18 credits for a semester program or 4-7 credits for a summer program which are recorded on a Boston University transcript. A formal Academic Advisory Board made up of representatives from institutional affiliates including BU convenes on an annual basis to review all SEA programs and courses.
SEA’s interdisciplinary approach extends to high school and gap programs, emphasizing the importance of diverse perspectives in finding and implementing solutions to challenges facing the ocean. By engaging students from various backgrounds and perspectives, these programs foster a holistic understanding of environmental issues. SEA high school and gap programs encourage collaboration and critical thinking, enabling students to appreciate the complex interplay of scientific, cultural, historical, and policy-related factors. This comprehensive educational experience equips students with the skills and insights needed to further their academic and career pursuits.
History - Woods Hole, MA
Our History
Inspiring Ocean Scholars, Stewards & Leaders Since 1971
SEA was founded in 1971 by a small group led by Corwith “Cory” Cramer, Jr. and Edward “Sandy” MacArthur. Cory was a leader, both in the world of the classroom and in the world of sailing, and a passionate advocate of learning by doing. Developing an understanding of the ocean and of its powerful role in the environment presented Cory with a unique challenge to which he formulated a unique response.
His idea was to create a program to give undergraduates the opportunity to study the ocean from a multitude of academic perspectives, and to do it from the platform of a traditional sailing vessel. Such a program would bring attention to a vast and largely unexplored realm of inquiry—the young field of ocean science—while offering each student the chance to live and work in the marine environment. Cory believed this opportunity should be open to students of the SCIENCES, HUMANITIES, AND SOCIAL SCIENCES, as well as to those who were “undecided.” The oceans would, he thought, provide the ideal context in which to introduce the would-be scientist to the fascinating artistic, literary, philosophical, and political elements of our maritime heritage. They would also offer an unparalleled opportunity for non-scientists to develop the observational and investigative skills that grow from sustained attention to complex physical data.
SEA is the result of Cory Cramer’s efforts and those of his many friends and supporters. The earliest SEA voyages were directed from headquarters in Chicago and Boston. In 1975, Cory brought the organization and its sailing vessel, the Westward, to Woods Hole, Massachusetts, a world-renowned center of oceanographic teaching and research. Today, the Sea Education Association, headquartered on a 5-acre campus, is a partner in the scientific work of that community and a recognized national leader in education under sail.
SEA has expanded dramatically over the years. Much of that expansion can be credited to Rafe Parker, who succeeded Cory Cramer as director in 1982. In addition to making substantial improvements to SEA’s campus, Rafe oversaw the building of a second ship; in 1987, the Corwith Cramer was launched, and with it an entirely new classification of research sailing vessel. It was also during his tenure that the Westward was sold to Ocean Classroom Foundation and replaced by the SSV Robert C. Seamans. This state-of-the-art vessel, launched in 2001, has made it possible for SEA to offer programs in both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
This tradition of innovation and constant improvement continued under the leadership of John Bullard, who took over as President in 2002 and retired in June 2012. During John’s term, SEA developed the Stanford@SEA Program and formed additional partnerships with domestic and foreign universities. SEA’s academic offerings expanded from one program to six and the science done by SEA students and faculty became internationally recognized, especially in the area of marine debris.
For 50 years, SEA students have been conducting research, collecting data, and contributing to what we know about the world’s oceans, but that wealth of knowledge is just a fraction of what remains to be discovered. We invite students to join us and experience first-hand the excitement, challenges, and rewards of our work.
Land Acknowledgement
We see that we in Falmouth are on the traditional homeland of the Wampanoag people who live and continue to thrive here after thousands of years of residence. We also acknowledge the painful history of Colonization that has enacted forced assimilation, slavery, genocide, and efforts by many to eliminate the Wampanoag people along with their culture. We respect and honor the indigenous people still connected to this land and are willing to learn from the Wampanoag way of life. We recognize that these words are not enough and need to be followed with action steps.
Whose Land Are You On? Check out Native Land Wampanoag.
About Woods Hole
SEA’s campus is situated in Woods Hole, a world center for marine, biomedical,and environmental scientific exploration.
Six institutions constitute the Woods Hole scientific community:
- Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL)
- NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service
- Sea Education Association
- U.S. Geological Survey, and the:
- Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI)
- Woodwell Climate Research Center
Together, these institutions occupy over 170 buildings, operate a dozen research vessels and collecting boats, and employ more than 1,500 year-round people.
Before the arrival of European settlers, Woods Hole and the surrounding islands were inhabited by various tribes of the Wampanoag people, whose culture and livelihood were deeply intertwined with the marine environment. Centuries later, after the colonization of Cape Cod, Woods Hole flourished as a prosperous whaling and shipping hub in the 19th century. However, as whaling populations declined and marine ecosystems suffered degradation, the community began to shift towards scientific inquiry. This rich tapestry of history offers a unique educational opportunity for students to delve into the interconnectedness of culture, environment, and human activity, fostering a deeper understanding of the complex dynamics shaping our relationship with the sea.
Affiliations, Memberships, and Awards
