Programs Blog

March 26, 2025 

Time: 16:41 

Location: SEA Campus – Woods Hole, MA 

Weather: 45°F and partly cloudy, but surprisingly lovely and warm! 

Hi there! I’m Gabi Carttar, a junior at Barnard College studying Environmental Biology. An important thing to know about me is that I am from lovely Lawrence, KS! And an important thing to know about Kansas is that our state marine fossil is the Tylosaurus! Let’s hear a little noise for the Western Interior Seaway, huh?  

It’s starting to really set in that our time in Woods Hole will not be endless, and the list of outstanding shore component assignments is getting shorter and shorter. After brushing up on our knowledge of ocean acidification and carbon cycling with Prof Sarah Kingston, we officially bid her adieu until boat time! She joins Prof Rich King, Captain Rick Miller, and Dr Kayla Gardener (along with her fearless assistant TA Remi the dog) on the list of folks who have departed Woods Hole. It’s hard to believe we’ll be joining the crew in New Zealand in just seven days. I remember on the very first day we got here, Academic Dean Mark Long told us that in a matter of time we’d be “walking around here like we owned the place,” and it seemed so unlikely to me at that moment that the SEA campus could feel so much like home. But sure enough, we’ve settled into a comfortable, easy sense of community here, and all these wonderful people who were strangers to me just a month ago (to the day!) are now my friends.  

Beyond the barrage of final deadlines, the rush to prepare for the forthcoming 40-some days off the grid, and the steady stream of miniature plastic babies mysteriously appearing in the nooks and crannies of A house, some pretty exciting events have transpired as of late. 

Firstly, our valiant civil servant of a public policy professor Erin Bryant has been selected to serve on a jury of her peers! Unfortunately for us curious people, she’s yet to let a single detail of the experience slip, but when asked to give a thumb-ometer on how much fun she was having, her words were, “I’m not sure fun is the word to describe it.” She’s bravely sacrificed her evenings on top of her busy, court-filled days, and Ocean Science and Public Policy: Night Edition is now in full swing. 

Secondly, our wonderful program assistant Grace took us on a trash-collection beach walk today! It was the perfect opportunity to get some fresh air and a clear mind amidst a day of work. Even on a stretch of beach that seemed pretty litter-free, it was shocking how quickly our bags filled up. Highlights include: 3 pairs of sunglasses (all found by Britney!), 4 beach chairs, 5 shoes, a fishing pole (complete with line, lure, and hook), a scary pair of forceps, and lots and lots of rope, wrappers, bottles, and cans. All loaded up with litter on our walk home, we received lots of appreciative comments from neighbors, most of whom correctly guessed that we must be from SEA.  

Last but not least, we had some exciting special guests on our campus today – the Falmouth Fire Department! Not to worry, the only danger we were ever in was of missing out on apple pie. But crumbs in the oven + sensitive smoke detector = new friends at B house. I was lucky enough to get the scoop on the situation from our own resident firefighter, our classmate Andrew, who took the opportunity to get up close and personal with Engine 22.  

Gabi: So, Andrew, any thoughts on our visitors? 

Andrew: I don’t love their hose bed design, but it’s fine. 

Gabi: I see… Anything else the people at home need to know? 

Andrew: Well, they have the correct siren. Federal Q2B. To be clear, that is very much an opinion. 

So there you have it! In spite of all the business, there is so much joy here around every corner. I’m so thankful for this place and these people, and I’m more and more excited every day for the adventures to come. 

Shoutouts! Mami and Dad – from animal encyclopedias to college move-in to the last-minute puffer, I owe it all to you. Isabel and Amelia – I miss you and think about you constantly! I can’t wait to make up for birthdays apart when los pollitos reunite. Sage and Mia – I love you so, so big! Slumbie summer is on its way and I couldn’t possibly be looking forward to it more.