Programs Blog

Hands-On Science at Waquoit Bay

July 03, 2025
An eastern mud snail shell found in the saltmarsh.

July 3, 2025

Authors: Dante S., Isaiah A.

On this day of the SEA Pre-College Program, we visited multiple areas in the Waquoit bay to do fieldwork and explore its salt marshes and beaches. We first went to the Friend of Waquoit Bay research center where we took a tour of their facilities. We were introduced to their labs and the tools they use, and learned their role in monitoring and sustaining the surrounding areas. We first walked to the beach where they showed us monitoring equipment.

We also got to see the oyster beds they kept and were taught about their importance in the bay’s ecosystem. Afterwards, groups went into the salt marshes to collect data. We found the salinity, water temperature, dissolved oxygen content, PH, ammonium, and nitrate levels and compiled them into a spreadsheet. Some groups also used this time to get data on their research projects, including taking soil samples and recording some of the wildlife. Afterwards, we ate lunch and moved to the farther side of Waquoit bay to explore the marshes and collect more data.

In all, we got to see a professional institution’s methods of working and got valuable experience in working and researching the same way they do.