Programs Blog

July 8, 2025

Hello SEA friends! It’s Sarah and Finley from C house taking over the blog. Our day started with teacher Greg Koman wrapping up our final lectures on oceanography, learning about hydrothermal deep-sea vents, phytoplankton, and many unique mesopelagic creatures. After our notes, we got the chance to listen to two riveting guest lectures. First, SEA researcher Kara Law enlightened us on her research on microplastics in our oceans. She described her career path to get to where she is and helped us understand the implications that plastics have on our future. This presentation really opened our eyes to our own roles as citizens of the world and how we play a part in helping keep our oceans safe from plastics. Our second presentation reviewed a recent update with the ALVIN submersible, making it one of the few devices of its kind capable of diving down to 6,500 feet. Our lecturer was an engineer, which not only gave us insight into how engineering is an important career in marine research but also allowed us to engage in an interesting activity. The class used the stress formula and determined the smallest wall thickness that could withstand the immense pressure of the deep ocean environment. 

In between our lectures, we got the chance to take a tour of the sample storage facilities in the basement of the Madden Center. We were free to look at any jars we wanted to from the past forty years of sampling, even seeing some extra-terrestrial looking marine species! After class, we got some productive time to work on our research project posters. We are putting the final pieces together as our projects come to a close. After all our work was done, we went on a group thrift trip and got some good finds! C-house closed the day off with a creative Greek food dinner – yum!

Finley and Sarah signing out, see ya!