Pre-College: Marine Biology

High School and Pre-College Program

Pre-College: Marine Biology

High School and Pre-College Program

An academically rigorous three-week program for rising juniors, seniors, and recent high school graduates interested in pursuing oceanography, marine biology, environmental science, or other related disciplines at the undergraduate level.

SEA’s Pre-College: Marine Biology program is designed as a college-level seminar led by SEA’s PhD-level scientists. Through laboratory and field research techniques, students will explore the study of ocean life from microscopic plankton to complex marine ecosystems gaining insight into topics such as species adaptation, biodiversity, ecological interactions, and conservation challenges in a changing ocean.

With over 40 contact hours of formal instruction, students participate in college-style lectures, laboratory work, field investigations, data collection, and a collaborative research project. By the end of the program, participants will have strengthened their skills in marine research methods, species identification, experimental design, critical thinking, and science communication.

Program cost: Coming Soon

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Summer 2026

Sessions

Aug 9 - Aug 26

SEA campus in Woods Hole, MA

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Introduction to Marine Biology

Marine biology is the study of organisms that live in the ocean and their interactions with one another and their environment. Marine biologists seek to understand the diversity of marine life, the ecological processes that sustain it, and the ways in which human activity influences ocean ecosystems and biodiversity.

Program Topics

Students participating in SEA’s Pre-College: Marine Biology program can expect to explore:

Marine Ecology and Adaptation: Investigate how marine organisms interact with their environment and adapt to changing conditions.

Ecosystems and Biodiversity: Examine the structure and function of coastal and pelagic ecosystems, and the species that define them.

Marine Conservation and Human Impacts: Explore how pollution, overfishing, and climate change affect ocean life and discuss strategies for sustainable management and restoration.

Research & Field Experience

Over the course of their three weeks on campus, students will complete a research project on a topic of their choosing. Students will work in small groups to investigate an environmental problem or topic of interest, develop a testable hypothesis, collect and analyze data, and present their findings to their peers, faculty, and members of the surrounding science community. Examples of past research projects include:

How different seal species are being affected by climate change
Plankton abundance in the Atlantic and declining whale populations
Invasive species, sea level rise, and the eroding coastline of Cape Cod

Students will also have the opportunity to visit the local and world-renowned institutions in Woods Hole such as the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, the Marine Biological Laboratory, the Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, and the Woodwell Climate Research Center. With exclusive tours of local lab facilities, students will interface with scientists, engineers, marine technicians, and educators to learn about the cutting-edge research happening in this unique science community.