SEAQuest- The Central Pacific: Marine Conservation and Environmental Communication

High School and Pre-College Program

SEAQuest- The Central Pacific: Marine Conservation and Environmental Communication

High School and Pre-College Program

This three-week seminar, focused on marine conservation, climate change, and communicating about ocean issues and solutions will use the central Pacific Ocean as a case study and interdisciplinary center point. The Pacific Island people of this vast region are on the front lines of climate change and their waters are a vital and dynamic region where our SEA ship visits regularly to contribute baseline oceanographic information.

Led by writer, illustrator, and maritime scholar Dr. Richard King, students will build a strong foundation in the environmental and cultural challenges facing the region. The seminar will explore the latest scientific research on topics such as coral reefs, global warming, ocean acidification, marine protected areas, plastic pollution, deep sea mining, and seabird, fish, and whale conservation. Students will also follow the real-time voyage of the SSV Robert C. Seamans as it sails north from Tahiti to Hawai’i with a university research group.

Students can expect visits from leading experts such as plastics researcher Dr. Kara Lavender Law, coral reef scientist Dr. Heather Page, USCG Captain and Pacific enforcement specialist Christopher Nolan, and Hawaiian reef fisheries expert and writer Dr. Shreya Yadav.

Program cost: $1,075

How to Apply Financial Aid & costs Schedule an Advising Call

Summer 2025

Sessions

Jul 7 - Jul 25

Virtual

Apply Now

Program Structure

SEA Quest brings together new friends from across the United States — and often from around the world. In past summers, students have joined us from the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Germany, China, South Korea, Iran, and Kiribati.

Our seminar meets Monday through Friday with one session each day: 6:00 -8:30 p.m. ET. Each session features breakout rooms, demonstrations, mini-talks, guest speaker presentations, writing and drawing exercises, and hands-on analysis of marine science data collected by SEA’s oceanographic ships. Students should also plan for approximately 5 additional hours per week for reading and project work outside of seminar meetings.

A central component of SEA Quest is learning how to read and interpret a recent peer-reviewed scientific paper, translate its findings for a general audience, and, when possible, interview the researchers involved.

Each student will contribute an article to a special issue of SEA Writer, SEA’s student magazine. In addition, students will create a short video, podcast, or piece of artwork focused on communicating about the central Pacific Ocean.

What Will I Need?

There are no academic prerequisites, but the program is taught in English and aimed toward high school students. You only need enthusiasm and the desire to participate! Access to a computer and strong internet connectivity is a must for this seminar, as you’ll need to be able to turn on your screen, share your work, and engage with video and other data. If you do not have good internet access, please contact SEA in advance so we can work with you.

The SEA Quest-Woods Hole seminar is about engagement, experience, inclusivity, inspiration, and exploring a range of perspectives regarding our relationship with the ocean. We provide each student with a certificate of completion (awarding “honors,” “high honors,” “pass,” or “incomplete”) and a letter explaining what you did, which will help with college applications.

For your portfolio, you will end each seminar with a short video and at least one portfolio piece of your environmental communication writing about a topic of your choice that impacts the central Pacific Ocean, which will be published online.

After the seminar, SEA Quest faculty will be happy to write you a reference for college or internships and to stay in touch. During each seminar, our professors and guest speakers regularly discuss their paths and offer advice on future studies and careers.