SeaQuest: Environmental Communication

High School and Pre-College Program

SeaQuest: Environmental Communication

High School and Pre-College Program

This three-week seminar focuses on marine conservation, climate change, and the art of communicating ocean issues and solutions. Using the central Pacific Ocean as a case study and interdisciplinary focal point, students will examine how science, culture, and communication intersect in one of the most vital and dynamic regions of our planet.

The Pacific Islands are on the front lines of climate change, and their surrounding waters offer critical insight into global ocean health. Students will explore how storytelling, media, and public engagement can help bridge the gap between scientific research and community action—learning how to communicate effectively about pressing environmental challenges and the pathways toward sustainability.

Led by writer, illustrator, and ocean scholar Dr. Richard King, the seminar blends environmental science with creative communication. Students will study current research on coral reefs, global warming, ocean acidification, marine protected areas, plastic pollution, deep-sea mining, and marine wildlife conservation, while developing their own communication tools to share these topics with diverse audiences.

Program cost: Coming soon

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Summer 2026

Sessions

Jul 6 - Jul 24

Virtual

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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.