SEAQuest: Critters, Coral, and Conservation

SEA Quest provides students with a unique opportunity to understand the process of marine research at sea and to apply those to their own unique ecosystems in their neighborhoods. In this program, students will virtually participate, through SEA logbooks and interactive video sessions, in our scientific voyages focused on near-shore and offshore ecosystems. The waters that we sail are important habitats for rare and endangered species – whales, turtles, seabirds – along with countless other marine organisms. Data analyzed by SEA Quest students is part of a cumulative data set of SEA voyages compiled over nearly 50 years, and it provides critical annual monitoring of these marine protected areas for key stakeholders. These data include biodiversity information, sea temperature and salinity, chemical nutrient measurements, sediment samples, visual and acoustic recording of whales and vessel traffic, and more. Scientific studies are given human background context with discussions of the development of policies behind the marine protected areas we visit. Students return home with a broader sense of the ocean’s importance to our planet and the need to preserve this precious resource for future generations.

Each seminar features regular breakout rooms, experiments, demonstrations, mini-talks, guest speaker presentations, writing and drawing exercises, and marine science data collected on our ships of oceanography. You should expect roughly 10 additional hours of work and reading outside of our meetings.

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! Strong internet connectivity is also a must for this seminar, however, 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 science research project and an article in our online magazine. After the seminar, SEA Quest faculty will be happy to write you a reference for college or internships. During each seminar, our professors and guest speakers regularly discuss their paths and offer advice on future studies and careers.