Academic Guide Environmental Studies in Woods Hole & at Sea
FOR FACULTY AND ADVISORS
INTRODUCTION CONTENTS Educational Philosophy & School of Record
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Programs & Courses
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Course Descriptions
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Student Research
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Ships & Research Equipment
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Opportunities for Collaboration
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A NOTE FROM THE DEAN
Dear Colleague, The past several years have been a time of remarkable change and excitement at SEA Semester. Building on our 45-year history of excellence in blue-water oceanography and field-based education at sea, we have added several new programs and expanded our area of operations. We have worked to simultaneously broaden the scope of our academic programming while reshaping the student experience in the context of multidisciplinary learning communities that address the critical environmental issues of our time: all with a goal of producing educated citizens who are prepared to participate in a dynamic, globalized society. SEA Semester has been creating global scholars, citizens, and leaders with a community-based learning model since 1971. By combining academic coursework
in a residential environment on shore with a hands-on sailing research voyage at sea, SEA Semester allows students to put newfound knowledge into action while facing the real consequences associated with crewing a tall ship on the open ocean. By providing an educational environment that is problem-oriented, field-based, collaborative, and practical, we believe that SEA Semester is the ideal representation of what the Association of American Colleges & Universities has defined as vital components of a twenty-first century education. With our exceptional faculty, long history, and unique facilities, SEA Semester provides a singular and impactful experience that cannot be duplicated at traditional institutions or in other study abroad programs. On our campuses – whether in Woods Hole or aboard the SSV Corwith Cramer or SSV Robert C. Seamans – small, interdependent learning communities are formed where all members work together in an intense and collaborative environment. Students, faculty, and crew share working and living space, apply their efforts toward common goals, and collaborate in a way that removes typical barriers and fosters mutual respect.
THE SEA MISSION
THE SEA VISION
SEA is a global teaching, learning and research community dedicated to the exploration, understanding and stewardship of marine and maritime environments. SEA empowers students with life-changing sea voyages of scientific and cultural discovery, academic rigor and personal growth. Our SEA Semester program features an interdisciplinary curriculum and dynamic leadership-development experience – at sea aboard tall ships and on shore.
SEA educates and inspires ocean scholars, stewards and leaders. SEA fosters and enhances knowledge about the state of oceans and coastal communities. It also helps shape public dialogue and policy through long-term environmental research, global partnerships and the continued impact of our students, faculty and alumni worldwide.
Students’ intellectual queries at SEA Semester address meaningful questions, relevant issues, and real concerns as students frequently work with international leaders and stakeholders who face the consequences of a changing environment. After SEA Semester, many of our students go on to graduate school and/or careers in academia, government, business, and science, among many other fields. Students are already motivated, curious, and passionate when they come to SEA Semester. What we do is to give them the tools and framework to make a difference in our world. Thank you for entrusting your students to us. We look forward to welcoming them aboard for the academic adventure of a lifetime. Sincerely,
Paul Joyce, Ph.D. Academic Dean, Sea Education Association
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EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY & SCHOOL OF RECORD SEA’S EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY
SEA Semester programs are multidisciplinary learning communities that address the critical environmental issues of our time: • • • • •
Climate Change Sustainability Biodiversity Human Impacts on the Environment Environmental Justice
Acknowledging that human actions underlie environmental change, we realize that these issues must be approached from multiple disciplines, including science, history, culture studies, and policy. SEA is committed to implementing high-impact student engagement and learning practices described by the Association of American Colleges and Universities in their Liberal Education and America’s Promise (LEAP) initiative. These include: Common Intellectual Experiences, Learning Communities, Collaborative Assignments and Projects, Undergraduate Research, and Diversity/ Global Learning. LEARNING OUTCOMES
The initial shore component in Woods Hole allows students to develop well-researched projects to
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bring into the field. Time aboard our ships and in foreign ports of call allows us to take what we learned in the classroom and test it against our observations of the marine environment, natural landscapes, human infrastructures, and the knowledge and opinions of local people. We stress good communication skills in written work and through oral presentations, both in the early stages of research where ideas can be tested, and at the conclusion of a project, where a mastery of the material can be demonstrated. In addition to research papers and reports, students’ work may be shared with a larger audience through blogs, podcasts, web-based atlases, and social media. SEA faculty have co-published work with students, and presented research with them at professional conferences. The dynamic environment of our ships, coupled with preparatory coursework on shore in Woods Hole, develops teamwork, problem solving, and leadership skills. These skills are then put into practice in multiple real-world situations. Alumni describe SEA Semester as a transformative experience. More than two-thirds of alumni participating in post-program surveys say SEA Semester increased their self-confidence, and made them effective participants in collaborative teams.
Stonehill College’s enduring partnership with SEA has been an inspiration to our faculty and students and has deepened over time. The depth, rigor, interdisciplinarity, and experiential nature of SEA’s many programs complements Stonehill’s signature learning communities. SEA’s emphasis on a comprehensive, humanistic approach to environmental studies helps support our fast-growing need for offerings in this field. Adventurous students who are up to the challenge have a unique opportunity to meet key general education requirements through SEA, such as Natural Science, Social Science, History, and Integrative Learning – while challenging themselves and expanding their cultural (and intercultural) horizons on the open sea! — Todd S. Gernes, Ph.D., Associate Professor of History and American Studies, Assistant Dean of General Education, Stonehill College
SEA Semester complements the university’s goal to expose all undergraduates to meaningful research experiences. It also gives the Environmental Science department a unique study abroad program that has already proved to be applicable across departments and throughout the university. — Christina Pondell, Ph.D., Professorial Lecturer, Department of Environmental Science, American University
AFFILIATED INSTITUTIONS
SEA Semester enrolls an average of 210 students per year and regularly draws from over 150 colleges and universities nationwide and internationally. However, we maintain formal affiliations with the institutions listed below: SCHOOL OF RECORD: BOSTON UNIVERSITY
All SEA Semester programs consist of courses that have been submitted to and approved by Boston University through its internal course evaluation process. They are subject to the same approval process as any other BU course and are therefore equivalent to courses taught at BU. A formal Academic Advisory Board made up of representatives from institutional affiliates, including Boston University, convenes on an annual basis to review all SEA Semester programs and courses. All students are registered at Boston University for the duration of their SEA Semester program unless their home institution grants direct credit for participation by way of an SEA transcript. This registration process allows students to receive an official BU transcript upon successful completion of SEA Semester coursework. For more detail on SEA Semester credit, visit www.sea.edu/academics.
American University Barnard College Boston University (School of Record) Carleton College Colgate University College of Charleston Connecticut College Cornell University Drexel University Eckerd College Evergreen State College Franklin & Marshall College George Washington University Hamilton College Hawaii Pacific University Ithaca College Jacksonville University Knox College
Lafayette College Lawrence University Longwood University Macalester College McDaniel College Northeastern University Oberlin College Oregon State University Purdue University Reed College Rice University Ripon College Rochester Institute of Technology Roger Williams University Stonehill College SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry Syracuse University
University of Denver University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth University of New Hampshire University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill University of Northern Colorado University of Pennsylvania University of Rhode Island University of San Diego University of Washington Ursinus College Utica College Villanova University Warren Wilson College Whitman College
For a full list of our sending and affiliated institutions, visit www. sea.edu/academics/ affiliates. If you are interested in information about affiliation with SEA Semester, please contact your institutional representative or email admissions@sea.edu.
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PROGRAMS & COURSES ACADEMICS AT SEA
SEA Semester programs are designed to fit seamlessly into undergraduate coursework as major, minor, or elective credit. Many programs’ courses are offered as a set curriculum. However, some programs offer electives to allow students flexibility based on interests or academic needs. For the most up-to-date information on current programs, please visit www.sea.edu/academics.
PROGRAMS
Q: Which students are a good fit for SEA Semester? A: We look for motivated undergraduates of all majors who are passionate about learning, inspired to tackle real-world problems, and eager to translate classroom learning into hands-on experience. Students should possess a sense of adventure; a willingness to work hard, both academically and physically; and the skills necessary to live and work productively as part of a 35-person crew at sea. No sailing experience is required.
COURSES
SEA Semester programs offer an incredible experiential and interdisciplinary opportunity which fits into many majors and areas of study at my institution. — Stacey Woody Thebodo, Assistant Director, International Programs and Off-Campus Study, Middlebury College
ACADEMIC TOPICS
SEA Semester: Caribbean Reef Expedition 18 credits, 200-300 level
• • • • •
The Ocean & Global Change Marine Environmental History Ocean Science & Public Policy Leadership in a Dynamic Environment Directed Oceanographic Research –OR– Practical Oceanographic Research
BIODIVERSITY CLIMATE CHANGE CONSERVATION/MANAGEMENT ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES/SCIENCE HUMANITIES INTERNATIONAL STUDIES LEADERSHIP MARINE SCIENCE SUSTAINABILITY
SEA Semester: Colonization to Conservation in the Caribbean 17 credits, 200-300 level
• • • • •
Maritime History & Culture Marine Environmental History Maritime Studies Nautical Science Oceanography
ANTHROPOLOGY CLIMATE CHANGE CONSERVATION/MANAGEMENT ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES/SCIENCE HUMANITIES INTERNATIONAL STUDIES LEADERSHIP MARINE SCIENCE SUSTAINABILITY
SEA Semester: Marine Biodiversity & Conservation 18 credits, 200-400 level Prerequisites apply
• Advanced Topics in Biological Oceanography: Biodiversity • Advanced Ocean Policy Research • Directed Oceanographic Research • Nautical Science • Ocean Science & Public Policy
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BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION/MANAGEMENT ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES/SCIENCE LEADERSHIP MARINE SCIENCE
PROGRAMS
COURSES
ACADEMIC TOPICS
SEA Semester: Ocean Exploration 17 credits, 200-300 level
• • • • •
Maritime Studies Nautical Science Oceanography Oceanographic Field Methods Directed Oceanographic Research -ORPractical Oceanographic Research
ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES/SCIENCE HUMANITIES LEADERSHIP MARINE SCIENCE
SEA Semester: Oceans & Climate 18 credits, 200-300 level Prerequisites apply
• • • • •
Advanced Oceanographic Field Methods Directed Oceanographic Research Nautical Science Oceans in the Global Carbon Cycle Ocean Science & Public Policy
CLIMATE CHANGE CONSERVATION/MANAGEMENT ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES/SCIENCE LEADERSHIP MARINE SCIENCE
SEA Summer Session: Protecting the Phoenix Islands 11 credits, 300-400 level Prerequisites may apply
SEA Semester: Sustainability in Polynesian Island Cultures & Ecosystems 17 credits, 200-300 level
SEA Semester: The Global Ocean 17-18 credits, 200-300 level
CORE • The Ocean & Global Change • Toward a Sustainable Ocean: Conservation & Management ELECTIVES (CHOOSE ONE) • Advanced Ocean Policy Research • Directed Oceanographic Research
• • • • •
Maritime History & Culture Marine Environmental History Maritime Studies Nautical Science Oceanography
CORE • Leadership in a Dynamic Environment • Maritime History & Culture • The Ocean & Global Change ELECTIVES (CHOOSE TWO) • Cultural Landscapes & Seascapes: A Sense of Place • Data Communication & Visualization • Directed Oceanographic Research - ORPractical Oceanographic Research • Toward a Sustainable Ocean: Conservation & Management
BIODIVERSITY CLIMATE CHANGE CONSERVATION/MANAGEMENT ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES/SCIENCE LEADERSHIP MARINE SCIENCE SUSTAINABILITY
ANTHROPOLOGY ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES/SCIENCE HUMANITIES INTERNATIONAL STUDIES LEADERSHIP MARINE SCIENCE SUSTAINABILITY
ANTHROPOLOGY CONSERVATION/MANAGEMENT ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES/SCIENCE HUMANITIES INTERNATIONAL STUDIES LEADERSHIP MARINE SCIENCE SUSTAINABILITY
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COURSE DESCRIPTIONS ADVANCED OCEAN POLICY RESEARCH
400-level, 4 credits, BU CAS NS 460 Prereq: Admission to SEA Semester. Junior standing or consent of instructor. Advanced policy research focusing on a topic of current importance (may include fisheries, biodiversity, marine spatial planning, and cultural heritage). Emphasis on theoretical concepts, research methods, and communication skills. Requires critical review paper, original research, final report and presentation. ADVANCED OCEANOGRAPHIC FIELD METHODS
300-level, 4 credits, BU XAS NS 324 Prereq: Admission to SEA Semester. Three lab science courses (one at the 300-level or higher) or consent of instructor. Tools and techniques of the oceanographer. Participate in shipboard laboratory operations to gain experience with deployment of modern oceanographic equipment and collection of scientific data at sea. Emphasis on sampling plan design, advanced laboratory sample processing methods, and robust data analysis. ADVANCED TOPICS IN BIOLOGICAL OCEANOGRAPHY: BIODIVERSITY
400-level, 4 credits, BU CAS NS 450 Prereq: Admission to SEA Semester. Three lab science courses (one at the 300-level or higher) or consent of instructor. In-depth treatment of a single topic in biological oceanography. Extensive review of classical and contemporary literature. Introduction and practice
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of current laboratory techniques. Oral presentation and written research proposal required. Topics may include marine plankton ecology, marine biodiversity, and satellite oceanography. CULTURAL LANDSCAPES & SEASCAPES: A SENSE OF PLACE
300-level, 3 credits, BU CAS NS 327 Prereq: Admission to SEA Semester. Sophomore standing or consent of instructor. Field-intensive analysis and documentation of dynamic relationships between nature and culture in specific coastal, island, and ocean places. Apply cultural landscape and related interdisciplinary bio-cultural approaches to place-based environmental studies.
Design and conduct original oceanographic research. Collect data and analyze samples. Compile results in peer-reviewed manuscript format and share during oral or poster presentation session. Emphasis on development of research skills and written/oral communication abilities. LEADERSHIP IN A DYNAMIC ENVIRONMENT
300-level, 3 credits, BU CAS NS 329 Prereq: Admission to SEA Semester. Sophomore standing or consent of instructor. Be an effective leader while leveraging the individual strengths of a team. Use leadership theory and case studies to understand how decisions affect outcomes. Participate as an active member of a ship’s crew, progressively assuming full leadership roles.
DATA COMMUNICATION & VISUALIZATION
300-level, 3 credits, BU CAS NS 330 Prereq: Admission to SEA Semester. Sophomore standing or consent of instructor. Information visualization strategies and associated software, emphasizing communication to diverse audiences. Select between geospatial (GIS) and qualitative data foci. Develop graphics and/or multimedia products supporting research projects in concurrent courses. Compile iterative digital portfolio. DIRECTED OCEANOGRAPHIC RESEARCH
300-level, 3 credits, BU CAS NS 330 Prereq: Admission to SEA Semester. Three lab science courses (one at the 300-level or higher) or consent of instructor.
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL HISTORY
300-level, 4 credits, BU CAS NS 323 Prereq: Admission to SEA Semester. Sophomore standing or consent of instructor. Employ methods and sources of historians and social scientists. Examine the role of human societies in coastal and open ocean environmental change. Issues include resource conservation, overfishing, pollution, invasive species, and climate change. MARITIME HISTORY & CULTURE
300-level, 4 credits, BU CAS NS 322 Prereq: Admission to SEA Semester. Sophomore standing or consent of instructor. Explore impacts of European maritime ventures on the societies they contacted in the Atlantic or
Detailed course syllabi are available at: www.sea.edu/academics
Pacific, with focus on the resulting social, political, economic, and cultural changes. Investigate responses documented in the post-Colonial literature of indigenous people. MARITIME STUDIES
200-level, 3 credits, BU CAS NS 222 Prereq: Admission to SEA Semester. Relationship between humans and the sea. History, literature, and art of our maritime heritage. Ships as agents of contact change. Political and economic challenges of contemporary marine affairs. Destination-specific focus. NAUTICAL SCIENCE
200-level, 3 credits, BU CAS NS 223 Prereq: Admission to SEA Semester. Learn the fundamentals of sailing ship operation, in preparation for direct application at sea. Navigation (piloting, celestial and electronic), weather, engineering systems, safety, and sail theory. Participate as an active member of the ship’s crew on an offshore voyage. OCEAN SCIENCE & PUBLIC POLICY
300-level, 3 credits, BU CAS NS 320 Prereq: Admission to SEA Semester. Sophomore standing or consent of instructor. Culture, history, political systems, and science can shape ocean policy. Practice current strategies to build, analyze, and communicate about diverse policy issues. Examine the power, use, and limitations of science and the scientist’s voice in determining ocean policy.
OCEANOGRAPHIC FIELD METHODS
PRACTICAL OCEANOGRAPHIC RESEARCH
200-level, 4 credits, BU XAS NS 225 Prereq: Admission to SEA Semester.
200-level, 4 credits, BU XAS NS 226 Prereq: Admission to SEA Semester.
Exposure to basic oceanographic sampling methods. Participate in shipboard laboratory operations to gain experience with deployment of modern oceanographic equipment and collection of scientific data at sea. Emphasis on practicing consistent methods and ensuring data fidelity.
Introduction to oceanographic research. Design a collaborative, hypothesis-driven project following the scientific process. Collect original data. Conduct analysis and interpretation, then prepare a written report and oral presentation. THE OCEAN & GLOBAL CHANGE
OCEANOGRAPHY
200-level, 3 credits, BU CAS NS 221 Prereq: Admission to SEA Semester. Explore how interconnected ocean characteristics (bathymetry, seawater chemistry, biological diversity) and processes (plate tectonics, surface and deep-water circulation, biological production) shape global patterns across multiple scales. Discuss destination-specific environmental issues and hot topics in marine research. OCEANS IN THE GLOBAL CARBON CYCLE
300-level, 4 credits, BU CAS NS 321 Prereq: Admission to SEA Semester. Three lab science courses (one at the 300-level or higher) or consent of instructor. Ocean as carbon source and sink. Examine global-scale flux patterns and carbon storage mechanisms, from solubility/ biological pumps to geo-engineering. Explore buffering capacity and mitigation strategies in the face of anthropogenic carbon cycle perturbations. Oral presentation and written research proposal required.
300-level, 4 credits, BU CAS NS 326 Prereq: Admission to SEA Semester. Sophomore standing or consent of instructor. Ocean ecosystem change in the anthropocene: warming, acidification, fisheries depletion, and pollution. Review principles of circulation, seawater chemistry, nutrient dynamics, and biological production to understand causes and consequences of change. Conduct field measurements for contribution to time-series datasets. TOWARD A SUSTAINABLE OCEAN: CONSERVATION & MANAGEMENT
300-level, 3 credits, BU CAS NS 328 Prereq: Admission to SEA Semester. Sophomore standing or consent of instructor. Comparative and issue-driven introduction to managing human uses and conserving coastal and ocean places and resources. Explore concepts of technology, governance, sector and ecosystem management, and marine protected areas through expert content lectures, topical seminars, and field trips.
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STUDENT RESEARCH UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH AT SEA SEMESTER
Undergraduate research is a cornerstone of SEA Semester, with an emphasis on field-based study in marine and social sciences. SEA faculty and staff are active in their respective fields through grant-funded research projects, participation in professional conferences and publication in scholarly journals. Faculty encourage SEA Semester students to contribute new aspects to ongoing research or to develop their own avenues of inquiry, as they guide students through the entire research process from defining the scope of study to final presentation of their work. Many students continue their research upon return to their home institutions, using the field data collected at SEA as the basis of capstone or senior thesis projects. Others remain involved in the research they contributed to during their time at SEA, and are subsequently invited as co-authors on presentations and publications resulting from their work. We invite you to explore some examples of the major avenues of research conducted by SEA Semester students and SEA faculty and staff. ^ SEA Semester alum * SEA Semester faculty/staff
MARINE BIODIVERSITY
Peer-Reviewed Publications Sehein, T.^, A. Siuda*^, T. Shank and A. Govindarajan, 2014. Connectivity in the slender Sargassum shrimp (Latreutes fucorum): implications for a Sargasso Sea protected area. J. Plankton Res. 36, 1408-1412. Presentations Nieves, M. A.^ and A. Siuda*^, 2015. Factors that Influence the Composition of the Resident Macrofauna Community of Free-floating Sargassum. ASLO Aquatic Sciences meeting, Granada, Spain. Gervase, L.^, C. Bateson^, G. Ballou^, A. Siuda*^, L. Amaral-Zettler and A. Bucklin, 2015. Leptocephali Biodiversity in the Sargasso Sea: Spatial and Diel Patterns. NY Chapter American Fisheries Society Meeting, Lake Placid, NY.
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CLIMATE CHANGE
Peer-Reviewed Publications Deary, A. L., S. Moret-Ferguson^*, M. Engels*, E. Zettler*, G. Jaroslow* and G. Sancho, 2015. Influence of Central Pacific Oceanographic Conditions on the Potential Vertical Habitat of Four Tropical Tuna Species. Pacific Science, 69, 461-475. Presentations Meyer, A. W.*, M. K. Becker^, K. C. Grabb^ and SEA Cruise S-250 Scientific Party, 2014. SEA Semester Undergraduates Research the Ocean’s Role in Climate Systems in the Pacific Ocean. AGU Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA.
Photo: Tane Sinclair-Taylor
CONSERVATION / MANAGEMENT
Presentations Siuda, A.*^ J. Jensen* and C. McClennen^, 2013. Cross-training Undergraduate Scientists in Practical Conservation: Integrating Science and Policy Skills in a Problem-based Curriculum. 26th International Congress for Conservation Biology, Baltimore, MD. MARINE DEBRIS/PLASTIC POLLUTION
Peer-Reviewed Publications Kukulka, T., K. L. Law* and G. Proskurowski*, 2016. Evidence for the influence of surface heat fluxes on turbulent mixing of microplastic marine debris. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 46, 809-815. Gil^, M. A. and J. B. Pfaller, 2016. Oceanic barnacles act as foundation species on plastic debris: implications for marine dispersal. Sci. Rep. 6, 19987.
Goldstein M. and D. Goodwin*, 2013. Gooseneck barnacles (Lepas spp.) ingest microplastic debris in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre. PeerJ 1, e184. Law, K. L.*, S. Moret-Ferguson*^, N. A. Maximenko, G. Proskurowski*, E. E. Peacock, J. Hafner and C. M. Reddy, 2010. Plastic accumulation in the North Atlantic subtropical gyre. Science 329, 1185-1188. Presentations Taylor, S.^, K. Cramer, K. Dooley, K.^, W. Lourie^, T. J. Mincer, L. A. Amaral-Zettler and E. R. Zettler*, 2015. Short-term Microbial Community Assembly on Plastic Marine Debris: Evidence from Experimental Colonization Studies in the Waters of Woods Hole, MA, USA. ASLO Aquatic Sciences meeting, Granada, Spain.
Law, K. L.*, S. Moret-Ferguson*^, E. R. Zettler*, E. DeForce, and G. Proskurowski*, 2014. A Synoptic Look at Eastern Pacific Microplastic Debris: 11 Years of Consistent Monitoring. Ocean Sciences meeting, Honolulu, HI. Duarte, A.^, E. Zettler*, L. Amaral-Zettler, and T. Mincer, 2012. Analysis of Plastics in the Sargasso Sea and Vibrio Interactions with Plastic. Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science meeting, Seattle, WA. For more examples of student projects and publications in these areas of research and more, visit www.sea.edu/sea_research.
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SHIPS & RESEARCH EQUIPMENT SHIP CERTIFICATION
SEA owns and operates the SSV Corwith Cramer and the SSV Robert C. Seamans, certified by the United States Coast Guard as Sailing School Vessels (SSVs). As SSVs, both ships are required to meet stringent safety standards that differ from those of a passenger vessel on a comparable route. Unlike some other programs that take students to sea, our ships are U.S. flagged, inspected, and regulated, and have been custom designed and built specifically for SEA.
SSV CORWITH CRAMER
The SSV Corwith Cramer, named after SEA’s founding director, was designed specifically for SEA and was constructed in 1987 in Bilbao, Spain. She is a 134-foot steel brigantine built as a research vessel for operation under sail, and is home to SEA Semester students in the Atlantic, Caribbean and Mediterranean.
Rig: Brigantine Displacement: 270 Tons Construction: Steel; built 1987 ASTACE Shipyard Bilbao, Spain Length Overall: 134 feet Length on Deck: 98 feet Draft: 12.5 feet Beam: 26 feet Sail Area: 7,500 Sq. Ft. Auxiliary Engine: 500 horsepower Cummins diesel Complement: 38 persons
SSV Corwith Cramer
SSV ROBERT C. SEAMANS
The SSV Robert C. Seamans, SEA’s newest vessel, was designed by Laurent Giles of Hampshire, England, and built in Tacoma, Washington. Named after a former Trustee and Chairman of SEA’s board, the Robert C. Seamans is a 134-foot steel brigantine and is the most sophisticated sailing oceanographic research vessel ever built in the United States. The Seamans is home to SEA Semester students in the Pacific.
Rig: Brigantine Displacement: 350 Tons Construction: Steel; built 2001 J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding, Tacoma, WA Length Overall: 134.5 feet Length on Deck: 111.4 feet Draft: 13.9 feet Beam: 25.5 feet Sail Area: 8,554 Sq. Ft. Auxiliary Engine: 455 horsepower Caterpillar diesel Complement: 40 persons SSV Robert C. Seamans
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WINCHES
• Markey Electric Hydrographic Winches with 3000-5000m 1/4” 3x19 wire rope • Markey Auxiliary “enhanced BT” Winches with 1/8” wire rope • Overboarding systems that include hydraulic J-frames and Dynacon sheaves with payout metering, speed and tensioning capability.
• Orion 3-star benchtop pH meter • Ocean Optics USB2000 digital spectrophotometers (UV capability to be added in late 2016) • Secchi Disk • Star-Oddi centi-TD (temperature/depth) loggers for accurate depth readings on towed net deployments • Full complement of wet-chemical capability (e.g. titrations, column reductions, filtration, etc.)
GEOLOGICAL SAMPLING EQUIPMENT
• Shipek Sediment Grab • Gravity Corer • Fisher Sediment Scoop
BATHYMETRIC EQUIPMENT
• Knudsen Model 3260 Chirp sub-bottom profiling systems (2-7 kHz) with TR-109 transducers (8 on Corwith Cramer | 9 on Robert C. Seamans)
PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL OCEANOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT
• Water sampling Carousel SBE 32SC capable of carrying the following instrumentation package: - Seabird Electronics (SBE) 90208 1 Auto Fire Module - SBE “SEACAT” Conductivity, Temperature and 1 Depth (CTD) Profiler - Biospherical PAR sensor - Sea Point in-vivo chlorophyll-a Fluorometer - Wetlabs CDOM Fluorometer and 1 Transmissometer - SBE-43 oxygen sensor - 12 x 2.5-L Niskin Water Sampling Bottles • Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (RDI Ocean Surveyor 75kHz) • Octans fiber optic gyro-compass on Corwith Cramer; Ashtech ADU-5 on Robert C. Seamans • RBR XR420 towed CTD • YSI-30 and YSI-85 handheld meters
BIOLOGICAL SAMPLING EQUIPMENT
• Aquabotix Hydroview ROV (200ft rating, color cameras and HD video) • Turner Designs Model 10-AU Benchtop Fluorometers • Sea-Gear 200, 333, 1000 μm mesh Plankton nets • Sea-Gear 333 μm mesh Neuston nets (1m wide by 0.5m high) • Sea-Gear 63 μm Phytoplankton nets • Tucker Trawl multiple opening/closing net • Phantom 3 Pro UAV Quadcopter for aerial observations
MICROSCOPES
SHORE-TO-SEA MOLECULAR LAB
• Eppendorf Centrifuge 5424 • (2) Microcentrifuges • BioRad Thermocycler - Mini Opticon Real-Time PCR System • NanoDrop 1000 Spectrophotometer • (2) E-Gel Precast Agarose Electrophoresis Systems • Rainin pipets • (2) Benchmark Scientific Mini Dry Baths
• Zeiss Stemi-405 stereo dissecting scopes with imaging capability • Zeiss/Nikon compound scope with epifluorescence capability
DATALOGGING
Clean-flowing seawater system with SBE-45 thermosalinograph, in-vivo chlorophyll and CDOM fluorometer, and transmissometer. System logs surface seawater salinity, temperature, in-vivo chlorophyll fluorescence, beam attenuation, CDOM fluorescence, as well as GPS position once per minute while underway. OTHER
Laboratory equipment (centrifuges, stir plates, adjustable micropipets, etc.), Milli-Q lab water, aquaria, PAR reference sensor, hydrophone, plankton splitter, handheld GPS.
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OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLLABORATION VISITING FACULTY
Firmly established in the academic and oceanographic communities, SEA has long benefited from the participation of scholars and experts visiting from other colleges, universities, and research institutions. During both the shore and sea components, there are frequent opportunities for faculty members from outside institutions to interact with our student body. Guest educators can give a single lecture ashore, spend six weeks working with our students in Woods Hole, go to sea with a SEA Semester class for one leg of a voyage or an entire sea component, or any combination of the above. Please contact Dr. Paul Joyce, Academic Dean, for more information about these opportunities. COLLEAGUE VOYAGES
One of the best ways to help colleagues understand the nature of our programs is to take them to sea. Each year, we invite sending institution faculty, advisors, and administrators to sail aboard the Corwith Cramer or the Robert C. Seamans on a short Colleague Voyage. These 2- to 5-day voyages offer the chance to learn more about our programs while experiencing firsthand what makes SEA Semester a leader in field-based education and research. While at sea, colleagues participate in the 24/7 deck and lab operations of the vessel. They stand watch, attend class, deploy oceanographic equipment, process data, and handle sails. They also experience the combination of theoretical and practical education that is the hallmark of our programs, and
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that creates such a powerful living and learning community for students. One or more members of the SEA faculty and administration join each voyage to answer questions and facilitate the experience. There are no fees associated with these voyages; colleagues simply provide their own travel to and from the ship, as well as any accommodations outside of the program dates. Please contact your institutional representative or email admissions@sea.edu for more information about these opportunities. SHIPS OF OPPORTUNITY
SEA’s vessels serve as “ships of opportunity” to deploy instruments, provide valuable open ocean samples and supply data to collaborators from institutions around the world. Our vessels routinely travel through regions not frequented by other research vessels, providing the opportunity to collect data in observation-sparse or remote areas, and to build long-term data sets on annually-repeated cruise tracks. The SSV Corwith Cramer, operating in the North Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea, and the SSV Robert C. Seamans, operating in the North and South Pacific Oceans, are equipped with sophisticated oceanographic instrumentation and laboratory equipment that allow students, faculty, and visiting researchers alike to collect high quality oceanographic data. SEA routinely submits data to national and international archives for use by the broader oceanographic research community.
RECENT SHIPS OF OPPORTUNITY COLLABORATIONS INCLUDE:
• Argo network of profiling CTD floats, Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory - Routinely deploy Argo floats on Pacific and 1 Atlantic Ocean cruise tracks • Census of Marine Zooplankton (CMarZ), a program of the Census of Marine Life - Contributed zooplankton samples from 1 Atlantic and Pacific Oceans • Government of Kiribati - Collected bathymetric data for redefinition of 1 Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) boundaries • Hideshige Takada, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology - Collected ocean microplastics for analysis of 1 Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) • Ocean Genome Legacy - Contribute marine tissue samples and genomic 1 information to a genome bank • SeaBASS, a NASA program - Repository for optical data collected in Atlantic 1 and Pacific Oceans
For more information on SEA’s research, education and outreach collaborations, as well as resulting publications, visit www.sea.edu/sea_research/ collaborations.
COLLABORATIVE PROGRAMS
In addition to running summer and semester SEA Semester programs, SEA has limited availability to support institutional faculty-led programs. Below are a few examples of both short and longer-term collaborative programs. STANFORD@SEA
Offered exclusively to Stanford undergraduates, Stanford@SEA consists of five weeks of marine science (oceanography and marine physiology), maritime studies (literature, conservation, and policy) and nautical science (navigation, meteorology, astronomy). The program begins at Hopkins Marine Station in Monterey, California, and continues with a five-week research cruise aboard SEA’s Pacific research vessel, the SSV Robert C. Seamans. Students develop an independent scientific research project while ashore and carry out the research at sea. HARVARD UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF EARTH AND PLANETARY SCIENCES
At the beginning of specific academic semesters, the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences (EPS) offers a field trip aboard an SEA vessel. Sophomore EPS students take advantage of the state-of-the-art research tools available aboard the ship while participating in all aspects of running a sailing research vessel. The shipboard experience provides a real-world framework for their Harvard coursework.
THE WHARTON SCHOOL, MBA LEADERSHIP VENTURE
The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania offers MBA Leadership Ventures, which are experiences that facilitate self-discovery, leadership, and character development. Participants are able to step out of their comfort zone, exceed personal limitations, and experience leadership firsthand. One such Venture takes place aboard SEA’s Pacific research vessel, the SSV Robert C. Seamans. This program is a continuous sailing expedition near New Zealand that draws on participants’ endurance — mental and physical — and teamwork skills to achieve the team’s goals in the face of challenging, often unfamiliar obstacles and natural elements. Wharton MBA students build skills in teamwork, decision-making, adaptability and leadership. OTHER COLLABORATIVE PROGRAM PARTNERSHIPS HAVE INCLUDED:
Boston University College of Charleston Colorado College Duke University Eckerd College Ithaca College University of Chicago University of San Diego Please contact Dr. Paul Joyce, Academic Dean, for more information about these opportunities. Photo: Camrin Braun
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Sea Education Association www.sea.edu P.O. Box 6 Woods Hole, MA 02543 800-552-3633 x770 800-977-8516 fax Katharine Enos & Doug Karlson Editors Lauren Zike Project Manager Fyfe Design Design Photo credits: SEA alumni, faculty, staff, and friends
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