Academics

Summer 2013 Schedule

Shore Component - Woods Hole

Academic programming is scheduled throughout each day of the ten-day Woods Hole shore component, including weekends. Course work includes lectures, discussions, laboratory activities, and field trips; all introducing students to the study of history and literature of the sea, marine sciences, and nautical science in an historic and modern context.

The Academic Program

Introduction to Oceanography: Study marine organisms, the structure of the earth, marine geology and sediments, wind-driven circulation, thermohaline circulation, and the chemistry of seawater. As students of SEA, there are opportunities to take advantage of the exceptional local research facilities (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Marine Biological Laboratory, U.S. Geological Survey, and National Marine Fisheries).

Introduction to Nautical Science: Students learn about piloting and chartwork, ship handling, sail theory, life at sea, safety, seamanship, ship stability, aerodynamics, and hydrodynamics.

Introduction to Maritime Studies: Students are introduced to the American maritime heritage during the Age of Sail, with emphasis on the local New England region.

Campus Life

Science at SEA students live in three cottages on SEA's campus, each accommodating up to nine individuals. While the cottages are co-ed, students are assigned to single-sex rooms. Each cottage is closely supervised by an adult house leader who also serves as a Teaching Assistant on shore. Life in each cottage revolves around its common/dining area, where students help prepare meals, share cleaning duties, and live in community with one other. After dinner, there is an evening activity, followed by quiet time for study and using the library, student lounge, and computer facilities. This environment is conducive to the underlying goals of teamwork and community building.

The house leaders lead evening and weekend activities. These activities may include team-building workshops, special evening musical entertainment, and movie and popcorn nights. Students often join together to play volleyball, soccer, and Frisbee on campus. They may also have the opportunity to explore the local bike path, walking trails, and beaches around campus with the supervision of their house leader.

Sea Component - SSV Corwith Cramer

Upon successful completion of the shore component, students join the SSV Corwith Cramer, a 134-foot brigantine, for the remainder of the program. The ship holds up to 24 students and 14 professional crew and faculty. Daily activities at sea immerse students in all operations of a modern research sailing vessel: collecting scientific data, setting and striking sails, helping in the ship’s galley and more. Each day, students participate in directed activities and lectures in both Oceanography and Nautical Science.

The Academic Program

Students are assigned to a "watch"; a group of eight people with whom they rotate through the 24-hour daily schedule. While the watch is on duty, each person is assigned to a particular area of the vessel for the duration of the watch period: in the lab, on the deck, or in the galley.

During lab watch, students participate in oceanographic activities led by the scientist on duty. They deploy oceanographic instruments at scientific stations conducted each day at sea, to determine characteristics of the water column, the sea floor, and the biological organisms of the area. They assist in analyzing the biological, geological, and physical data collected during the cruise. This data may include sea temperature, salinity, chemical nutrients, water depth, plankton samples, sediment samples, and weather observations.

During deck watch, students participate in navigational exercises led by the mate on duty. These exercises include opportunities to maneuver the vessel under sail and power, record hourly weather observations, plot courses, learn about navigational stars, and for near-shore piloting with charts, radar, and compass.

Shipboard Life

Life at sea is fast-paced, as all watch activities continue on a 24-hour schedule throughout the oceanographic voyage. In addition to routine watch standing duties, students prepare and present group projects. There is always something to see, to learn, to do, and to help with.

Accommodations are comfortable, but cozy. The food is excellent and plentiful – three meals plus three snacks each day. At least once during the cruise, students join in a general cleaning of the ship. They have enough free time to make friends with the rest of the crew, to keep a journal, to climb aloft, to make music (bringing instruments is encouraged!), and to enjoy the sunrises, sunsets and the night sky.