Expedition Team

Marina DelCassio, S-224

Age: 21
Alumna: S-224
Occupation: Student at Columbia University

Every year when I was a child my family would take a trip to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. The frisky sea otters in the two-story tank, the tiny jelly fish lit up by a black light, the solitary sea turtle swimming by amidst the fish of The Open Sea, and the bat rays I got to pet at the tide pools all stole my heart before I can remember. By the time I was in kindergarten I wanted to be a marine biologist. While my career ambitions later changed (for that matter, they may well change back...), my love of the ocean never subsided. I was lucky enough to be a part of SEA class S-224 last summer, and my passion for the sea was fully rekindled. I have always considered myself environmentally minded, but my work on the plastics project last summer gave me a completely new perspective and sense of purpose in the cause of the planet.

Right now I am an astrophysics and international relations double major at Columbia University, class of 2011. I spent the past year studying abroad in Europe—one semester in Strasbourg, France to study IR and work at the Council of Europe, one semester in St Andrews, Scotland to study astronomy and physics. I still don't really know where I want to go after graduation, but I will probably spend a year or two doing something like AmeriCorps or GreenCorps and then apply to grad school or law school.

When not focusing on school, I like to fill my time jamming on my fiddle or guitar, singing everything from Puccini to Joan Baez, traveling as far as I can as cheaply as possible, biking, kayaking, hiking, and going to shows. Sailing on the Seamans was one of the best experiences of my life, and I can't wait to set off on the Cramer.