The seaweed appears as if out of nowhere, vast swaths suddenly blanketing the beaches of Caribbean islands, yet little is known about the many various forms of the Sargassum seaweed.  Student researchers set out to study the genetics of the pervasive weed, a critical building block of the ecologically rich Sargasso Sea, to better understand the role it plays in the dynamic ocean environment.

As many mariners and naturalists do, SEA Semester students make sketches and keep journals. For members of the Colonization to Conservation in the Caribbean program, illustration and journaling are part of the curriculum.  Leading the instruction this past winter with Class C-284 was Victoria Smith, SEA’s alumni coordinator, and an accomplished artist in her own right.

Greetings from the marine department, where we’re constantly thinking about our ships. As I write this, spring is in the air and we’re gearing up for the arrival in Woods Hole of the SSV Corwith Cramer.

I will admit that when I heard we were to sail on the Corwith Cramer from NYC to Woods Hole at the beginning of our summer break, I was expecting blue skies, warm sun, and essentially beach weather. Yes, I packed a bathing suit.

Spirits are high aboard the SSV Robert C Seamans as our Stanford@SEA students are now experienced sailors with over 4 days and nights at sea.  We are very close to Iles Maria, the first stop on our cruise track in the outer islands of French Polynesia.

This morning when I opened my eyes in my cozy bunk after being woken by Colin at around 0600, I was extra eager. A Watch was assigned to the 0700 to 1300 shift, and I was assigned to be in lab.

We were awoken by the calming voice of Giovanni Vigilante at 0030. After scrambling our way into the usual five layers of clothing, topped off by our foul weather gear and trusty harnesses, we headed up to the deck to join the rest of B watch and begin the Dawn Watch.

An in-depth conversation with SEA Professor of Oceanography Jeff Schell on teaching at SEA, the health of coral reefs, and the mysteries of the Sargasso Sea

Professor of Oceanography Jeff Schell is the former director for SEA’s Colonization to Conservation in the Caribbean program and led the creation of SEA’s Reef Expedition programs.  A graduate of College of the Holy Cross (BA), SUNY Stony Brook (MS) and University of Wisconsin at Madison (PhD), his areas of interest include the ecology of marine and freshwater habitats with a focus on distribution, diversity, and species composition of plankton communities, the ecology of pelagic Sargassum and its associated community, marine environmental history, interdisciplinary approaches to teaching, science illustration and storytelling.

A sailor’s life and livelihood are inextricably tied to the weather; the winds and waves can make or break a voyage. From the very moment we set foot upon the deck of the Cramer, that fact has been apparent.

Partnership Education Program (PEP) in the NEWS

NOAA Fisheries / Northeast Fisheries Science Center
College Students Head to Woods Hole for Summer of Science
Diversity Program Celebrates its 10th Anniversary June 27-29

Sixteen students from colleges and universities around the country will arrive in Woods Hole on June 1 for the summer. All will be members of the 11th class of the Woods Hole Partnership Education Program (PEP), which was started in 2009.

PEP is a project of the Woods Hole Diversity Initiative, founded in 2004 by the six scientific institutions in Woods Hole to attract and retain a more diverse workforce, one that reflects the changing demographics of the nation and the world. This year PEP is also celebrating its 10th anniversary with a workshop and weekend of activities June 27-29.