MARION - Tabor Academy has announced the opening of the fifth year of its Science@Work lecture series on Sept. 23 with an intriguing lecture about a newly developed volcanic island and what it may teach us about Mars.

SEA Semester in the NEWS
Middlebury College News
“Future of World’s Oceans to Be Topic of Symposium”

The global ocean is increasingly threatened by human activity, yet many people remain unaware of how important to all life, human and non-human, the marine environment truly is. “The Future of the Global Ocean,” this year’s Middlebury College Clifford Symposium, will offer talks by pioneering marine scientists on key environmental topics, from ocean plastics and marine protected areas to the influence of melting sea ice on weather patterns. Events take place September 19-21 and include a screening of the documentary Chasing the Thunder that recounts a remarkable story of environmental activism on the high seas.

SEA Semester in the NEWS
SEA/NASA Exploration of Volcanic Island in Tonga
WCAI Living Lab Radio with Dr. Heather Goldstone

“Kerry Whittaker of Sea Education Association is taking a tall ship full of undergraduates to the world’s newest island. It’s just five years old, and NASA’s Jim Garvin says it could help explain the deep geological history of Mars (spoiler alert: Mars had oceans).”

SEA Semester in the NEWS
University of Redlands Bulldog Blog
“U of R alumnus conducts research on rare coral reefs”
By Katie Olson

When asked what he did over the summer, University of Redlands alumnus Jason Gonsalves ’19 has an unusual answer: conducting research in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

SEA Semester in the News
Denison University News & Events
“Geoscience Major Elliot Hayne ‘20 Conducts Research in the Pacific”

Elliot Hayne ’20, a geosciences major, sailed with SEA Semester on a scientific research voyage to the remote Phoenix Islands in the Pacific Ocean. Hayne conducted research that will assist in the ongoing development of an effective conservation plan for the region.

SEA Semester in the News
“Her Classroom Is the Sea”
Seattle U - The Newsroom

Seattle University student Michelle Simoni, ’20 (Computer Science), sailed this summer with SEA Semester on a scientific research voyage to the remote Phoenix Islands in the Pacific Ocean. The Gilroy, Calif., native was one of a select group of undergraduates from diverse colleges and universities who conducted research that will assist in the ongoing development of an effective conservation plan for the region.

And so as quickly this trip began, it ends. With the ship back in harbor right where we set sail from five weeks ago at a glance it can seem like we never left. Thankfully, we still have the memories, photos and friendships left over to remind us of this amazing experience.

The Program: It seems so long ago, on June 10th, that 22 students and three faculty met to begin S-287 Protecting the Phoenix Islands (aka: PIPA – Phoenix Islands Protected Area). That evening after a number of introductions and orientations it was explained to the students that the cottages were much more than accommodations.

At this point it is T- 2 days until we arrive back in American Samoa and the past day and a half has given me a somewhat odd chance to compare where I started to where I am now. For the past 48 hours we’ve been dealing with some of the roughest seas and conditions since the beginning of our voyage.

Today is the 8th and with the program coming to an end I am sad but grateful for all the memories that I got from this trip. It all started out coming out of American Samoa in huge 15 ft waves. With the boat rocking and rolling, and majority of my shipmates, including myself getting accustomed to the leeward side (sea sickness), we were confused, sick, land lubbers.