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.

Early this morning, we helped to set the sails and prepare to reel in the anchor. Though we are all still inexperienced, it’s so thrilling to know that we’re genuinely contributing to the success of the ship’s voyage.

Dawn watch is delightful delirium. It is less quiet than I expected, punctuated by the slap of the swell on the iron hull and calls of “Lance on deck! Mica below!” from the quarterdeck. But these sounds fail to deny the night its tranquility. A waxing half-moon shattered on the azure sea.

Welcome to the SEA Colgate Benton Scholars program blog! I am happy to report that all 18 Colgate University participants (16 students and their professors Amy Leventer and Jonathan Levine) safely arrived in Brooklyn and boarded the Corwith Cramer at 1400 this afternoon.

Well, it’s been a journey.  To top off the end of the trip we put together a “Swizzle” which is a sailors party.not what you all are probably thinking.

Today was our last day at sea before we arrive in Papeete, Tahiti tomorrow morning. This morning, A Watch had morning watch where we saw Moorea and Tahiti off the port bow!

SEA Semester in the NEWS

WHOI Names Rick Murray Deputy Director & Vice President for Research
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) announces that Dr. Richard W. Murray has accepted the position of the Deputy Director & Vice President for Research of the institution. He will assume the office on Sept. 1, 2019.

The time is 5:05, the wind is a brisk and warm call to sea, and a directly windward challenge to make it to Papaeete! We will be fighting a headwind for our miles today. I’m writing my blog early in anticipation of tossing some cookies to Neptune, but also looking forward to filling our sails and gettingunderway.