This intensive four-week course addresses fundamental oceanographic processes that maintain and structure marine biodiversity and productivity, including physical oceanographic processes of dispersal and upwelling, environmental selection, biogeography, nutrient dynamics, primary production, and food web dynamics. Students will design an original research project during an initial week-long shore component at Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) in Woods Hole, MA, and then address their own questions by collecting samples and data aboard Sea Education Association (SEA)’s oceanographic research sailing vessel, the SSV Corwith Cramer, on a 10-day offshore voyage. At sea students will deploy oceanographic instruments, interpret various data streams, and work as research teams and watch members as they navigate and sail the vessel. During a final week-long shore component at MBL, students will analyze and interpret the data they collected and present their results in written and oral reports. For students unable to participate in the ocean-going component of the course, an alternative onshore research component will explore diverse local marine ecosystems including estuaries, salt marshes, and coastal embayments. Course meets for three weeks (5-6 days/week, 8 hours per day) at Marine Biological Laboratories, in Woods Hole Massachusetts. Course will be part of the Spring Quarter at MBL. For more information see https://college.uchicago.edu/academics/mbl-spring-quarter
Undergraduate
Time: TBA
Location: Marine Biological Laboratories, in Woods Hole Massachusetts