Effective ocean conservation requires more than just data; it requires skilled, passionate, and resilient leaders. We believe that immersive, hands-on education is the most powerful way to cultivate these qualities. The Stanford@SEA program is a world-class example of this philosophy in action—a transformative, quarter-long course that combines rigorous shore-side academics at Hopkins Marine Station with a challenging open-ocean voyage aboard a tall ship. For over 20 years, this program has provided Stanford undergraduates with an unparalleled opportunity to develop not only a deep knowledge of the ocean but also the critical leadership and teamwork skills necessary to become effective ocean stewards.

Our Commitment: From Students to Mentors

Our involvement with the Stanford@SEA program is deeply personal and has evolved over several years, giving us a unique perspective on its impact.

• Foundational Experience: In 2019, we were both students in the course, an experience that fundamentally shaped our career paths and solidified our commitment to combining marine science, education, and voyaging.
• Developing as Educators: We returned in 2022, with Audrey serving as a Teaching Assistant and JP as an Assistant Engineer, allowing us to step into roles supporting the next cohort of students.
• Leadership and Mentorship: In 2024, we took on a significant leadership role.
  • Ashore, we served as Maritime Coaches, mentoring students through the development of their research projects and preparing them for the physical and mental transition to life at sea. We designed and led over ten field trips focused on building a strong, collaborative community before the voyage began.
  • At Sea, we served as professional crew aboard the SSV Robert C. Seamans—JP as Chief Engineer and Audrey as a Marine Technician. In these roles, Audrey led watch of seven students, guiding them in all aspects of sailing the ship and running the oceanographic science lab, from deploying equipment to analyzing data. JP managed all mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems during the 5-week, 3,000 nm expedition in French Polynesia.

Program Impact: Forging Ocean Leaders

The Stanford@SEA experience is intentionally designed to be more than a classroom. It is a floating community where students, faculty, and crew are completely interdependent. This academically and physically rigorous environment fosters profound personal and professional growth.

• Practical Mastery: Students move beyond theory to gain hands-on mastery of nautical science, shipboard safety, and practical oceanographic research techniques.
• Collaborative Leadership: By working together in watches to navigate, handle sails, and stand lookout, students learn invaluable lessons in communication, resilience, and collaborative problem-solving under challenging conditions.
• Scientific Immersion: Students are not just learning about science; they are active participants in it, working alongside leading researchers to collect and analyze unique data from remote ocean regions, culminating in their own original research projects.

Our Vision: Cultivating a Community of Stewards

Our work with Stanford@SEA is a cornerstone of our organization’s commitment to capacity building. By dedicating our time and expertise to mentoring these exceptional students, we are investing in the future of ocean science and conservation. We are helping to build a global network of skilled, passionate, and experienced ocean advocates who will carry the lessons learned at sea into impactful careers in research, policy, education, and beyond. We believe this investment in people is the most critical component of ensuring a healthy future for our planet’s oceans.