promoting-interest-in-ocean-sciences-through-partnerships-between-a-college-aquarium-and-nonprofit

1 R Anastasia Jean and Marianne McNamara Suffolk County Community College Selden, NY Promoting Interest in Ocean Sciences Through Partnerships Between a College, Aquarium, and Nonprofit Organization 2d 2b The current Marine Science course offerings at Suffolk County Community College (SCCC) include: • Introduction to Oceanography • Marine Biology • Marine Habitat Ecology All of these courses are for non-majors The faculty at SCCC have developed a variety of activities to engage these students and recruit them into the field of Marine Science Many of the activities involve partnerships with a local aquarium: The Long Island Aquarium & Exhibition Center, a local nonprofit organization: The Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation, and a four year university: The State University of New York at Stony Brook Invited Guest Speakers Results We sent out surveys to approximately 15 students that participated in the Marine Science Club and our internship programs • Only alumni responded but all respondents said that the internships, club participation, seminar series and field trips were positive experiences From Left to Right: Tom Wilson from Stony Brook University discusses research vessels; SCCC Alumni Marco Ponzo, AJ Fiske & Kevin Gandhi talk to SCCC students about life at Stony Brook University; Dr Joseph Warren from Stony Brook University discusses whale feeding behaviors 2c • One of the students that interned at the Riverhead foundation said the following: Field trips “having the opportunity to work with the Riverhead Foundation has helped me make the decision to get a Masters in Marine Science” Future Plans •Increase our post-graduation contact with alumni to track their progress in pursuit of a career in Marine Science and monitor the success of our efforts Methods We engage students and encourage their interest in Marine Science through a variety of activities: •Marine Science Club •Invited Guest Speakers •Field Trips •Internships 2a Interns working with sea turtles and seals at the Riverhead Foundation (left and center) and helping students seine in the Peconic Bay during a trip run by the Long Island Aquarium (right) Field trips are run either through the courses at SCCC or through the Marine Science Club The goals of these trips are to expose students to a variety of local marine habitats & organisms and provide experiences related to careers in the marine sciences Internships For students who want to be even more immersed in the field of Marine Science, we offer internship opportunities at the Riverhead Foundation and the Long Island Aquarium Every semester, the Biology Department at SCCC hosts an Outreach Program consisting of a series of guest speakers We have had speakers from the Riverhead Foundation, Stony Brook University and the Blue Ocean Institute, among others We have also had alumni return to talk to students The lectures are very well attended and students are exposed to various jobs and fields of study within the Marine Sciences Background contact person email: anastaj@sunysuffolk.edu •Increase participation in our internship programs and develop an internship course specific to Marine Science Interns Students from the Oceanography and Marine Biology classes visit the Long Island Aquarium and explore the Peconic Bay and its beaches on the Aquarium’s Explorer Tour Boat •Develop a research internship with Stony Brook University faculty •Develop a Marine Science Major at SCCC Marine Science Club Steve Abrams from Stony Brook University shows students the catch of the day from the Long Island Sound on the RV Seawolf (left); students explore Moriches Bay on a cruise from Stony Brook University’s Southampton Campus (center and right) The Marine Science Club is advised by Dr Marianne McNamara and is a student run organization The club allows students with an interest in Marine Science to meet like-minded students and get more involved This club has hosted guest speakers and led field trips on research vessels and to perform a dolphin necropsy Students from the Marine Science Club participate in a dolphin necropsy at the Riverhead Foundation and get to actually see the counter-current heat exchange system Acknowledgements We would like to thank the Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation, the Long Island Aquarium and Stony Brook University for all of their support Ocean Science Meetings Honolulu, Hawaii 2014