About
The purpose of the program is to provide folks with a stepping stone into marine science who are otherwise struggling to break into the field. Diversifying Ocean Sciences is a free, year-long hybrid program for people to hone their ocean science skills, build their network, and receive mentorship. Thirty participants will be accepted into the program with sixteen coming from the Barancik Foundation's target communities (Florida and the greater Chicago area) and fourteen coming from all over. Participants will have the opportunity to participate in one of three concentrations (Field Ecology, Laboratory Techniques or Marine Technology) with ten students under each concentration. The experience will culminate with a week long hands-on intensive workshop during summer 2023.
All participant travel is covered and participants will receive a small stipend of $700 to offset any lost wages during the week-long intensive workshop.
All participant travel is covered and participants will receive a small stipend of $700 to offset any lost wages during the week-long intensive workshop.
Participant requirements
18+ BIPOC Gender Minorities (especially those who have experienced or are experiencing a disruption in the educational/professional development looking to fill a gap in experience).
18+ BIPOC Gender Minorities (especially those who have experienced or are experiencing a disruption in the educational/professional development looking to fill a gap in experience).
Time commitment
The program will be online with the exception of the weeklong workshops which will occur at one of our three sites (Field School, WHOI/AWSC or UC Merced). One hour virtual meetings every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month 4:30 ET/3:30 CT/1:30 PT beginning in November and ending in June. Laboratory Techniques workshop (UC Merced) will be held June 17-24, 2023, Field Ecology workshop (Field School) will be held June 28th-July 3rd, 2023 and the Marine Technology workshop (WHOI/AWSC) will be held July 23rd-July 30th, 2023.
For frequently asked questions please open the file below:
The program will be online with the exception of the weeklong workshops which will occur at one of our three sites (Field School, WHOI/AWSC or UC Merced). One hour virtual meetings every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month 4:30 ET/3:30 CT/1:30 PT beginning in November and ending in June. Laboratory Techniques workshop (UC Merced) will be held June 17-24, 2023, Field Ecology workshop (Field School) will be held June 28th-July 3rd, 2023 and the Marine Technology workshop (WHOI/AWSC) will be held July 23rd-July 30th, 2023.
For frequently asked questions please open the file below:
| FAQs.pdf |
Meet the Program Mentors & Their Concentrations
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Dr. Sora Kim explores the interaction between environmental change and biotic responses. Her projects are diverse and include plants and animals while spanning modern to paleo-systems and terrestrial to marine environments. The questions she asks involves elements of time and climate change with a consideration for the role of physiology and ecology.
Dr. Kim will be mentoring from UC Merced where she is an assistant professor and leading the Laboratory Techniques concentration. |
Field School in Miami, FL
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Dr. Catherine Macdonald is an interdisciplinary marine conservation biologist who studies shark and ray biology, ecology, fisheries, and conservation. Her research interests also include marine ecosystems, human-wildlife conflict, and wildlife tourism. She is one of the co-founders and the Director of Field School, an interdisciplinary marine science training and education program.
Dr. Macdonald is a research assistant professor at the University of Miami and will be co-leading the Field Ecology concentration. |
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Dr. Julia Wester is a social scientist interested in how we teach and communicate about science, how systems work and how to change them, and how to better engage everyone in learning about and protecting our natural world. She is also co-founder of Field School and the director of the Field School Foundation.
Dr. Wester is lecturer at the University of Miami and the Associate Director of the Ecosystem Science and Policy undergraduate program at the Abess Center and will be co-leading the Field Ecology concentration. |
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Dr. Camrin Braun is a marine ecologist and assistant professor at Woods Hole in Massachusetts working at the interface of top predator ecology and oceanography. His research seeks to unite physical-biological interactions with the challenges of managing living marine resources in a dynamic ocean. He is particularly passionate about applying computational, lab and field-based approaches to emerging ocean challenges.
Dr. Braun will be mentoring from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution where he is an assistant professor and will be co-leading the Marine Technology concentration. |
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Marianne Walsh is the Education Director at the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit who provides the most comprehensive publicly available information on white sharks in the Northwest Atlantic. The organization supports scientific research, improves public safety, and educates the community to inspire white shark conservation.
Marianne has a background in marine science and is a licensed teacher, and will be co-leading the Marine Technology concentration. |
Each year in addition to the above program mentors, each concentration will also have a peer mentor (graduate student)who will offer further advice, assistance throughout the program, and attend the field courses. This years peer mentors are: Gabriele Larocca Conte, Jaida Elcock, and Amani Webber-Schultz.
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