Student sails the open ocean for credit

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by Frederick Wen

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For some, the open sea conjures up memories of "The Love Boat" or just seasickness, while for a few others, the thrill and promise of open sea adventure is something that cannot be ignored

Hanszen College senior Sarah Marsh felt that desire and was able to find an academic program suited to her needs. Marsh is participating in a full-credit (17 hours granted by Rice) undergraduate program called the Sea Education Association (SEA) Semester.

Marsh is currently on board the Westward, a 125-foot staysail schooner, and is learning how to conduct oceanographic research experiments in the Atlantic Ocean near Cape Cod.

There are six different dates of participation. Her particular session, called Spring II, takes place from February until the end of April. The next session, called the SEA/Island Program, is a special summer program for undergraduates beginning in May and ending in August.

"It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be able to work so closely with instructors and other classmates out in the ocean," said Lucy Helfrich, a SEA alumna as well as Communication Manager for the SEA Program.

Helfrich pointed out that even though she was a biology major, only about half of SEA participants are actually science majors.

This means that students from virtually every academic discipline are able to investigate the ocean environment without much prior experience.

"This adventure was definitely something that I couldn't experience on campus [at Brown University], and it helped me grow a lot as a person because there aren't a lot of distractions out on the open sea," Helfrich said.

"We had to create our own fun, and I was forced to learn how to get along with other students who may not have the same feelings or beliefs as I did because you can't really avoid anyone on a ship. Even though I got seasick and felt miserable for a couple of weeks, I learned how to deal with it and make sacrifices for the good of the ship," Helfrich said.

The SEA is just one of about seven organizations in Woods Hole, Mass., devoted to oceanographic research and education.

There are two components to the SEA semester, shore and sea, each lasting six weeks. The shore component includes staying in cottage-like dorms and taking five days a week of lab, hands-on workshop or discussion classes in oceanography, nautical science and maritime studies which includes literature, history and policy.

For the first third of the sea component, Marsh will undertake multiple responsibilities aboard the ship, including helping on-deck, in the scientific laboratory, and in the engine room and galley. She will stand watches and work with fellow students and professional nautical and scientific staff to handle the 24-hour operations of the vessel.

As an important part of the academic program, Marsh will collect and compile samples of ocean resources, learning to deploy and retrieve scientific equipment and examine and assimilate data to complete an independent research project in oceanography.

During the last two weeks of the sea component, the students are given much more responsibility and become junior watch officers, who are in charge of much of the ship's operations.

There are some port stops in such scenic Caribbean locations as the Grand Cayman, Bermuda, Barbados and Jamaica. During the summer, the port stops will be around Nova Scotia in Canada.

The tuition for one full semester is approximately $12,475, but the Financial Aid office can help students defray much of the cost if necessary. For more information, go to the Office of Academic Advising and ask about the SEA Semester or call SEA at (800) 552-3633.

"I learned how powerful nature really can be and how small we are in the whole scheme of things. It was definitely life- and career- shaping and helped turn the corner for those students that were thinking about a career in environmental education or research," Helfrich said.

This item appeared in the News section of the April 19, 1996 issue.

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