Blueprint for Ocean Conservation

Catalog description

How can scientific research help protect our oceans? As climate change intensifies, marine ecosystems face growing threats, and conventional conservation approaches often fall short. This field course explores how targeted, data-driven research can support effective marine conservation with tangible short- and long-term outcomes. Aboard the research vessel Triton, students will work alongside the Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation, a Greek NGO committed to protecting Mediterranean biodiversity through science and local engagement. Traveling between five Aegean islands, students will use scientific tools to monitor dolphin and whale populations, map seagrass meadows and coralligenous reefs, assess microplastic pollution, and measure carbon sequestration. Fieldwork will be paired with discussions with island communities on biodiversity and traditional sustainability practices. Set in one of Europe's last marine biodiversity hotspots, this course offers an immersive blueprint for linking ocean science with community-driven conservation. This course will be offered in June-Term 2026. The course will take place mostly on a ship and sea sickness is something to consider before choosing the course. This June-Term course will be taught in Greece and will count as an Away course.