Transcript Oceanography: How I Got Started

University of Hawaii
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SOEST
Department of
Oceanography
Undergraduate BS
program in Global
Environmental
Science
GES Degree
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Interdisciplinary study of Earth’s physical,
chemical, and biological (including human)
systems
Rigorous BS degree
Coordination with other schools at UH
provides expertise for training in
intersections with economic, policy, and
social systems
GES Degree
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Coursework:
• Solid background in science and math
 Includes
Introductory Oceanography
• GES courses
 Skills
courses: problem solving, computer skills,
modeling, oral and written communication
 Content courses: environmental change,
biogeochemical cycles, etc.
 Many incorporate oceanographic information/data.
• Electives – students choose area of focus
 Many
choose oceanography courses
GES Degree
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Senior Research Thesis
• Required, one-year project with individual
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mentor
Experience in scientific method; field and
experimental work; data collection, analysis,
reduction, and interpretation; literature review
and analysis.
Oral presentation and written thesis
>50% of students work on oceanographic
projects
GES Graduates
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Roughly 50% go on to graduate school,
many in oceanography or marine-related
fields
Remainder in environmental consulting
jobs, teaching, government positions
OCN 201: Science of the Sea
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Lecture class – large (100-200 students)
Team taught – 3 faculty (1 geo, 1 bio, 1
phys-chem)
Field trips, some self-guided
Optional Lab
Class website:
http://www.soest.hawaii.edu/oceanography
/courses_html/OCN201/
OCN 201 Labs
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Combination of computer-based,
demonstration, and hands-on labs
Examples:
• Computer – nutrient lab based on Java Ocean
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Atlas: http://odf.ucsd.edu/joa/jsindex.html
Demonstration – salinity and thermohaline
circulation
Hands-on – plankton tow; count copepods
and calculate concentration; ID organisms
Upper Division Courses –
Incorporation of Oceanographic
Concepts/Data
Global Environmental Change
 Aquatic Pollution
 Atmospheric Pollution
 Biogeochemical Cycles
 Interpretation of Earth-system Computer
Databases
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OCN 363
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Interpretation of Earth-system Computer
Databases
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Computer skills (Matlab, web page design/use, data
reduction, plotting)
Introduction to satellite-derived and other remotely
sensed data and instrumentation used
Ocean data sets used for assignments
Class website:
http://www.satlab.hawaii.edu/ges/ocn363-2005/
Senior Research Projects
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Environmental Assessment of Offshore Aquaculture –
Romain Mauriac
• Used pigment analyses to assess effects on phytoplankton
populations
 Enumeration of Microbial Cells in Hydrothermal Plumes
– Carolyn Berger
• Compared epifluorescence microscopy to flow cytometry
 Coral Bleaching in the Northwest Hawaiian Islands –
Yves Veillerobe
• Evaluated spatial and temporal variability of SST from in situ and
satellite-derived data
Things we’d like to do
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Shipboard experience for all
Integrate certain concepts and skills
throughout curriculum, e.g. modeling
More hands-on experiences in courses
Problems we’ve encountered
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Ship availability for student cruises
• Time and $
 Computer availability, maintenance, and
upgrades
 Student computer skills