Semester By The Sea Trains Young Scientists

Florida Atlantic University’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute trains the next generation of environmental researchers and stewards through its Semester By The Sea program. A generous donation from Wayne and Lucretia Weiner through Florida Atlantic’s School of Environmental, Coastal, and Ocean Sustainability (ECOS), supported the program this year, enabling students to have career-building experiences. 

Semester By The Sea, which is entering its 25th year, provides undergraduate students with the opportunity to immerse themselves in a marine science setting, receiving hands-on education and research experience in the field and laboratory at the coastal Harbor Branch campus in Fort Pierce. Taking place in the Spring semester of each year, the program is open to undergraduates from Florida Atlantic and other universities.

There are three required classes: marine biodiversity, marine ecology, and marine science. Students also take one elective. Courses are team-taught by research experts in their respective fields, such as marine plants, corals and invertebrates, and fishes. The biodiversity and ecology courses each include a lab component, which is where students experience fieldwork central to the program.

Isabella Holden, a biological sciences major, attended the program in Spring 2025. She selected the Indian River Lagoon Experience elective, where students go out into the field to collect samples and make environmental observations. Her team compared fish biodiversity at two sites on the Indian River Lagoon and presented the findings to the group.

“The experience I had here can be applied to a variety of industry and career trajectories, which is a really good perk,” Holden said. “I don’t know of any other program that offers a hands-on experience like this. It’s unlike any other educational experience I have ever had. It was amazing!”

Elle Karakadze is a student at the Harriet Wilkes Honors College in her junior year, majoring in biological sciences with a marine biology concentration. Drawn to experimental design and data analysis as it pertains to marine ecology research, she participated in the Marine Ecology elective. The experience led to a summer research internship at Harbor Branch. Looking forward, Karakadze is interested in pursuing graduate studies in deep sea biology and ecology.

“The experience helps you decide what your future could be while also meeting a lot of people and networking,” Karakadze said. “It allowed me to branch out and explore my interests, working in the lab and field. I have learned that I love both.”

To learn more about how Florida Atlantic is helping to propel student success, as well as how Transcend Tomorrow: The Campaign for Florida Atlantic University is working to create a healthier environment, visit transcendtomorrow.fau.edu.