Sea Education Association: Programs at Sea – Protecting the Phoenix Islands ( Summer )
- Location(s): Honolulu, United States: Programs at Sea, Multi-Region: Hawaii, United States: American Samoa, Guam and US Western Pacific Territories
- Program Type(s): Study Abroad, Research
Sea Education Association
Sailing through one of the last coral wilderness areas on Earth, this program covers over 3000 nautical miles from Honolulu, Hawai’i, across the equator, through the waters of Kiribati, and finishes in Fiji. Our primary destination is near or in t... read more
All Reviews

Obviously SEA taught me how to sail a tall ship, learn sailors knots, navigate using stars, and make repairs to sails. Through the independent research, I was also able to use new scientific instruments and data programs that I had no previous exposure to. I gained a feeling of independence and self accomplishment that I never w... Adam Ziegler - Stonehill College View Entire Review
I gained a lot of knowledge of marine science and policy, two things that are not super accessible at my home school. I had never been so involved in collecting scientific data before this program. It's corny, but SEA also teaches you so much about yourself, and for a lot of students on my program, it's not something that we'll ... Krystina Lincoln - Williams College View Entire Review
It was life-changing, and I do not use the term lightly. I cannot wait until I get back out to sea. David L - University of Chicago View Entire Review
I learned to sail, to plan scientific research, to undergo scientific research, to handle expensive sampling equipment, to be able to work with different personalities, and to be confident in myself and my abilities. Jessima Ranney - University of Maine - Orono View Entire Review
I learned so much about sailing, nautical science, ocean policy, marine biology, and what it takes to live aboard a tall ship and work together with a group of people who are all part of the same mission. Molly G - Wesleyan University View Entire Review
About
Community partnerships – Sea Education Association partners with Boston University’s Rotjan Lab, the Boston Aquarium, the Republic of Kiribati, and the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for various collaborations in the equatorial Pacific, including the Phoenix Islands Group. We will hear from officials and community members of Kiribati. At the start and end of the trip, we plan to meet with colleagues at the University of Hawai’i and those representing the US National Marine Sanctuary in American Samoa.
Activities – Depending on the exact voyage track, which is subject to weather, pandemic conditions, and international policy decisions, students may participate in projects such as oceanographic drifter deployments, microplastic analysis, larval tuna sampling for biomonitoring, marine protected area research, ethnographic research, environmental history research, fishing effort monitoring, and other related activities. Students will explore the reef, lagoon and terrestrial environments of a variety of Pacific Atolls.
Program Type(s):
Study AbroadResearch
Program Length(s):
- Summer
Instruction Language(s):
- English
Relevant Study Subject(s):
- Natural Resources, Conservation
- Natural Resources and Conservation
- Environmental Studies
- Environmental Science
- Maritime Studies
- Marine Sciences
- Sustainability Studies
- Public Policy Analysis
Minimum GPA:
0.0Year Founded:
1971Website
N/AStatistics
Sea Education Association Scholarships
One award per year available to a deserving Journalism major.
$2,500
For Bermuda students enrolled in SEA Semester, SEA will match the scholarship value for any student who receives an award from The National Transportation Board or the Bermuda Zoological Association.
Matched
If you learned about SEA Semester from an alumnus or alumna of our program, you may be eligible for this award.
Up to $2,500
One award is available per each SEA Semester class for a student from one of the five colleges in the "5-College Consortium" (Smith College, Mt. Holyoke College, Amherst College, University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Hampshire College).
$5,000
One award per year is available to a resident of Canada participating in a SEA Semester.
Up to $5,000
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