Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

HTTPS

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock (LockA locked padlock) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

    • Environmental Topics
    • Air
    • Bed Bugs
    • Cancer
    • Chemicals, Toxics, and Pesticide
    • Emergency Response
    • Environmental Information by Location
    • Health
    • Land, Waste, and Cleanup
    • Lead
    • Mold
    • Radon
    • Research
    • Science Topics
    • Water Topics
    • A-Z Topic Index
    • Laws & Regulations
    • By Business Sector
    • By Topic
    • Compliance
    • Enforcement
    • Laws and Executive Orders
    • Regulations
    • Report a Violation
    • Environmental Violations
    • Fraud, Waste or Abuse
    • About EPA
    • Our Mission and What We Do
    • Headquarters Offices
    • Regional Offices
    • Labs and Research Centers
    • Planning, Budget, and Results
    • Organization Chart
    • EPA History

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Science Matters

Exploring the Depths: A Journey aboard EPA & University of Southern Mississippi’s STEM Marine Science Cruise

Published January 23, 2024

Students pose aboard the Point Sur research vessel, which is owned by the University of Southern Mississippi
Students pose aboard the Point Sur research vessel, which is owned by the University of Southern Mississippi.
Point Sur research vessel.
Point Sur research vessel.

EPA researchers guided students from the University of Southern Mississippi (USM) as they embarked on a week-long liveaboard science cruise that delves into the realm of field techniques, marine biology, and applied science. This immersive experience takes students onto a ship, where they live, work, and learn alongside EPA scientists from a range of disciplines.

The inaugural science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) cruise set sail in the summer of 2022 and has embarked four times since then. While each trip is a unique exploration, a typical week at sea includes guided lab work, lectures from scientists, and hands on, immersive research.

Curious about what a week aboard the Marine Science Cruise looks like? Here is a rundown of the summer 2023 trip:

Day 0: Setting the Stage

As the science team loads equipment and sets up the laboratory, the crew prepares the 135-foot research vessel, the RV Point Sur, for a week at sea. This preparation includes stocking ample food and water supplies, as the ship will not return to shore until the end of the week. Students board the vessel after dinner, and the journey begins during the night, while everyone is asleep.

Results of CTD testing showcasing a styrofoam cup which has shrunk due to ocean depth pressure.
Results of CTD testing showcasing a styrofoam cup which has shrunk due to ocean depth pressure.

Day 1: The Journey Commences

Students wake up on this ship, where they receive concise lectures about the week's activities and marine biology and science concepts. The ship heads toward the West Florida Escarpment, which marks the meeting point of the continental shelf and the deep abyssal plain. At this site, students deploy a conductivity, temperature, and depth (CTD) instrument, which provides vital water quality data. In one activity the students use CTD to send Styrofoam cups to depths of over 10,000 feet, demonstrating the difference in water pressure at deep ocean depths.

Day 2: Dive into Analysis

Day two follows a similar pattern, with morning lectures and shiftwork to analyze water samples collected from the CTD, this time at shallower depths (100 to 300 feet). Nearshore, students perform their first benthic sample, unearthing marine life from the ocean's sediment. This hands-on experience involves sieving the sediment and identifying organisms using microscopes and dichotomous keys – a scientific method used to identify different organisms using the organism's observable traits.

Fishing breaks punctuate the cruise, offering students a chance not only to unwind but also to engage in deep-sea fishing, often for the first time.

Students and scientists snorkel to observe local flora and fauna.
Students and scientists snorkel to observe local flora and fauna.
Students conduct tests in the Point Sur research vessel lab.
Students conduct tests in the Point Sur research vessel lab.

Days 3 and 4: Exploring the Shore

The next two days bring students closer to shore, focusing on studying estuaries, salt marshes, and seagrass beds. They disembark from the research vessel via a dinghy. Onshore, they start with a bioblitz – identifying local flora and fauna –and practice snorkeling. For many students, this marks their first time using a mask and snorkel, allowing them to witness the marine life they have been studying in its natural habitat.

Day 5: Reflection and Farewell

As the cruise heads back to port, students dedicate the morning to finalizing their data analyses, preparing presentations, and engaging in group discussions. These sessions provide an opportunity to reflect on the week's experiences and consider the broader impacts of what they have learned.

The Point Sur research vessel chef posing with a meal they prepared.
The Point Sur research vessel chef posing with a meal they prepared.
Students participate in shift work aboard the Point Sur research vessel.
Students participate in shift work aboard the Point Sur research vessel.

A Journey at Sea

Throughout the cruise, students are encouraged to network with fellow participants, leading scientists, and the ship’s crew. Students are given responsibilities aboard the vessel, taking shifts like a crew would on an official research expedition. Everyone onboard works, sleeps and eats in close quarters, giving students a sense of what it would be like to work full-time on a research vessel.

Meals aboard the vessel are a highlight, courtesy of the ship's chef, who creates spreads for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the ship's galley. The mealtimes aboard the Point Sur provides down time for students, scientists, and crewmembers.  Former student participant, Michael Zarske, noted:

"The experience of going offshore with the EPA has been one of the highlights of my college career and will likely be one of the most valuable courses I have ever taken. Being immersed and surrounded by many scientific minds of various specialties outside of the traditional classroom space gave me a significantly deeper understanding of the marine sciences. I hope this partnership can be expanded to other locations and institutions so more can experience what I feel science education should be like."

EPA and University of Southern Mississippi’s STEM Marine Science Cruise is a testament to the power of hands-on learning. The cruise provides students the opportunity to form a deeper appreciation for marine science and gain a unique perspective on the area's complex ecosystem.

This article was written by Sarah Whichello, Oak Ridge Associated Universities Research Participant with EPA.

Learn more:

  • Check out a video from the University of Southern Mississippi on their August 2024 trip

Science Matters

  • Researchers at Work Profiles
  • All Stories
    • 2024 Stories
    • 2023 Stories
    • 2022 Stories
    • 2021 Stories
    • 2020 Stories
    • 2019 Stories
    • 2018 Stories
    • 2017 Stories
    • 2016 Stories
Contact Us About Science Matters
Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
Last updated on February 4, 2025
  • Assistance
  • Spanish
  • Arabic
  • Chinese (simplified)
  • Chinese (traditional)
  • French
  • Haitian Creole
  • Korean
  • Portuguese
  • Russian
  • Tagalog
  • Vietnamese
United States Environmental Protection Agency

Discover.

  • Accessibility Statement
  • Budget & Performance
  • Contracting
  • EPA www Web Snapshot
  • Grants
  • No FEAR Act Data
  • Plain Writing
  • Privacy
  • Privacy and Security Notice

Connect.

  • Data
  • Inspector General
  • Jobs
  • Newsroom
  • Regulations.gov
  • Subscribe
  • USA.gov
  • White House

Ask.

  • Contact EPA
  • EPA Disclaimers
  • Hotlines
  • FOIA Requests
  • Frequent Questions
  • Site Feedback

Follow.