Teachers at Sea sail aboard NOAA, NOAA-contracted, or NOAA-partnered ships conducting ocean-related research projects. Some projects involve the collection of data for long-term observations, while others support short-term studies or unique collaborations. The projects vary from year to year, depending on NOAA’s research schedule and berth availability. They generally fall into three main categories:
- Fisheries research cruises perform biological and physical surveys to ensure sustainable fisheries and healthy marine habitats
- Oceanographic research cruises perform physical science studies to increase our understanding of the world’s oceans and climate
- Hydrographic survey cruises scan the coastal sea floor to locate submerged obstructions and navigational hazards for the creation and update of the nation’s nautical charts
How the Program Works
Teachers at Sea sail on one “leg” of a NOAA research survey, typically spending 2–4 weeks at sea. Most Teachers at Sea sail on surveys that align with their summer vacation, but educators with wider availability may sail as early as March or as late as October.
Teachers at Sea do not select which research cruise they join. Instead, the Teacher at Sea Program places teachers who have been selected on cruises that match their availability and, to the extent possible, research preferences.
NOAA’s Teacher at Sea Program is funded by the U.S. federal government. There is no fee to participate. Our program covers the travel costs for Teachers at Sea to and from their research cruises (including transportation, lodging, meals, and incidental expenses). The program purchases participants’ airfare directly and reimburses the participants for all other expenses after travel ends.
What Do Teachers Do at Sea?
Teachers at Sea are considered members of the science crew. On board, they work at the instruction of the Chief Scientist, and, like all crewmembers, follow the command of the ship’s Commanding Officer or Captain. Depending on the nature of the research work, the Chief Scientist may assign the teacher to a regular 12-hour shift (including, potentially, overnight work. Ship and science operations happen 24/7.)
Specific activities at sea will differ by research mission. At the direction of the Chief Scientist, participants may assist in:
- Deploying equipment
- Baiting and setting traps or longlines
- Handling fish and other marine organisms
- Sorting, measuring, dissecting organisms
- Recording data
- Cleaning equipment
- Monitoring video feeds
- Sailing on smaller craft deployed from the main ship
- Using computer programs
Participants on all missions will also participate in safety drills.
To get a better picture of these activities, check out blog posts from previous Teachers at Sea. Highlights include:
- Fish dissection on a reef fish survey
- Pollock processing on a pollock survey
- Seabird observation complementing a marine mammal survey
- Deploying a buoy during an oceanographic survey
- Remotely operated vehicles on an ocean exploration survey
- Ship navigation on a hydrographic survey
- Multi-beam sonar on a hydrographic survey
- Ocean bottom sampling on a hydrographic survey