Teaching
Courses (2027)
Scientific Writing through Marine Research (OCEANS 47/247)
Develop scientific thinking and writing skills through hands-on marine research. This inquiry-based course guides students through the research process using Monterey Bay’s coastal ecosystems as a living laboratory. Students will observe ecological patterns, review scientific literature, ask creative questions, design a study, collect field data, and interpret results. The course culminates in a scientific paper developed through iterative peer and instructor feedback, emphasizing critical thinking, hypothesis development, and clear argumentation from evidence. No prior experience required. This course fulfills the same laboratory requirement as BIO 47; satisfies WIM in Biology and Earth Systems. Course taught at Hopkins Marine Station; offered in odd years.
Term: Winter
F: 11:00-11:50; 1:30-4:20 PM
Units: 4
UG reqs: WAY-SMA, WIM in Biology and Earth Systems
Topics in Scientific and Statistical Computing (OCEANS 200)
Student-led exploration of topics in scientific computing with R. Participants collectively choose a focus area, and then lead weekly discussions and code-sharing sessions. This collaborative seminar format builds expertise while fostering community among researchers. Students develop both technical skills and teaching experience by presenting concepts and facilitating problem-solving. Potential topics include but are not limited to: reproducible workflows, advanced visualization, study design, probability, multivariate statistics, causal inference, time-series analysis, meta-analysis. Prerequisites: introductory statistics and basic R programming. Course taught at Hopkins Marine Station; offered in odd years.
Term: Winter
Th: 10:30-12:20
Units: 2
Marine Data Science in Practice (OCEANS 174/274)
Learn data science in the context of coastal ecosystems. This hands-on course teaches scientific computing and statistical analysis using datasets from Monterey Bay. Through structured modules, students collect field data from rocky intertidal zones to kelp forests, then analyze patterns using R programming. Topics include data wrangling and visualization, probability distributions, hypothesis testing, and the analysis of discrete and continuous data - all grounded in practical applications like environmental sensing, morphological scaling, and species associations. No programming or statistics background required. Gain quantitative skills applicable across biology, environmental science, and data-driven fields. Course taught at Hopkins Marine Station; offered in odd years.
Term: Spring
M: 1-5pm
Units: 4
UG reqs: WAY-AQR, WAY-FR
Kelp Forest Ecology (OCEANS 185/285)
Discover the kelp forests of Monterey Bay in this introductory ecology course comprising lecture, lab, and field components. You will learn the natural history of common seaweeds and animals and investigate how ecological principles (abiotic controls, population dynamics, species interactions) manifest in local kelp forest ecosystems. The course will explore modern marine monitoring technologies used to study kelp forests, including, for example, underwater video surveys, environmental sensors, satellite imagery, and environmental DNA. Finally, we will consider how kelp forests are responding to climate change and explore conservation and restoration strategies being implemented along the California coast. This course does not have a diving component, but we will observe kelp forests from the shore, snorkeling, and / or boating. This course provides foundational training in marine ecology and is a recommended prerequisite for Underwater Methods for Kelp Forest Ecology (OCEANS 186).
Term: Spring
T: 1-4pm
Units: 3
UG reqs: WAY-SMA
Underwater Methods for Kelp Forest Ecology (OCEANS 186/286)
Immerse yourself in the underwater forests of Monterey Bay during this intensive two-week field course centered around daily scuba diving. Building on foundational concepts from OCEANS 185, you will learn underwater research methods while studying the seaweeds, invertebrates, and fishes that structure kelp forest communities. The course emphasizes hands-on training in scientific diving techniques, including underwater navigation, environmental instrument deployment and maintenance, and standardized field survey methods for kelp, sea stars, abalone, and urchins. The data we collect will contribute to ongoing time series for the Hopkins Marine Life Observatory, some of which have been conducted for nearly three decades. You will gain experience conducting research from small boats, practice quantitative methods for assessing species abundance and population structure, and explore how ecological principles create observable patterns across kelp forests on the Monterey Peninsula. There will be two to three organizational meetings in Spring quarter to coordinate logistics; the field portion of the course takes place at Hopkins Marine Station from June 28 – July 9 2027. Prerequisites: AAUS scientific diver certification (offered separately at Hopkins Marine Station from June 14 to June 25 2027) ); OCEANS 185 is recommended. Students register for OCEANS 186 either in preceding Spring quarter or following Autumn quarter. Grades for students enrolled in Spring quarter will be added upon completion of the course (GNR applied).
Term: Spring/Autumn (for registration)
Units: 3
This is a two-week course and we will meet 8am-3pm, Monday-Friday. You are also expected to work on assignments outside of class. What is it like to be a student in this class? You can learn about the course from a Stanford report and from previous students here: https://purl.stanford.edu/km092my4610
Students will provide, at minimum, their wetsuit, gloves, booties, hood, mask, snorkel, weight belt, and fins. Please reach out if you need a loaner BCD and regulator.
