The Journey Begins!

Thumbs up for a safe, fun trip!

Welcome to our fifth Stanford@SEA trip- about to take off from Honolulu, HI and bound for the Line Islands. Once again we've had an enriching shore component for Stanford@SEA. Five weeks 24 Stanford undergrads and grads working together preparing with our faculty (Drs. Barbara Block, Rob Dunbar, Amy Suida and Mary Malloy) along with Captain Phil Sacks for 5 weeks at sea. We had oceanography, maritime studies which features Mary's historical perspective and literature, Barb's marine conservation and Phil's nautical science.

The 2011 Stanford@SEA class

A highlight this year were five special conservation seminars in combination withHopkins Marine Station's seminar series that brought speakers like Sylvia Earle (pictured here with our class) to Hopkins Marine Station.

We've sent more equipment than ever before and we've been preparing for weeks for a voyage now days away. I am dreaming of clear blue Pacific waters, fair breezes and the enthusiasm of my shipmates that will transform our classroom days into a voyage of discovery. Soon we will sail away from the harbor and catch the trade winds in our sails. As Mark Twain said we will explore, dream and discover.

Dr. Barbara Block