Marine Science
Application for Summer 2025 is now closed. Please check back mid-summer for Fall 2025 updates.
A limited number of spots are available in each course in order to maintain a low student-instructor ratio. Please apply as soon as possible to receive consideration for a spot in your desired program(s). For inquiries, please email UCSD Pre-College Programs (precollege@ucsd.edu) and nyen@ucsd.edu.
The following programs are designed to empower high school students to share learning, network with peers, and become environmental advocates. The goal of this program is to develop problem solving, organization, creative thinking, communication, collaboration, and leadership skills that will support future career goals and aspirations.
Tier 1 courses offer students a foundation in ocean sciences, specifically marine biology and related disciplines. Students will explore the diversity of life and how biological, chemical and physical processes drive ecosystem dynamics in a marine environment. Each course is designed to target relevant, contemporary environmental issues while providing a pathway for students to participate in our Tier 2, research workshops. Tier 1 courses are also designed for students who are simply interested in learning more about the marine environment and associated marine science career pathways.
Tier 1 Courses are currently offered online and in-person. These 4 or 8 week courses are designed to acclimate students to a university summer and quarter systems, respectively. Each week, students will have 2 asynchronous, interactive and gamified lessons. Synchronous sessions are designed for student collaboration and discussion, guest speaker interactions, and guided virtual lab experiences. These courses are aimed to foster next generation critical thinkers, communicators, creators and stewards of the ocean environment.
Tier 2 courses offer students a multidisciplinary practical research experience in collaboration with Scripps Institution of Oceanography graduate students and other active marine science researchers in various industries. Students will partner with researchers and can participate in, design and run their own projects on California Coastal Ecology, Coral Reef Ecology and Restoration, Animal Physiology, Thermodynamics, Metabolics, and Fisheries Science to name a few. Field-based excursions to intertidal zones, salt marshes, and other marine ecosystems in San Diego are an integral part of this program; however, some projects are also adapted with an at-home lab component for non-local students.
Tier 3 courses offer students that have participated in one or more Tier 2 courses the opportunity to practice critical literacy skills specifically needed in scientific writing and publish studies in our Marine Science Research Scholars Journal. The purpose of Tier 2 and 3 workshops is to participate in scientific studies that generate data needed to advocate for the environment and the communities that rely on a healthy system.
Tier 1 Courses
Navigating Research: Laying the Foundation for Exploration (CLOSED)
Navigating Research: Laying the Foundation for Exploration (CLOSED)
Dates: March 31, 2025 - May 21, 2025 (8 weeks)
Tuition: $2,000
Instructor: Nicole Yen
Grade Level: 9-12th grade
Schedule:
- Synchronous - Mondays & Wednesdays (4:30PM - 5:20PM PST)
- Asynchronous – 2-3 hours of additional work/ week
Human activities, including pollution and climate change, are having profound and diverse impacts on our oceans. As environmental challenges continue to escalate, it becomes increasingly important to understand how these changes will affect marine ecosystems and the organisms that rely on them.
Students will explore three key research themes that are crucial for understanding the diverse impacts of environmental changes on the oceans: 1) the effects of thermal stress on the physiology of marine organisms and/or understanding thermal exchange in a changing climate; 2) using innovative tools like environmental DNA (eDNA) to enhance ecosystem and biodiversity monitoring and how these tools allow for more comprehensive assessments of ecosystem biodiversity helping to better inform conservation efforts; and 3) how various environmental changes, such as pollution and shifting ocean conditions, influence the expression of Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) in fluorescent marine organisms, providing insight into how these organisms respond to environmental stressors.
This course will also introduce students to the scientific method, focusing on designing and conducting a capstone research project, culminating in a research proposal that students can utilize for future projects. Through lectures, discussions, and case studies from topic experts, students will gain a deeper understanding of how human activities and climate change are transforming the marine environment.
This course is strongly recommended as a prerequisite for our summer research program. Students who complete this course will receive priority in selecting their research project themes. For more details on the available research themes, please refer to our summer research experience “Investigating Human and Climate Impacts on Oceans and Biodiversity”.
This course is available for 2 pre-college units.
Tier 2 Courses
Investigating Human and Climate Impacts on Oceans and Biodiversity (CLOSED)
Investigating Human and Climate Impacts on Oceans and Biodiversity (CLOSED)
Dates: June 23, 2025 - July 25, 2025
Tuition: $4800
Grade Level: Current 9-12th grade, recent graduates welcome;
Instructor: Nicole Yen & Sonya Timko
Format: Hybrid*
*Note: Research Scholars cannot offer any housing, transportation, or meal accommodations as Summer 2025 in-person program components are running as a commuter program. If you and your family can make this work as a non-San Diego resident or International student then you are welcome to apply.
Schedule:
- Week 0 (June 23 - 27) Asynchronous
- Week 1 - 3 (July 7 - July 25) In-Person from 9:00-11:30AM; 1:30-4:00 PM
- Lunch: 11:30AM - 1:30PM
Have you ever imagined designing your own research project, exploring new scientific questions, and presenting your findings? Our Tier 2 summer commuter course offers select students the opportunity to engage in hands-on, cutting-edge research at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Students will be matched with research themes that align with their interests. Each research theme will be guided by experts in the field, providing students with mentorship and insight from professionals who specialize in their chosen area of study. For students interested in pursuing marine science as a career, this course offers a valuable head start, giving them practical experience and a deeper understanding of what it means to be a researcher in the field of marine science.
Learn more about our program here.
Potential Research Themes:
- Monitoring Coastal Ecosystems: Using Thermal Imaging to Assess Climate Change Impacts – Coastal ecosystems such as the rocky intertidal and salt marshes are a highly accessible and ecologically rich marine environment, offering significant commercial, recreational, and educational value, but it is also vulnerable to threats like increasing temperature, sea-level rise, invasive species, and pollution. Thermal imaging cameras, which detect infrared radiation emitted by warmer objects, are increasingly used in ecology and physiology to study thermal variability and stress in marine species. As global climate change affects these ecosystems, effective monitoring becomes essential to understanding and mitigating its impacts. Project Lead: Sonya Timko
- Marine Biodiversity Assessment: Exploring eDNA and Traditional Methods for Ecosystem Monitoring –Students will play a pioneering role in San Diego’s emerging marine biomonitoring efforts as the first cohort of citizen scientists contributing to real-world conservation science. Through hands-on fieldwork, they will explore marine biodiversity using both traditional methods and advanced molecular tools, including environmental DNA (eDNA) and real-time sequencing with portable nanopore technology. These cutting-edge approaches allow for immediate data analysis in the field and open new possibilities for understanding species assemblages, gene clusters, and overall ecosystem health. By comparing techniques like shotgun sequencing and metabarcoding, students will investigate how biodiversity data can inform sustainable management and human health outcomes—gaining critical experience at the intersection of innovation, ecology, and public impact. Project Lead: Kiirah Green
- Exploring Gene Regulation and Fluorescence: Investigating Environmental Impacts on GFP Expression – As climate change and pollution alter ocean chemistry, they impact enzymes crucial for cellular processes. In this research experience, students will explore how environmental changes affect fluorescence, focusing on the GFP (Green Fluorescent Protein) from the bioluminescent jellyfish Aequorea victoria. Using the pGLO plasmid, students will transform bacteria to express GFP, causing them to glow green under UV light. Students will investigate the process of DNA > RNA > Protein > Trait and examine how internal and external factors influence gene regulation. They will also hypothesize how environmental changes could affect the expression and activity of fluorescence in marine organisms with GFP-like proteins. Project Lead: Marc Piercy
Tier 3 Courses
Introduction to Scientific Writing (CLOSED)
Introduction to Scientific Writing (CLOSED)
Dates: September 23, 2024 - November 13, 2024
Tuition: $2000
Grade Level: 9-12th grade
Instructor: Nicole Yen and Sonya Timko
Format: Online
Schedule:
- Synchronous – Monday, Wednesday (4:30-5:50 PM PST)
- Asynchronous – 3-5 hours of additional work/ week
Introduction to Scientific Writing is a course tailored to students who have completed a Tier 2 course and are ready to transform their research into a manuscript. This course guides students through the process of writing and publishing their work, either as a preprint or as a manuscript, in esteemed Marine Science journals. It focuses on honing the students’ abilities to write with precision and clarity, making them adept technical writers and communicators. The curriculum includes practice in graduate-level science communication, particularly mastering the art of the 3-minute flash talk. This technique equips students to effectively distill and present their research findings to a broad audience, ensuring they can engage listeners from various backgrounds. This course will be available for 4 pre-college units.
Any prior Tier 2 students are welcome to apply.
Topics Include
- Principles of Effective Writing and Reading in Science
- Organization and Formatting Manuscripts
- Preparation of Figures and Citation Style
- Communicating Science to a Diverse Audience
Other Program Information
Marine Science Application
Students can access the application from the "Apply Now" tab.
Marine Science Acceptance
Students will be notified of acceptance within 10-14 days of submitting their application until the program is full.
Marine Science Cancellation/Refund Policies
CANCELLATION POLICY
Cancellation or withdrawal for any reason 2 weeks prior to the course start date.
Refunds for cancellation or withdrawal after the 2 weeks deadline be issued for serious illness (doctor's certificate is required) or extenuating circumstances only. Tuition is not refunded for students who are dismissed from the program.
HOW TO REQUEST A REFUND
All refund requests must be made in writing to Maysoon Dong, Associate Director for the Education & Community Outreach Department
COVID Policies - Hybrid Courses
- Masking on campus is optional. For latest updates on our policies, please follow this link to COVID policy page.
- If you are experiencing or have had COVID-19 symptoms within the past 14 days, please stay at home.
- If you believe that you have been in recent contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19, please stay at home.
COVID-19 Policies - Residential Programs
Updated COVID-19 Guidelines for Academic Connections
The following replaces pp.11-12 of the Academic Connections Handbook
- Per University of California Policy, the following elements are NOT required of attendees of Academic Connections:
- COVID-19 vaccination
- Masking, UNLESS symptomatic OR a close contact
- Pre-arrival or upon-arrival COVID-19 testing
What is required:
Weekly Testing
Provider-observed weekly COVID-19 testing will be required for each attendee.
The provider-observed verification form that is emailed to the student after a test is observed must be submitted by the student to the Academic Connections office via a secure, HIPAA-compliant form between 9A Monday and 9A Tuesday of each week. A secure, HIPAA-compliant form will be e-mailed to the student each Sunday night from the Director of Residence Life and must be returned with the provider-observed verification form attached by 9A Tuesday of each week of the program.
Failure to submit the weekly provider-observed verification form will result in parental notification and may result in expulsion from the program with no opportunity for refund.
Symptomatic Testing
Each student must independently monitor for COVID-19 symptoms throughout the program. Symptoms include any of the following: cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigued muscles or body aches, headache, loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, or diarrhea. If any of these symptoms occur, the student must immediately test with a provider-observed COVID-19 testing kit. The provider-observed verification form that is emailed to the student after a test is observed will need to be submitted by the student to the Academic Connections office via a secure, HIPAA-compliant form right away. Failure to submit the provider-observed verification form will result in parental notification and may result in expulsion from the program with no opportunity for refund.
Exposure to COVID-19
If a student becomes exposed to a close-contact who has tested positive for COVID-19, they must take the following steps: Close contact is defined as sharing the same airspace with an infected person for more than 15 minutes in a 24-hour period.
Test immediately, and again 3-5 days post-exposure via a provider-observed COVID-19 test kit. The provider-observed verification form that is emailed to the student after a test is observed will need to be submitted by the student to the Academic Connections office via a secure, HIPAA-compliant form right away. Failure to submit the provider-observed verification form will result in parental notification and may result in expulsion from the program with no opportunity for refund.
Additionally, those exposed to a close-contact must:
Mask when around others for the next 10 days.
Self-monitor daily for symptoms for the next 10 days.
If symptoms develop, test at that time via the provider-observed testing kit and submit results using the secure, HIPAA-compliant form right away. Failure to submit the provider-observed verification form will result in parental notification and may result in expulsion from the program with no opportunity for refund.
Supplies
We recommend https://shop.emed.com/collections/all and the eMed Flu+Covid Telehealth Kit 6-pack that is $150 for the provider-observed test. It is HSA/FSA approved and is the most affordable option that we have found.
Parents or guardians must purchase or acquire at least 20 individually packaged KN95 or 10 N95 masks to send with their students to the program in case they become symptomatic during the program or if they come in close contact with someone who tests positive for COVID-19.
Parents or guardians will be notified by Academic Connections staff as soon as we know that a student tests positive for COVID-19 or influenza. Since there may be a gap in between your student’s test and submitting the results of that test to the Academic Connections staff, we strongly encourage parents/guardians to inquire frequently with their students about the results of any provider-observed test that they take, whether weekly, on a symptomatic basis, or as result of a close contact.
Students who test positive for COVID-19 or influenza must immediately mask and will be isolated until their guardians arrive to pick them up from the program, preferably within 8 hours of a positive test. However, a student must depart from the program with their guardian no more than 24 hours after testing positive for COVID-19 or influenza. During isolation, meals will be provided to students by program staff and they will be monitored. Should symptoms worsen before being picked up, students will be transported to UC San Diego Health for assessment and treatment.
Learn More
You can also learn more about the program by visiting our Research Scholars Marine Science website: