Coral, Climate & Culture
2009 Exploration Seminar in the Marshall Islands
THIS PROGRAM IS FULL AND NO LONGER ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS. PLEASE CONSIDER ANOTHER EXPLORATION SEMINAR PROGRAM!
Program Director: Julian Sachs, Oceanography
Dates of Instruction:
June 22 - July 13, 2009
NOTE THAT THIS PROGRAM IS A SUMMER (A Term) AND NOT AN EARLY FALL PROGRAM: This affects how credit, payments and financial aid are handled. Please click here for information.
The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) will likely disappear by the end of this century. One of only four atoll nations in the world, its land averages less than 2 meters above the current sea surface. With global-warming-induced sea levels projected to rise 0.5 - 1.4 meters (Rahmstorf et al., 2007) by 2100 A.D. the RMI will no longer be habitable. Even  before the atolls of the RMI are inundated with water their coral reefs will likely be decimated by acidic seawater by mid-century as atmospheric carbon dioxide lowers the pH (i.e., increases the acidity) of the ocean. Before the RMI and its rich coral ecosystems disappear this Exploration Seminar will set out to study the coral, climate and culture of this Pacific atoll nation.
Specific goals of the course will be to:
- Conduct in-water surveys of species diversity on reefs of Majuro Atoll that can serve as a baseline for monitoring future changes.
 Help eradicate invasive species from the reefs on Majuro Atoll, such as the Crown of Thorns Starfish.- Assess the plans the RMI government has for dealing with the rising seas and acidifying ocean by meeting with RMI government officials.
- Help educate the residents of the RMI about the threat of climate change by meeting with students and presenting one or more seminars on global warming.
- Learn about the rich culture and history of the 65,000 residents of Micronesian descent that inhabit this vulnerable low-lying atoll nation through meetings with tribal leaders, artisans and citizens.
 In order to accomplish goals #1-2 above we will spend many of our days snorkeling on the reefs of Majuro Atoll. (If you have UW Scientific Diver Certification we can likely arrange for you to SCUBA dive, but snorkeling will be the means by which we conduct our research on the reef.) Some prior experience snorkeling recreationally is desirable, and the ability to swim is essential. Since sea life of every variety will be encountered, including sharks and other potentially hazardous species, a healthy respect for the sea and its creatures is required.
In addition to our time in the water we will have some classroom time at the College of the Marshall Islands in Majuro learning about the reefs and planning our diving activities. Other classroom sessions will include learning about the impacts of global warming on the RMI and learning about the culture and history of the Marshallese people.
 Outside the classroom we will interview various government officials about their activities and plans to deal with the changing climate. We will meet with tribal leaders and local artisans to learn about the Marshallese traditions. And we will experience the thrill of riding in a traditional Marshallese oceanic sailing canoe known as a proa. Another outing will be a visit to the Alele Museum, founded in 1981, and dedicated to preserving the history and conserving the folk arts, traditional skills, historic accounts, oral literature and other traditions of the RMI. We will also visit the farm where they are growing giant clams (Tridacna spp.), an endangered species that can still be found throughout the reefs of the RMI.
Credits offered: This program will offer a total of 6 credits, including five (5) credits of one of the following options, plus one (1) credit of GEN ST 392:
- OCEAN 494, Field Experience (NW)
- OCEAN 496, Study Abroad (NW)
- OCEAN 497, Advanced Special Topics (NW)
- The OCEAN credit would count towards the UW 20 credit Natural World requirement or the Oceanography major’s 20-credit upper division science requirement.
- Participants should check with their advisors to determine how these credits can count towards departmental requirements.
 Student costs:
- $2,975 Program Fee
- $200 International Programs & Exchanges Fee
- Click here for a Estimated Budget of Student Expenses (for financial aid requests)
- Program fee includes: housing in dorms or rented homes, instruction, in-country program travel, admission to museums and attractions, course materials, a final banquet. Not included are meals, international airfare & travel to the RMI, snorkeling gear, health insurance, visas (none required for US citizens), passports, immunizations, personal spending money.
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