Westcoast Connection: San Diego Marine Science & Conservation Recently Updated

Based at UC San Diego, this immersive marine science & conservation program for teens introduces students to real-world initiatives through marine-biology labs, field excursions, classroom discussions, and up-close animal encounters. Students will experience life as a wildlife scientist on the front lines of environmental conservation and learn from scientists, animal rescue specialists, and conservation experts who dedicate their careers to protecting our oceans and wildlife.

You’ll participate in meaningful conservation activities with leading organizations to promote sustainability, biodiversity, and animal well-being while making a lasting impact on the planet. Whether exploring a research pier, conducting experiments in a lab, or snorkeling at Mission Bay, each day brings new insight into the incredible complexity of earth’s ecosystems and the efforts to protect them.

Curriculum Topics

• Intro to Diverse Ecosystems of Southern California.
• Biodiversity, Adaptations & Ecological Interdependence.
• Wildlife Conservation Science & Sustainability Practices.
• Marine Mammal Rescue, Rehabilitation & Release.
• Ocean Conservation and Human Impact on Marine Environments.
• Watershed Dynamics, Water Quality Testing & Pollution Analysis.
• Lab Studies: Marine Biology and Shark Ecology
• Exploring Careers in Marine Science & Environmental Conservation.
• Understanding Climate Change & Its Impact on Ocean Life.
• Environmental Research at Scripps Institution of Oceanography.
• The Role of Aquariums, Zoos & Nonprofits in Global Conservation.