For the 13th year in a row, the Marine Science & Environmental Studies Department used Scripps Institution of Oceanography's R.V. Sproul as a research vessel from which to launch our own studies of the coastal ocean off of Point Loma. This year (as usual) we were joined by a small contingent of colleagues from Indiana State University (studying foraminifera), and students from our Biological Oceanography and Geological Oceanography courses.

We also had the pleasure of hosting several students from the Chemistry department, who are using the samples to study human impacts in the water column and the sediment of nearshore waters.

And for the fourth year in a row, we were accompanied by a group from the local science education non-profit, Ocean Discovery Institute. This participation was made possible through the generous support of the National Science Foundation's Opportunities for Enhancing Diversity in the Geosciences program, and has helped us allow participation of underrepresented students in authentic research, side by side with scientists, undergraduate, and graduate students from the University of San Diego.

Now our students are busy analyzing these samples, learning more about the scientific process, oceanography, and local waters. It was an amazing 24 hours!