In September, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass visited the AltaSea campus to celebrate the launch of the LA Waterfront STEM Network, which unites blue institutions along the coast of San Pedro into an education and workforce ecosystem. 

Participating organizations, including AltaSea and its in-house blue economy tenants as well as the Battleship Iowa, the Los Angeles Maritime Institute, Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, and Los Angeles Harbor College, will combine strengths and serve as experiential learning labs for ocean-based STEM and marine careers.

“The new generation is coming into a whole new sector of our economy,” Mayor Bass said at the event. 

“One of the huge points of pride for me is the preparation of the next generation of leaders…and now to launch the LA Waterfront STEM Network is very exciting,” Mayor Bass said.

Los Angeles City Councilmember Tim McOsker, former CEO of AltaSea, praised the network as a model for multisector collaboration for a shared mission. 

“The Los Angeles Waterfront STEM Network will turn our waterfront into a living classroom,” Councilmember McOsker said.

Students from throughout Los Angeles will participate in field trips in which they rotate between

LA Waterfront organizations to learn about different ocean industries—analyzing specimens in marine laboratories at Cabrillo Aquarium, piloting remotely operated underwater vehicles at AltaSea, sailing aboard tall ships and collecting ocean data with the Los Angeles Maritime Institute, and immersing in maritime history at the Battleship Iowa. 

“By working as one unified network, the LA Waterfront STEM Network amplifies impact; bringing communities to the water’s edge, inspiring ocean stewardship, and preparing a new generation to lead the future of our blue economy workforce,” said Robin Aube, Director of Advancement at AltaSea.

The ultimate goal of the LA Waterfront STEM Network is to introduce students—especially students from underserved communities—to ocean-based career opportunities. AltaSea and its partners are building a pathway that connects local students with well-paid, sustainable careers in fast-growing blue economy sectors, including renewable energy, regenerative aquaculture, maritime logistics, conservation science, robotics, and advanced manufacturing. This education-to-career pipeline starts with the immersive STEM field trips offered to K-12 students and continues with high school mentorships as well as paid internships and apprenticeships for postsecondary students. 

The LA Waterfront STEM Network is further strengthened by the Blue Economy and Climate Action Pathways program, an initiative to meet ocean sector labor needs in Los Angeles. At over a dozen participating community colleges, new climate-forward curriculum and training opportunities are being offered so that students can receive degrees and certificates in fast-growing careers in the ocean economy. This includes several programs at LA Harbor College, such as its growing renewable energy program that provides career and technical education programming in hydrogen and other zero-emission technologies. The college is also preparing to offer a maritime apprenticeship in partnership with AltaSea.

The LA Waterfront STEM Network is made possible by several sponsors. SSA Marine became a founding investor with a $150,000 commitment. SoCalGas and TraPac provided early support. The Goldhirsh Foundation LA2050 Grant Challenge sponsored a pilot version of the network in 2020, and Boeing, Crail-Johnson Foundation Dwight Stuart Youth Fund, Norris Foundation, Marathon Petroleum and the Port of Los Angeles also provide annual support to AltaSea’s education programming.

“The LA Waterfront is one of the most powerful classrooms in California,” said Terry Tamminen, President and CEO of AltaSea. 

“By working together, we can give students hands-on experiences that open their eyes to the ocean, the Port, and the incredible career opportunities growing in the blue economy.”