OCEAN STEM

Inspiring the next generation for a sustainable blue future.

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AltaSea’s Ocean STEM offers students a voice in supporting Los Angeles as the center of the Blue Economy, an initiative to protect the ecosystem of the ocean and turn to it as a resource for solving challenges such as climate change, energy supply, and food security.

This multifaceted approach provides online educational resources; encourages students towards jobs in the Blue Economy; and increases youth access to arts and culture.

Bicoastal Collaboration

AltaSea, Hugo Neu, and NY/NJ Baykeeper have joined together for our bicoastal Ocean Pathways High School Mentorship Program. This initiative provides high school students with hands-on research experience and mentorship opportunities in marine biology, sustainability, and environmental conservation. Through engaging in fieldwork and analysis, students gain valuable insights into environmental challenges in our world, and particularly in their communities. The Ocean Pathways program is designed to inspire and empower the next generation of leaders.

SAMPLE LESSON PLANS

Marine Energy

The curricula will include an introduction to wave and wind marine energy; provide a basic framework of what constitutes energy production at sea; and offer interactive activities including building a prototype wave powered electricity generator.

Robotics

Exploration is key to increasing our understanding of the ocean, so we can more effectively manage, conserve, regulate, and use ocean resources that are vital to our economy and to all of our lives.

Aquaculture

Immerse students in the growing sustainable aquaculture industry beginning with an overview of aquaculture science and economics, and continuing to explore sustainability, engineering, genomics, cryogenics, water quality and food security.

Fill out the form below to request a copy of the curriculum.

*Curriculum also available in Spanish*

Experiential Field Visits

Our educational field trip visits empower students through activities that engage with current research projects, while connecting with experts in their field. These students gain clarity of the rapidly growing Blue Economy and understand that innovative solutions transpire through various education and interest fields.

Fill out form below to schedule a field trip.

Summer HS Mentorship Program

Applications for Summer 2025 are not yet available, please complete the interest form to be notified when mentorship applications open.

Student Name(Required)
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Progress by the Numbers

Students Served Annually
1 +
Interns & Mentors Completed Programs
1 +

Ocean Career Pathways Program

The purpose of the internship program is to provide undergraduate students with the opportunity to explore blue economy careers by matching them with partners who have positions that align specifically with the student’s interest and/or major of study. 

Applications are now CLOSED. Please check back soon for Summer 2025.

**Internship program is only open to applicants over the age of 18**

Donte Williams

Herbert Jimenez

David Lizarraga

Hayden Schneider

Internships allow students to find new educational paths or solidify their pursuits. Our partnership with SBCC (Strength Based Community Change) in Wilmington introduced 5 Latina women aged 18-24 to the various sectors of ocean-based careers. Sabrina Cruz (interview here) completed her internship alongside AltaSea’s Aquaculture Seasonal Instructor, Frances Arrecis, supporting the High School Research Mentorship Program. Sabrina’s exploration into Aquaculture has piqued her interest in marine biology and she expressed interest in participating in the BECAP Aquaculture certificate program at Santa Monica College after her high school graduation. 


Other interns, like Allegra and Donte’, working directly with AltaSea’s Education department, have brought their educational experience to support the growth of our Mentorship Program and Field Trips with creative ideas (in the arts, marine science, and computer science) that support student learning and engagement around marine energy, marine exploration, and aquaculture. 


Alexis Camaal shared that her internship with EcoByRy reinforced her passion for therapeutic art through the creation of upcycled plastic products and the usage of algae-based ink. Isabella Burnett is an Environmental Science major transferring to UC Davis and her internship with Equatic at the UCLA lab introduced her to research around “acidified seawater that had undergone electrolysis.” Isabella enhanced her creative and critical thinking skills during experiments in the lab. Bella said that the work Equatic is doing is also in partnership with UC Davis and she is hoping to continue to support laboratory work when she’s transferred to UCD.  After the completion of his internship, Alex Mendez-Chavez was offered a part-time position at Sperra (formerly RCAM Technologies) as he continues his studies at CSULB in Engineering.


Partnerships with CA College Corps and Ready to Succeed bring in fellows from economically disadvantaged communities and allow them to gain work experience that directly ties back to their educational goals. West Los Angeles College’s “Every Career is a Climate Career” program is like CA College Corps in that it takes students of various educational backgrounds and provides them with the option to explore careers that are specifically targeting solutions to climate change. 

Katy Macek - Intern Experience

Internship/ Fellowship Interest Form

This form is to gather information for potential interns and fellows that want to be involved in AltaSea.

Name(Required)
MM slash DD slash YYYY
Address(Required)

Areas of Interest(Required)

Testimonials

"Interning with the education department has influenced me to want to work as an educator on the ocean and marine life to teach future generations the importance of taking care of our oceans and how a healthy ocean benefits our communities."
Jasmine S.
2021 Intern
"Through the College Corps program, I have been able to work at AltaSea as a Community Outreach Fellow. Through my work at AltaSea and research assignments for my classes, I am learning about the various endeavors actively taking place by our partners to help create a more sustainable and equitable world."
Janet P.
2023 Fellow

From the Students

Student Quotes

Educational Partners

Los Angeles Unified School District

Animo Leadership High School
King Drew Magnet School
Dana Middle School
Point Fermin Elementary School
Lakewood High School
Markham Middle School
Ritter Elementary School
Santee Education Complex High School
Oscar De La Hoya Animo High School
San Pedro High School
Cabrillo Ave. Elementary School
Port of Los Angeles High School
Willenberg Career and Transition Center
99th Street Elementary School

Higher Education

California State University – Dominguez Hills
Santa Monica College
Elon University
University of Southern California School of Engineering
Los Angeles Harbor College
West Los Angeles Community College
Los Angeles Valley College

Community-Based Organizations

Al Wooten Youth Center
Ready to Succeed – LA
Boys & Girls Club of LA Harbor
Strength Based Community Change (SBCC)
Change the Tune
The Makers Hub
Entrepreneur Education Center (EECI)