UCSD - University of California - San Diego

04/02/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/02/2026 03:39

Beyond the Lab: Opening Marine Conservation to the World

Published Date

April 02, 2026

Article Content

Key Takeaways

  • Hands-on, immersive learning drives real-world skills in this nine-week program that blends fieldwork, research, storytelling and collaboration to prepare participants for practical impact.
  • Bringing together professionals from different industries, the program aims to build cross-sector solutions to ocean conservation.
  • The addition of this new certificate reflects a growing recognition that ocean conservation is deeply interconnected to all sectors of society.

For many people, marine conservation conjures images of researchers in wetsuits studying coral reefs or scientists on boats tracking whale migrations.

While that is part of the work that goes on, real-world ocean solutions extend far beyond scientific research.

Marine conservation intersects with almost every part of our world. This includes climate change, coastal economies, fisheries management, watershed health, shipping, public policy, technology, tourism and cultural dynamics, among many other aspects of life on this planet

In response, the UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies partnered with the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego to make the curriculum for the Master of Advanced Studies (MAS) in Marine Biodiversity and Conservation available to a broader audience. The result is the Interdisciplinary Marine Conservation Advanced Certificateprogram.

"The mission of the Division of Extended Studies is to make world-class education accessible to a broad community of learners," said Laura Fandino, Chief Academic Officer at Extended Studies. "This program allows professionals from a wide range of fields to engage directly with the expertise at Scripps Institution of Oceanography and develop a deeper understanding of the ocean challenges shaping our future."

The immersive nine-week summer program will introduce participants from diverse professional backgrounds to the scientific, political, economic, and cultural dimensions of ocean conservation. "Ultimately, the hope is that we are planting seeds for cross-disciplinary coalitions and partnerships for the future, so that we are better equipped to address the conservation challenges ahead, together," said Samantha Murray, Executive Director of the MAS MBC program.

Making marine science accessible

Opening the course to participants outside the MAS MBC graduate program is an idea that emerged in part from the program's own interdisciplinary leadership team, who got to thinking: What if professionals from other fields could benefit from this kind of innovative, cross-disciplinary training?

The MBC Summer Course was already designed to support diverse learners who come from fields as varied as finance, law, policy, the fine arts, communication, and the military. To expand the program's reach, the team at MAS MBC and Scripps worked with Extended Studies to connect with its network of adult and professional learners. Thus, the partnership was born.

"Many professionals today are looking for ways to align their careers with the environmental issues they care about," said Fandino. "This program gives participants the opportunity to build new skills, expand their professional networks and gain the interdisciplinary perspective needed to tackle real-world conservation challenges."

An interdisciplinary approach to ocean challenges

The new program reflects a growing recognition that ocean conservation is deeply interconnected to all sectors of society. In fact, a new article published this month finds that many university students are graduating with limited exposure to the interdisciplinary realities of ocean conservation. "While marine science provides essential knowledge, real-world solutions must also consider economics, policy, social justice and communication," said Hannah Tannenbaum, MAS MBC Program Manager. "We're looking for people who want to bring their professional experiences and expertise with them into the world of marine science and conservation."

The MBC Summer Course for this certificate program is structured around weekly themes that range from marine ecology and biodiversity to governance, economics, and climate science. Students also spend time learning about science communication and storytelling, including a week dedicated to filmmaking, during which participants conduct interviews, capture footage, and edit short documentaries.

By exposing participants to multiple perspectives, the course encourages them to see how marine conservation intersects with industries that may not immediately come to mind. "A healthy ocean is just as important to ports and commercial fishermen as it is to local governments and coastal hotels and restaurants," said Murray, noting, "And people who live an hour from the ocean should have as much of a say in what happens there as those who can walk to the beach from their home."

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A Launchpad for Careers

Beyond the knowledge gained, one of the program's biggest benefits may be the professional connections it creates. More than 60 instructors, researchers, and industry practitioners contribute to the course, offering students opportunities to interact with leaders in marine science, policy, and conservation.

That exposure often leads to unexpected career paths.

Tannenbaum recalled one student who spent a decade working in cybersecurity before entering the program. "She ended up doing her capstone on training satellites to detect oil spills," Tannenbaum said. "Now she's working for a satellite data company using AI to support environmental disaster response."

Stories like that illustrate how interdisciplinary learning can open new doors.

The program also provides an accessible entry point for professionals considering a deeper academic path. "For folks who may want to pursue graduate study but aren't quite ready to commit to a full master's or PhD, this can be a way to dip a toe into graduate school," Tannenbaum said.

Participants earn 16 units of graduate-level credit, which may be applied toward future academic programs.

Tannenbaum emphasized that she doesn't want that to discourage anyone who's interested. "We really lean into the idea that students will learn as much from each other as they will from the faculty," said Tannenbaum. "There might be a week where a student feels overwhelmed because the subject matter is so far from their expertise, but then the next week they're the ones mentoring fellow classmates because it's an area of expertise."

Learning by doing

While the program explores complex global challenges, it also offers a tangible, immersive, hands-on experience.

The program curriculum reads like a cross between graduate school and an adult summer camp for ocean conservation, complete with field trips, research excursions and lab work to complement the classroom learning.

Students visit locations such as Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, Kendall-Frost Marsh Reserveand San Dieguito Lagoonto explore coastal ecosystems.

They also embark on a research cruise aboard the Research Vessel Robert Gordon Sproulto Catalina Island for a week of field training at the University of Southern California's Wrigley Marine Science Center (WMSC).

Through it all, the students collaborate on projects, learn new technical skills and work closely with scientists and practitioners from across many related disciplines.

"We're in class Monday through Friday, 9 a.m to 4 p.m., with some weekend commitments, too," said Tannenbaum. "It's definitely intensive, but that intensity is part of the appeal. We learn a lot and have a ton of fun." And Tannenbaum should know, as she graduated from the MAS MBC program herself in 2019.

Students visit locations such as Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve to explore coastal ecosystems.

By the end of the program, participants present a creative final project at a culminating film festival, showcasing the stories and ideas they've explored throughout the summer.

"Programs like this demonstrate how curiosity and learning don't stop after a traditional degree," added Fandino. "They create opportunities for people at different stages of their careers to deepen their knowledge and become more informed stewards of the world around them."

A wider community for ocean solutions

Ultimately, the program's aim extends beyond academic knowledge. It is meant to cultivate a community of professionals equipped to think creatively about the ocean's future.

From filmmakers documenting environmental stories to policymakers shaping coastal regulations, the need for ocean-literate leaders is growing.

By opening the course to professionals from diverse fields, the Interdisciplinary Marine Conservation Programinvites more people into the conversation around ocean stewardship.

"I think there are lots of people who are well-informed and read the news about issues they care about," Tannenbaum said. "But it doesn't compare to learning directly from professors, practitioners and decisionmakers who are doing cutting-edge research and making the policy decisions themselves."

And in a world increasingly shaped by climate change, economic pressures, and environmental uncertainty, that kind of collaboration may be more important than ever.

Visit the Division of Extended Studies website to learn more about earning your advanced certificate with the Interdisciplinary Marine Conservation Program.

While the program explores complex global challenges, it also offers a tangible, immersive, hands-on experience.

UCSD - University of California - San Diego published this content on April 02, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on April 02, 2026 at 09:39 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]