Ocean STEAM Powered Women (O-STEAM) Fellowship

2025 Program Important Dates

• Information Session: Feb. 6, 2025, from 6pm - 7pm (Register)
• Application Deadline: March 14, 2025
• Fellowship: August 10-16, 2025

 

WHOI Sea Grant (WHOI SG) and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) are excited to collaborate with Sea Education Association on the Ocean STEAM Powered Women (O-STEAM) Fellowship, a competitive, week-long, no-cost, residential fellowship in Woods Hole for a cohort of young women from Massachusetts currently in their sophomore or junior year of high school.

Fellows are housed on the beautiful Sea Education Association campus during this week-long, summer fellowship, with easy access to the nearby WHOI facilities. During their week, fellows work with WHOI Sea Grant Education Specialist Grace Simpkins, WHOI researchers, and Program Assistants to dive deep into ocean research while also meeting other female Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) professionals and learning from their collective expertise. The immersive experience seeks to expose the participants to a wide range of marine careers, involve them in research, and build a supportive network. Activities during the week include building their own underwater microphone (or hydrophone), testing their hydrophone by towing it while kayaking (weather dependent), sound analysis of dolphin vocalizations, participating in shipboard oceanographic techniques, water quality testing, constructing and deploying an ocean drifter, going on a whale watch expedition to observe marine mammals (weather dependent), and more.  Fellows will also learn from communications specialists about how to share their research and experiences with their community.

 

Who is eligible?

We welcome students who are:

• Current residents of and students in Massachusetts, and
• Current high school sophomores and juniors (as of March 2025)

* No experience required *

When will it be held?

August 10-16, 2025

Free Opportunity

There is no-cost to the fellow for this program. All expenses are paid.

Expanding Access to Ocean Sciences

We are committed to fostering a welcoming and dynamic learning environment that brings together a variety of perspectives and experiences. O-STEAM was created to expand access to ocean sciences by encouraging applicants who would not otherwise have had access to research and fieldwork opportunities. Our selection process is based on merit, interest, and potential, ensuring that all applicants have an equal opportunity to participate.

IMPORTANT - READ FIRST BEFORE APPLYING!!!!!

We suggest you print out or save this PDF of the application so that you can prepare your answers in advance and use a word processor such as word or google docs to spellcheck and write your 300 word essays. If you need application assistance, please reach out to Grace Simpkins, gsimpkins@whoi.edu, and we will assign you a WHOI student to help you.