March 6, 2025, by SSSC

Since 2018, University of California at Santa Cruz students have journeyed to Sitka to dive into research projects about the surrounding ocean environment. Sitka is located at a rich ecological junction where research can focus on both the northernmost ranges of temperate species and southernmost ranges of Arctic species. Dr. Kristy Kroeker, the field course instructor, understands this high research value and leads the charge with approximately thirty undergraduate and two graduate students in tow. Back in Santa Cruz, students spent five days a week in the classroom to learn research skills and develop projects and now have a month in Sitka to gather data. The Sitka Sound Science Center hosts the Santa Cruz field course, allowing space for experiments, meetings, discussion groups, and SCUBA gear storage.

For the undergraduates, the field course offers an incredible opportunity for experiential learning and travel. Many students excitedly arrived to hone their diving and research skills, explore the possibility of being a research scientist, and enhance the vital skill of learning about a new community and culture. Students chose to research a wide variety of topics and are collecting data from every nook and cranny of the Sitkan shoreline. One diving-based project involves installing an underwater microphone to compare soundscapes from healthy kelp forests and urchin barren environments. Another group focuses on the community composition of surfgrass habitats and records fish activity using beach seines and minnow traps. Several groups are surveying ocean biodiversity; one compares the diversity of species in bull kelp versus giant kelp forests, and another aims to map algal species at each intertidal zone. From environmental ecology to analyzing the activity of a single species, students are researching a broad range of key factors affecting the Sitka Sound.

In addition to the adventure of collecting data, the Santa Cruz undergrads have been thrilled by the Sitka community and its care for the environment. When asked about their favorite part of the trip, students highlighted talking with locals about life in Sitka and how their research relates to people’s interests. Locals frequently engaged with students while they conducted field work, which speaks to the curious nature of the Sitka community. The Santa Cruz students are grateful to the community for hosting and welcoming them with open arms, especially to “King Ralph” who offered black cod to the whole group on their first day on the island.

If you are interested to learn more about research projects and student experiences in Sitka, come to “Stories from Under the Sea,” on Thursday, March 6 from 6 – 7:30pm. Students will share short talks about their research questions, data collection, and the impacts of their results!