What Our Courses Are Like
Curious about what your experience on the R/V Garvin will be like?
Explore resources below to learn more:
Explore resources below to learn more:
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Testimonials
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Hear straight from our students why they decided to join us and what their experience was like! |
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At the end of each course, our whole team gets dinner together to read what our students have written in our onboard guestbook (and get misty and instantly nostalgic).
Here are just a few selected quotes: “I was nervous coming in, but I really had no reason to be. You are all such kind, patient teachers that I was never worried about trying a new task or asking a dumb question.” -Taylor “This week has been one of the best educational experiences I’ve ever had. I really have always dreamed of working with sharks and I am so thankful for this opportunity to learn and develop skills in such an uplifting environment. The relationship you have with each other and kindness and understanding you show towards us is the epitome of a dream work environment.” -Abby "I am coming out of this course feeling ready to begin my own career with sharks and I can’t thank the Field school staff enough for helping me begin my future." - Kenadee, Dalhousie University "Where do I even start? This has been, without shadow of a doubt, the most educational, inspirational, and most generous course I’ve ever part-taken in." - Eimear, Dublin, Ireland This course will be a defining week in the life of any student, especially those pursuing a scientific career. My advice to students thinking about taking this course: do it. If one week aboard the Garvin does not change the way you think about ocean conservation, your career path, and the fantastically intricate world around you, nothing will. For this course, the sharks are just icing on the cake. - Tyler, West Virginia University This has honestly been the best experience of my entire life so far. The hands-on experience and knowledge I’ve gained from both courses does not compare to anything I’ve learned in a classroom - Kirsti, Dalhousie University |
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FAQs
How often do your courses run?
Most of our courses run in the summer, with occasional exceptions. Take a look at the calendar to see our upcoming course dates!
Will I be safe with all these sharks around?
You absolutely will. You will be training under staff who have more than 40 years of combined shark handling experience, and while you’ll be helping to collect data, you won’t be anywhere near a shark’s mouth. You’ll receive in-depth training on what to do and how to stay safe before we even leave the dock for the first time. You’ll also have the chance to see first-hand how little interest sharks have in hurting people.
Do you give course credit?
We are not a university, and therefore cannot offer credit ourselves. However, our courses are taught by university professors, and if you want independent study credit through your own school, we are happy to provide you with whatever information or documentation you need to pursue it.
I’m not studying biology, is this still for me?
Absolutely. You don’t need to be planning a career in marine biology to take our courses. You just need to be interested in learning more about the subject. Many people who work in marine science and conservation don’t come from biology backgrounds. There are tons of different skill sets and backgrounds which are relevant to research and conservation!
I’m not a college student anymore. Can I still do this?
Yes! Absolutely! Some of our favorite students have been out of school for a while, or are mid-career professionals looking to make a change (oldest student we’ve ever had out for a week-long course was over 60, and awesome). You will not feel “too old” or like you don’t belong—everyone from staff to students are super welcoming. Please come out if you want to. No one is too old to pursue their dreams.
I’m in high school, can I do this?
I know you noticed we were super cool about age for everyone over eighteen, but now we have to be really uncool. Unless you’re eighteen, you can’t join our open enrollment courses. It’s an insurance thing. Sorry! We’d love to see you after your eighteenth birthday.
You can also talk to your school or educational organization about whether they want to organize a group trip with us.
If you’re wondering what else you can do to help prepare for a career in marine science as a younger student, our Director Catherine wrote a blog post on that topic here.
You can also talk to your school or educational organization about whether they want to organize a group trip with us.
If you’re wondering what else you can do to help prepare for a career in marine science as a younger student, our Director Catherine wrote a blog post on that topic here.
How's the Food?
Pretty darn good if we don't say so ourselves! We aren’t professional chefs, but we’ve given a lot of thought to our menu and students tell us the food on board is great (we all think so too, and we eat it often). We serve a mix of recipes, from barbecue chicken with mac and cheese to teriyaki salmon to burrito bowls. We’ve also learned that everything tastes better after a day on the water. #boatmagic
Can you handle my food allergy/is it cool I’m vegan?
Almost definitely. We’ve handled serious allergies before—we just need you to communicate clearly with us ahead of time about it so we can make sure we can keep you safe. And if you’re vegan/vegetarian/gluten free, we can also make that work (again, just let us know!).
What are the accommodations like?
Garvin is a working research vessel, so no one comes out on her for luxurious accommodation. Students should expect to have a roommate and to live in close quarters with their classmates for the week. That said, her bunkrooms have been described as “comfortable” and “cozy” by some students (although “a little cramped” would also be fair). Most importantly, you won’t spend a ton of time in your bunk. You’ll be too busy working, learning, eating, or hanging out with your friends in Garvin’s larger public spaces.
What about the bathrooms?
Marine heads (toilets) are never as nice as land-based facilities, but we work hard to keep everything clean and running smoothly. Garvin has bathrooms on board, and most nights during the course we return to dock to sleep, where students have access to the lovely dock bathrooms.
Can I put this on My insta?
Yes, of course! We love sharing what we do. That said, our courses are for marine scientists, not aspiring photographers. We do give you all the opportunities we can to capture your own images while snorkeling or observing wildlife from our vessel (hello, dolphins!). However, especially on our shark courses, for your safety and that of our staff, we do not allow students to take photographs or video while we are working with animals. Don't worry, though--every course has a dedicated photographer present to capture amazing images that we give to students after the week is over. Wondering what those look like? Check out our insta!
This seems too good to be true. Are you guys a scam?
Nope! But we totally understand that signing up for an opportunity like this off the internet can be a little nerve wracking. If you (or your parents) have doubts, you can confirm that we're real people by seeing Catherine and Julia listed on their PhD website here, check out Catherine's faculty profile here, see Field School's business registration with the State of Florida here, or just send us an email asking for more information. You can also see what some of our students have said about us in their instagram posts tagging Field School here or read some of the reviews people have written on Facebook here. We're happy to do whatever we can to help you (or a protective parent) feel comfortable about you joining one of our courses.
I belong to a group that has historically been excluded in stem. will i be safe and welcome?
We would absolutely love to have you join one of our courses, and have welcomed many students from historically (and currently) marginalized groups in STEM, including students of color, trans, non-binary, and LGBTQ+ students, and students who have been made to feel unwelcome in STEM for other reasons, including their religious or cultural identities. We work hard to create a space that is safe and welcoming for everyone.
We are partners with organizations working to improve STEM cultures and diversity, including multiple annual workshops with Minorities in Shark Science (MISS). We run an annual event, Drag n' Tag, to raise money for Pridelines, a local organization serving the LGBTQ+ community in our home port of Miami, Florida. Our Director Catherine wrote about gender discrimination in shark science for Scientific American in 2019, and has written and taught about how to create healthy scientific cultures (see a blog post here), Catherine is also a trainer for Building a Better Fieldwork Future and teaches other scientists and students how to shape scientific cultures to be more inclusive and equitable.
We are partners with organizations working to improve STEM cultures and diversity, including multiple annual workshops with Minorities in Shark Science (MISS). We run an annual event, Drag n' Tag, to raise money for Pridelines, a local organization serving the LGBTQ+ community in our home port of Miami, Florida. Our Director Catherine wrote about gender discrimination in shark science for Scientific American in 2019, and has written and taught about how to create healthy scientific cultures (see a blog post here), Catherine is also a trainer for Building a Better Fieldwork Future and teaches other scientists and students how to shape scientific cultures to be more inclusive and equitable.