Whales are abundant in the coastal waters of New England, but what is it about the region that makes these ocean giants return year after year? In the next Ocean Classroom (Live!), URI Graduate School of Oceanography alum and NOAA research zoologist Dr. Christopher Orphanides joins host Holly Morin of the Inner Space Center to discuss food web dynamics in the waters of southeastern New England, why they are so important to species such as the endangered North Atlantic right whale, and how these food webs might be changing. You’ll also hear about the latest technologies that scientists use to better understand whales and other animals found in New England waters.

This episode made possible by the Devereux Ocean Foundation, Inc. 

To watch the archived event, visit the URI Graduate School of Oceanography’s Ocean Classroom page at web.uri.edu/gso/outreach/ocean-classroom/.

In this episode of Ocean Classroom (Live!), we’re putting Limulus in the limelight as we get ready to celebrate the first-ever International Horseshoe Crab Day (June 20th). We’re joined by Jennifer Mattei, founder and director of Project Limulus of Sacred Heart University in Connecticut. Dr. Mattei has spent the last 20 years heading up a tagging program that has answered many questions about the fascinating horseshoe crab. Holly Morin of the Inner Space Center will host the discussion about these ancient marine species, the threats they face and their role in testing COVID-19 vaccines.

To watch the archived event, visit the URI Graduate School of Oceanography’s Ocean Classroom page at web.uri.edu/gso/outreach/ocean-classroom/.

On this episode of Ocean Classroom (Live!) we’re getting ready for World Oceans Day! With virtual experiences and distance learning resources in high demand, GSO’s Inner Space Center and Rhode Island PBS will share the launch of a new immersive digital series for students and educators. Join Rhode Island educators Shannon Donovan of Scituate High School and Alison Murray of Central Falls High School, Colleen Kenyon from Rhode Island PBS and host Holly Morin of the Inner Space Center as they discuss the new ‘Ocean Exploration’ series, which pairs extraordinary deep-sea footage, provided by Ocean Exploration Trust, with creative lesson modules. 

To watch the archived event, visit the URI Graduate School of Oceanography’s Ocean Classroom page at web.uri.edu/gso/outreach/ocean-classroom/.

Check out the PBS LearningMedia Ocean Exploration: Inner Space collection here.

The URI Graduate School of Oceanography Fish Trawl Survey has sampled the bottom fish and invertebrate community in Narragansett Bay for over 60 years—one of the longest such surveys in the world. This week on Ocean Classroom (Live!), join fish trawl assistant and GSO student Nina Santos, GSO student Joe Langan and the Inner Space Center’s Holly Morin as they discuss what the survey is revealing about conditions in Narragansett Bay, including the effects of climate change on the bay’s fish populations and its food web.

To watch the archived event, visit the URI Graduate School of Oceanography’s Ocean Classroom page at web.uri.edu/gso/outreach/ocean-classroom/.

What can a robotic surfboard tell us about the rapidly warming Antarctic? In the next episode of GSO Ocean Classroom (Live!), join GSO’s Holly Morin and Ryan Newell of the University of Washington as they discuss the connections between the ocean, atmosphere and sea ice in the Southern Ocean. Using a Wave Glider—a wave-propelled autonomous surface vehicle—Newell and others at the University of Washington are measuring how heat and other properties move between the water and the air in some of the stormiest seas on the planet.

To watch the archived event, visit the URI Graduate School of Oceanography’s Ocean Classroom page at web.uri.edu/gso/outreach/ocean-classroom/.

What is it like to conduct research in the Arctic, and what are scientists discovering? Hear from scientists and educators who have journeyed to the Arctic on research expeditions. This is an opportunity to learn more about the rapid changes affecting the Arctic, from climate to microplastics, wildlife and more.

For this episode of GSO Ocean Classroom, Holly Morin and Alessandra D’Angelo of the URI Graduate School of Oceanography, along with Narragansett High School (RI) teacher Kathleen Couchon, will discuss their experiences conducting research in the Arctic. There will also be suggestions for how we can all learn more about the challenges facing the Arctic and help make a difference.    

To watch the archived event, visit the URI Graduate School of Oceanography’s Ocean Classroom page at web.uri.edu/gso/outreach/ocean-classroom/.