Coral Reef Ecology Summer Course Information Webinar

Date: Thursday, January 29, 2026
Time: 4 p.m. Central Time (US and Canada)
Join the Webinar: https://ua-edu.zoom.us/j/85745634091

This course will explore the ecology and conservation of tropical marine communities within a rapidly changing climate. It is open to graduate and undergraduate students. Two hours will be allocated to the online self-paced portion, and two hours to the field component. The online portion can be taken on its own; however, it is required for the field component.

This 4-credit course will start with self-paced online lectures and activities in late spring (April). In May, we will travel to the Mote Marine Lab in Sarasota, Florida.

Florida, as a whole and the Florida Keys in particular, are undergoing unprecedented ecosystem change, and restoration is an increasingly important component of conservation efforts to preserve coral reefs, seagrass beds, and mangrove forests. Through access to cutting-edge facilities in Sarasota and the Florida Keys, we will help test novel technologies that support conservation while also learning about these unique environments and the large-scale efforts to preserve them.

The course is designed to be a high-paced introduction to the research and conservation of tropical marine environments. Students will snorkel and explore various coral reef, mangrove, and seagrass environments while designing and conducting their own projects.

Special fees apply and will be determined by the number of course participants (approximately $2100.00 + food expenses). To reduce travel costs, students will travel with us to and from the Florida Keys (departing from DISL via van on May 6-7). A trip deposit (1/2) is due on March 15, 2026, with the remaining portion due on April 29, 2026. The fee is nonrefundable unless the class is canceled.